Hospital Care and Social Media

  Arguments about the validity of Health 2.0 are moot. It is here!! Hundreds of thousands of patients and providers use the format in advocacy groups, using facebook, twitter, blogs, and search engines.  Is Google a health 2.0 app?   The following story is well worth the read   THOUGHTS ON MEDICINE AND SOCIAL MEDIA (Regina Holliday)   On Wednesday, May 27, 2009 I met Dr. Ted Eytan. I was invited to present a patient and caregiver view of hospitalization at a small health 2.0 meeting. I saw Powerpoint presentations with bar charts and graphs. I sat patiently taking notes about the state of ehealth and social media. At around 3:15 I spoke. I described the horror of my husband being diagnosed with cancer and...

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Obamism

We are hearing different reasons why we must pass this health reform bill.  1. There is a crisis and if we don't pass the bill, we will go bankrupt (things are unsustainable).  There are many hidden aspects to this bill, which is not being discussed in a transparent manner (which our esteemed President assured us.)"that things would be different in D.C. if he were elected" 2. If  the bill is passed costs will go up as well, including increases in premiums of a significant amount to cover the new insured,, who were previously uninsurable, or excluded to due pre-existing conditions. 3. Additional taxes will go into effect several  years before any benefits or changes will be made to coverage. "Quick, pass the bill before anyone can read it and really understand the profound...

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What's In A Name

THE PUBLIC OPTION  Let's think of some titles that will be more acceptable to the approximate 50% of voters who do not want a public option. 1. Alternative integrated universal choice for Health. 2..National Public Health, Inc. (NPH) 3.  United Stated Federal Health Reserve USFR) 4. Federal Health Insurance Bank (FHIB) 5. U.S. Health Stimulus Choice (also known as USHC certified) 6. Federal United Care Combine (also known as FUCC) (sounds like Fuc@) Or let's allow patients to 'Opt-out of the Public Option. This would be done on a state wide basis rather than as individuals. Depending on which state you live in.  This great idea comes from those two Senators Reid and Pelosi who must smoke something for breakfast that is grown in the fields of either Afghanistan or Northern...

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Who's in Charge, Anyway??

Physicians no longer feel in charge for many things that occur during their daily clinical work. During our training years we are carefully monitored and have mentors who we can look to for advice, guidance and in some cases, even wisdom...For those in 'private practice' in a solo or small group practice 'autonomy' becomes a real issue, and blending this with the reality of patient care, risk, and medical politics becomes a narrow balance beam for most of us. Health reform measures are a reflection of a conundrum. Will we be reformed from within, or without??   It is a mess.  Even the informed, educated and well read can make little sense or aggregate the impact of the legislation presently being debated in congress. Driven...

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The Real Deal

  It Is obvious how the world of blogging.has displaced the coffee room and the water cooler as sources of inside information. In fact, blog sources are frequently the first place that relevant information appears. In addition to classical newspaper and Journal sources these entities have their own blog section. Add to this, facebook, twitter, digg, my space and others yet to be determined the relationships become infinite. Take for example, this posting on ‘Dr Wes’ blog: On Dec. 3 the U.S. Senate voted to keep significant Medicare cuts in the health-care overhaul bill despite polls showing seniors are concerned about their benefits. Senators voted 50 to 42 to reject an amendment by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. that would have stripped...

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