Resilient Ambassadors of Change

Patient Engagement

Yelena Spector — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:54:58 +0000

A new integrated system aims to increase communication between physician and patients and increase patient engagement in their own health. This project will enhance patient enrollment, secure patient/physician messaging, and give patients the ability to access their test results and other health records online. The system is said to improve healthcare through greater care coordination, patient-physician engagement, and information technology.

The importance of social and environmental factors to health

Christa Chaffinch — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:32:10 +0000

A brief essay on the importance of the patient-doctor relationship by Ricky Choi, MD posted on Kevin MD. Although he doesn't frame it that way, I feel that this is partially about the value of taking time with patients to do a thorough H&P, investing in a real conversation, and asking probing questions. I had a similar experience recently, where I was having a prolonged allergic reaction of which I couldn't pinpoint the origin. My doctor (whom I like very much and trust implicitly) spent at least 30 minutes with me, asking about pets, carpets, soap and cleaning products, my work environment, the plants in my backyard, and more. When we together were unable to determine a likely cause, he sent me for allergy testing which resulted in me learning that I had developed an allergy to cats (unfortunate, as I live with four!)

Transforming the educational experience

Christa Chaffinch — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:48:29 +0000

There are two great articles currently on GOOD: the first is about a new kind of classroom-less college for adult learners; and the second is about transformational schools that are working to create new notions of learning and teaching.

Surgeon assessment

Yelena Spector — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:51:32 +0000

The da Vinci robort is a devise that scales down a surgeons hand movement in order to allow him to perform operations using tiny incisions. This innovation allows for less tissue damage and a much quicker recovery period for patients. There are over 200,000 being used for surgical procedures today.

Patient-centered care and cultural conflict

Christa Chaffinch — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:00:57 +0000

I just finished this fascinating article on cultural conflicts that can exist between patients and physicians. The case presented is simple and realistic, and the commentary provided very thought-provoking. The author touches on a wide array of cultural topics such as autonomy, privacy, and differing cultural standards, along with a thorough dissection of a variety of pre-conceived notions that both patients and physicians may bring to the clinical setting. The article ends with a rational suggestion on how cultural conflicts can still result in quality, patient-centered care, and includes a good justification for when and how to yield to a patient's wishes when they are in conflict with the physician's beliefs.

3-D virtual anatomy

Yelena Spector — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:43:08 +0000

NYU School of Medicine designed a new and a more innovative approach for studying organs in cadavers. This approach involves a virtual cadaver projected on a screen in 3-D. With a simple click, all organs and veins are projected, allowing the capability to instantaneously navigate through the human body. The reviews of the virtual cadavers were mixed. Some students stated that dealing with a real human cadaver was difficult and often time neglects to cover all organs. The example given is dealing with a cadaver who has undergone multiple surgeries during its lifetime and is now missing its appendix and spleen. In this case the student is left without the knowledge of vital organ parts, while a virtual cadaver will always cover all organs and systems. Other students state that they believe that no computer will ever replace real cadavers. NYU administrators state that as of right now there are no plans to eliminate real cadavers as part of the curriculum but to simply use virtual cadavers to assist in the learning process.

Friday round-up

Christa Chaffinch — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:46:49 +0000

Federal investigators have released a new report stating that only about 1 in every 7 hospital errors are reported. Adverse events ranging from infections to excessive bleeding to even death are supposed to be reported through systems present at almost every hospital in the US. The systems often allow for anonymous reporting, in order to encourage hospital staff to cooperate. However, as it states in the article: "organizations that inspect and accredit hospitals generally "do not scrutinize" how hospitals keep track of medical errors and other adverse events". And if the accrediting bodies do not scrutinize the process (and results thereof), there isn't much incentive for staff to report. It also states in the article that no new federal regulations regarding this are expected.

Eight technologies for a healthier 2012

Yelena Spector — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:47:40 +0000

With the fast approach of the New Year, most of us have a New Year resolution. One of the biggest New Year’s resolutions is losing weight and with all the new technological advances, some say that this year may be much easier than the others to do so. The article states that the technology that may improve your health are tracking devises, exercise applications, and devices such as FitBit which counts the steps you take and calculates the calories you burn. While such devised may be extremely helpful in losing weight, the biggest contributor is motivation. Having the desire and will power are first on the list, and then technology which is used as an aide.

The stories we tell ourselves

Christa Chaffinch — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:13:43 +0000

I have been thinking a lot about this article from Wired by Jonah Lehrer (the author of the wonderful book How We Decide) since I read it two weeks ago, and even had a couple of discussions about it over the holidays. It is extremely interesting and thought-provoking, and raises a number of important questions: from how pharmaceutical companies work, to the use of the scientific method, and the general state of medical decision-making and care in the modern world.

The future of medicine: 2012 edition

Christa Chaffinch — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:06:01 +0000

Livescience.com has a list of five expected medical advances for the year 2012, and they are:

the use of vaccines in cancer treatment (not just for prevention)
better vaccines for malaria