May 29th, 2010 by John Mandrola, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Health Tips, True Stories
Tags: Accidents, Bikers, Cyclists, Deaths, Dr. Jon Mandrola, Family Medicine, Fatalities, General Medicine, Injured, Kentucky State Drivers Manual, Killed, Laws Of The Road, Motorists, Primary Care, Public Awareness, Public Health, Public Knowledge, Public Roadways, Rachel Fagerburg, Ride Of Silence, Sports Medicine, Tragedies, Vehicles
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This third installment of “Cycling Wednesdays” comes as a guest post from Rachel Fagerburg. Rachel is a dear friend, mother of two young children, fellow cyclist, and wife of a teammate. She is famous in this area for her talent as a race announcer. I am grateful for her words:
On May 19, my husband and I joined thousands across the globe to honor cyclists who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways. With 1,000 participants at the first ride in 2003, the Ride of Silence has grown to a worldwide event raising awareness of the tragedies that can occur between motorists and cyclists. My husband and I rode in honor of two people we were privileged to call “friend.” Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Dr John M*
May 28th, 2010 by Happy Hospitalist in Better Health Network, Humor, Opinion, True Stories
Tags: Clinical Doctor, Doctor Creep, Dr. Nurse, Eye Doctor, Lay Public, Layperson, Licensing Standards, Medical Credentials, Medical Doctor, Ophthalmology, Optometry, Physician, Professional Clinical Training, Public Awareness, Public Health, Public Knowledge, Sam's Club, Walmart
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I snapped this picture of “The Eye Doctor Is In!” sign at my local Sam’s Club. Who is this “eye doctor?” Are they a Dr. Nurse? Are they an optometrist? Are they a medical doctor? What is the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist? The sign just says “eye doctor.” Who is it? Who knows. What are their credentials? Who knows.
To practice optometry, an optometrist must graduate from an accredited four-year post graduate institution after completing at least three years of undergraduate preoptometry course requirements and then get licensed in their state of practice.
To practice ophthalmology, an ophthalmologist must graduate from an accredited four-year medical school after completing the 90+ undergraduate premedical couurse requirements, then complete a residency in ophthalmology which consists of an internship year in internal medicine or general surgery and three years or more of additional training in ophthalmology. Then they must get licensed by state authorities.
The lay public — the really lay public — has no idea what the state and federal licensing standards are for the different professional clinical training tracks. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at The Happy Hospitalist*
May 28th, 2010 by StaceyButterfield in Better Health Network, Health Tips, Humor, Opinion, True Stories
Tags: American Thoracic Society, ATS, Dr. Renee Stapleton, Family Medicine, General Medicine, Giving Good Care, Grandmother's Advice, Hospitalist Medicine, ICU, Intensive Care, Internal Medicine, Primary Care, Self-Care, Successful Patient Care
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Want to know the secret to successful care of ICU patients? Think back to the advice your grandmother always gave, joked American Thoracic Society conference speaker Renee Stapleton, M.D., recently:
– Wash your hands.
– You can’t sleep your life away.
– Get some exercise.
– Sit up straight.
– Take your medicine.
– If you can’t remember it, write it down.
*This blog post was originally published at ACP Hospitalist*
May 27th, 2010 by AndrewSchorr in Better Health Network, Health Policy, News, Opinion, True Stories
Tags: American Society for Clinical Oncology, American Urological Association, Andrew Schorr, Expert Perspectives, General Medicine, Health News, Medical Conferences, Medical Conventions, Medical News, Patient Journalists, Patient Power, Patient's Perspective, Powerful Patient
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My wife and family are alternately happy and unhappy about the prospect of me headed out of town to attend two medical conventions in a row. When they need me they REALLY need me, and when they have plenty else to do, I could be on the moon and they wouldn’t miss me.
Oh well, I am off anyway to two parts of the country in rapid succession with the goal of helping patients worldwide. The first stop is the meeting of the American Urological Association and the second is the meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. I’ll be in San Francisco and then Chicago to gather medical news for patients.
I am a big believer that there should not be a delay in bringing significant medical news to people living with or affected by a medical condition. For me, as a leukemia survivor, I don’t want to wait to hear about a new or better treatment. I want it now and in-depth. I don’t want to wait for my next doctor visit. And I want to hear it from the source. That’s what being a powerful patient is all about. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Andrew's Blog*
May 26th, 2010 by Debra Gordon in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Health Tips, News, Opinion, True Stories
Tags: Check Online, Customer Service In Healthcare, Doctor Running Late, Double-Booked, Family Medicine, General Medicine, Internal Medicine, Internet, Late Doctors, Long Waits for Patients, Lost Appointment, Medical Office Staff, Medical Offices, MedWaitTime, Overbooked, Primary Care, Real Time, Tardy Physicians, Wait For An Appointment, Wait Time, Waiting In Doctor's Office, Waiting Room, Waiting Too Long, Wall Street Journal, Web-Based Service, World Wide Web, WSJ
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I just read a Wall Street Journal article about a new web-based service called MedWaitTime that allows patients to check if their doctor is running late before heading to the office for their appointment — kind of like you can check to see if your flight is late before heading to the airport.
Brilliant.
Nothing peeves me more than sitting in a doctor’s office reading 4-month-old tattered magazines on topics I care nothing about (saltwater fishing, seriously?), and not because the doctor had an emergency (when is the last time a dermatologist had to run out to save someone), but because the office staff routinely double books. I can’t count the number of times I walked out (my limit is 30 minutes unless I’m in agony) after giving the front office a targeted piece of my mind. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at A Medical Writer's Musings on Medicine, Health Care, and the Writing Life*
