Recently I wrote about how to handle things when patients try to engage doctors in the social media space. If you missed it you can read it here. If you want to save yourself 5 minutes consider the bottom line: Doctors and patients shouldn’t be discussing patient-specific issues in the social space. I heard from Ted Eytan regarding my post: The question is ... Continue Reading about Doctor-Patient Dialog on Social Media: A Bad Idea?
Are Twitter Lists Exclusionary?
Two of social media’s key thought leaders see Twitter lists differently. Chris Brogan yesterday wrote that he felt Twitter lists were exclusionary and put people at risk for feeling left out. Robert Scoble shot back with the idea that lists are, by their very nature, exclusionary but necessary. Despite his liberal use of capital letters, I have to side with Scoble ... Continue Reading about Are Twitter Lists Exclusionary?
The Irony of Bad Health Messaging
Medical misinformation in the MSM is met with gnashing of the teeth. Medical misinformation in the social space is often ignored. Medical misinformation in the MSM is limited by one news cycle. Medical misinformation in the social space is permanent and grows. So where should we be spend our time getting the story straight? ... Continue Reading about The Irony of Bad Health Messaging
3 Questions That Complete a Medical Interview
I can spend 20 minutes interviewing a parent about their child and still not really understand them. During a consult, my interview centers on the objective elements in a child’s history. When evaluating a child for abdominal pain, for example, I have a panel of questions that cover what I need to know to generate a starting hypothesis. But none of it helps me ... Continue Reading about 3 Questions That Complete a Medical Interview
When Doing Nothing is the Hardest Decision
'Why I Ration Care' is an important essay published in this week's Newsweek. Christopher Moore, a father and emergency physician, talks about his recent care of a teen who presented with mild head trauma sustained during a soccer game. The piece details the decision to manage this low-risk child expectantly. The reflexive head CT was forgone in favor of ... Continue Reading about When Doing Nothing is the Hardest Decision
Who Needs Twitter?
I had lunch with a physician colleague recently. In the course of our discussion Twitter came up and I tried to explain its potential benefits. But despite my spot-on analogies he just didn’t understand why this would be of value to him. Then I realized it may very well have no value for him. As a middle-aged divorcee with college-aged children and a stable practice ... Continue Reading about Who Needs Twitter?