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?
Cmp.ly Makes Conflict Disclosure Easier
The issue of conflict of interest in social media has grown from an ethical discussion to a legal requirement. Under new Federal Trade Commission guidelines, material connections with special interests must be disclosed. But how do you disclose conflict of interest in 140 characters? And how do you let readers know you received serious payola or just a review copy of ... Continue Reading about Cmp.ly Makes Conflict Disclosure Easier
UpToDate – The Information Prescription
UpToDate, arguably the most trusted information brand in medicine, is now in the patient information game with UpToDate for Patients. I ran into deputy editor Alison Hoppin (a pediatric gastroenterologist) at the American Academy of Pediatrics last week and she gave me a test drive. My bags are barely unpacked and I’m already using it in my practice. I mean, what a ... Continue Reading about UpToDate – The Information Prescription