Gweneth Paltrow’s lifestyle site, Goop, has been at the center of a poostorm over its baseless medical quackery. You can catch up on my post from a few weeks ago where I describe the Goop Effect. A colleague suggested on Twitter that we should look at Goop and try to make sense of why they’re so successful. What is it that they’re offering that mainstream medicine ... Continue Reading about Can We Learn From Goop’s Cultural Storms?
Health Data Without Wisdom is a Spreadsheet
Increasingly EHR systems like Epic are automatically releasing test results to patients. This release of health data should be a good thing. But when a machine delivers data alone we fail to help patients achieve understanding of what it means. Personal health data without knowledge and wisdom is just a spreadsheet. We have to figure out how to help patients ... Continue Reading about Health Data Without Wisdom is a Spreadsheet
Outrage Extinction
I know a health blogger who likes to drop the f-bomb when discussing injustices in healthcare. It’s his way of showcasing his disapproval. Which I understand. There’s lots of discontent to go around these days. Judiciously placed, salty language is shocking. And it gets attention. At first. Then when you see it 50 times, it loses its effect. Manufactured ... Continue Reading about Outrage Extinction
Unsafe Levels of Alcohol and the Crisis of Medical Misinformation
Last week the media made headlines that alcohol is unsafe at any quantity. It was based on a Lancet study that drew that conclusion. Aaron Carroll publicsplained it in the New York Times. It’s worth a read to understand how we might begin to put headlines and research conclusions into the proper context Medical research is complicated. Few among us are in a ... Continue Reading about Unsafe Levels of Alcohol and the Crisis of Medical Misinformation
Goop Effect – How Outrage Drives Bad Health Information
Recently the New York Times unpacked Gwyneth Paltrow’s blockbuster lifestyle brand, Goop. Brilliantly written by Taffy Brodesser-Anker it shows how calculated controversy (generated in part by vagina steaming and coffee enemas) is part of the strategic plan for this 250 million dollar media company. Check out The Guardian follow-up that captures how Goop has built its ... Continue Reading about Goop Effect – How Outrage Drives Bad Health Information
How a Language Barrier Creates Opportunity
As a physician in one of the most diverse cities in the United States I often communicate with families with the help of an interpreter. Some see the language barrier as a compromise and a challenge. But it’s really an opportunity. What we fail to achieve with use of words we can bridge with non-verbal communication. Expression, touch, tone, and animation will ... Continue Reading about How a Language Barrier Creates Opportunity