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
Human Attention is the New Limit, Not Space
I've been thinking about human attention recently. I was on the phone recently with a marketing professional. He had been reading 33 charts in preparation for an interview. So I took advantage of the moment and asked him if he had any advice. “Write longer posts,” he said. “Why?” I asked. “Long-form writing lends authority. You know, gravitas.” As it turns ... Continue Reading about Human Attention is the New Limit, Not Space
Texting and the Legislation of Attention
Last month Texas made it illegal to text and drive. Texting at a stop light is fine. Talking on a phone is fine. Hands free talking is okay except in a school zone. The legality of mascara application at 55 mph remains unclear. While we can outlaw the transmission of electronic messages we still have our wrists, dashboards, GPS devices, pagers, and the next ambient ... Continue Reading about Texting and the Legislation of Attention
Attention and Mindfulness | Some curated readings
Constant access to handheld technology continues to force a discussion about attention and mindfulness. Not new, necessarily, but increasingly important. I’ve been digging into attention and presence recently. Here are a few interesting bits I discovered this week. Links are on the blue subheading. How I Got My Attention Back | Backchannel In a meandering piece on ... Continue Reading about Attention and Mindfulness | Some curated readings
Pokemon Go and Medical Mindfulness
Hospital workers are caught up in the Pokemon Go craze and it's begun to raise concerns. Between rooming patients it seems there's just enough time to snag a Vaporeon. Some health care facilities have shut it down amidst concerns that selfies and snapshots risk the transmission of PHI. While Pokemon Go raises new challenges around privacy, the greater challenge ... Continue Reading about Pokemon Go and Medical Mindfulness