What my mom takes to the doctor

April 10, 2010 · Filed Under general · 7 Comments

I was talking to Mom (age 80) the other night, and she mentioned a document she updates regularly. She prints a fresh copy to take to every doctor visit, so they’ll always have it up to date and won’t have to go digging.

We’ve never discussed topics like “the importance of med reconciliation,” but when she sent it I got a little insight into who I am. :–)

What Dave's mom takes to every doctor visit

Medications (prescription and over-the-counter), including dosage and when she takes them
Who prescribed them and for what condition
Full contact info for every care provider including her acupuncturist
Contact info for local family members and neighbors, including who has a key to the house and the garage door code

She keeps a copy on the fridge, too, a trick she learned from EMTs during Dad’s declining years. If they get called for an emergency and you’re unconscious when they arrive, it can be important. She adds that she “Should, but don’t, also have there the ORIGINAL of any orders like a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate), to make their job easier in the event of…..”

Gosh, Mom, you make me proud! ♥

Tags: Care Provider, Dad, Dnr, Doctor Visit, Emts, Family Members, Fridge, Full Contact, Garage Door, Insight, Job, Local Family, Med, med rec, medication lists, medication reconciliation, Medications, Mom, Neighbors, Reconciliation

The Pew Internet/Health FAQ

November 20, 2009 · Filed Under general · 29 Comments

A big part of my job, and one I love, is answering questions, mostly from reporters. Sometimes I have just the data or insight someone needs, often I recommend someone else.

Here is a sample of frequently-asked questions and my current answers. Please add your questions and answers in the comments: What are you curious about when it comes to technology’s impact on health care? What resources do you recommend?

Is a cultural shift affecting health care?

Yes. Thanks to the internet, people increasingly expect to have access to information. They increasingly expect to be able to comment on and easily share information. And it turns out that participation matters as much as access.

This is my favorite topic and I could talk for hours (or for 4:21; 4:44; 3:06; or 4:50). Read more

Tags: Abstract Id, Anonymity, Answering Questions, Baloney Detection Kit, Bmj, Bmj Article, British Medical Journal, Carl Sagan, Caution, Cdt, Center For Studying Health System Change, Conclusions, Daniel Solove, Diagnosis, Diagnostic Aid, Diagnostician, Different Story, Dynamic Web, Family Caregivers, Fd, Fda, Google, Google Search, Googling, health care, Health Care Consumers, Health Faq, health information, Health Literacy, Health News, Health Privacy Project, Health Research, Health System Change, High School Degree, Hrss, Information Quality, Insight, Internet Cause, Internet Health, Internet Population, Jules Polonetsky, Medical Journal Article, Medical Library Association, Microsoft Researchers, Pew Internet, Privacy Forum, Privacy Regulations, Quality Question, Questions And Answers, Quot, Research Charges, Research Protocols, Search Market, Share Information, Short Answer, Site Google, Source Material, Studying Health System, susannah fox, Taxonomy, Using The Word, Web Credibility

Keep an eye out for tomorrow morning’s post

September 29, 2009 · Filed Under Why PM, positive patterns, pt/doc co-care, trends & principles · 4 Comments

In our “Why Participatory Medicine” series, leading up to the October 21 launch of the Journal of Participatory Medicine, tomorrow’s guest post will be a special treat for me. It contains a breakthrough insight about participatory medicine, and it’s a perfect example of how social media is enabling a wildfire acceleration of the spread of ideas.

The author is Amy Romano @MidwifeAmy, a nurse-midwife and advocate for mother-friendly maternity care. An expert in research analysis, she manages the Science & Sensibility blog for Lamaze International. Read more

Tags: Acceleration, Advocate, Amp, Amy Romano, Better Health, blog, Breakthrough, Chains, Chronic Conditions, Constituency, Costly Conditions, Expert, Followers, Hats, Health Benefits, Health Care Consumers, Health Care System, Health Pregnancy, Insight, Lamaze International, Launch, Life Threatening Illnesses, Maternity Care, Medicine, Medicine Series, Moms, Nurse Midwife, Obstetric Practices, Patient Movement, Perfect Fit, Pregnancy And Birth, Public Health Impact, Quality Improvement, science, Tomorrow Morning, Whole Lot