Healthy Travel Tips for the Holidays
This column first appeared in the Syracuse Post Standard November 22, 2011 ……………………………….. You may be among the millions of Americans who will travel during the upcoming holidays. Travel takes you out...
View ArticleThe Ultimate Gift – Organ Donation
This column first appeared in the Syracuse Post Standard December 20, 2011 …………………………… I live in Central New York State, where we are grieving the loss of 17-year-old Taylor Fleming who died in a car...
View ArticleYour Most Important Health Resolution for 2012
This column first appeared in the Syracuse Post Standard January 3, 2012 When considering health-related resolutions, you probably expect me to wax poetic on the virtue of losing weight or quitting...
View Article10 Patient Empowerment Tips to Post on Your Refrigerator Door
The information center in many homes is the refrigerator door. From family photos, to postcards to magnets from pizza shops, to phone numbers and kids’ artwork – the important ephemera of our lives...
View ArticleWhy Rob a Bank When You Can Make More Money by Counterfeiting Drugs?
Want to make millions of dollars quickly while risking only a few months in prison if (and that’s a big IF) you’re caught? It’s not difficult at all. Just set yourself up as a distributor of...
View ArticleWho’s Really a Patient? Skewed Opinions Result from Inside Information
That seems like a fairly simple question, don’t you think? Who really is a patient? But the answer is actually more complex than you might realize. Among the possibilities: 1. anyone who has ever...
View ArticleA Tutor Who Tooted the Flute…
In a conversation with a friend the other day, I was explaining the need for patient advocates (which she got immediately) – and the “tutor tongue-twister” came to mind. Do you know it? A tutor who...
View ArticleTrue Confessions – My Take on Health Care Reform
Last week we watched (or more likely heard summaries during newscasts of) the Supreme Court’s (SCOTUS Supreme Court of the United States) hearings on American healthcare reform (AKA The ACA, Affordable...
View ArticleTime to Put a Stop to Drive-by-Doctoring
As many of my readers know, I speak at meetings and conferences fairly frequently, and most often to groups of patients and caregivers. The focus of the talks I give is usually on a patient empowerment...
View ArticleSometimes It’s Better to Just Say No
Story One: When I was a child (and we’re talking a lo-o-o-ng time ago – when doctors made house calls)… if I got an earache, I would suffer. REALLY suffer. Mom would drip some warm oil into my ear,...
View ArticleLooking for Trisha Torrey, (former) About.com Patient Empowerment Expert?
You found me! Here I am! And I’m moving back in, here to my personal blog. Home. Where I started writing about Patient Empowerment in 2005. It’s been awhile since I’ve been “home.” Look around! You...
View Article10 Years of Lessons Learned from Misdiagnosis and Medical Mistakes
Get better medical care: Practice Practice Practice! ……………………………………….. Think back 10 years. How old were you – or your kids or even your grandkids? (Did even have kids or grandkids then?) Did you live...
View ArticleThe Cost of a Doctor Visit – Where is the Value?
This post at Kevin MD made the rounds again last week. Written by Mary Pat Whaley, and entitled , “Your 10 minute office visit needs 8 people and 45 minutes of work” it describes all the background...
View ArticleTop Doctors and Best Hospitals – for a Price
You mostly see them in airline magazines. But sometimes I see a banner or badge on a doctor’s website, or even a hospital’s billboard. Big proclamations they are! Dr. Horatio P. Speshultee is a TOP...
View ArticleWhen Patients Read What Their Doctors Write
Article: When Patients Read What Their Doctors Write by Leana Wen, MD from Reader’s Digest (and NPR) What a great empowerment tool for patients! Read this article about how Dr. Wen works with her...
View ArticleEvery Patient’s Advocate 2.0 – An Update
Do you ever feel like there just aren’t enough hours in your day, and that you can’t possibly do everything you wish you could do? Not every day, of course! But yes – I know you’ve felt exactly the...
View ArticleChicken Little, Wishful Thinking and the 24 Hour News Cycle
One frightening and frustrating trend we’ve seen since the 24-hour news cycle became a reality (meaning – since we have all gotten used to, and expect, to get our news updated at anytime, day or night,...
View ArticleGetting Away With Murder? Public Records, New York and Across the US
This post is two things: 1. A description of the problem which has to do with money, influence, and once again, it’s the little guy who will lose out. 2. A call to action for those who live in New...
View ArticlePatients Looking Out for Each Other – When Patients Know Best
When oncologists consider recommendations for their patients’ cancer treatment, they will often consider the guidelines published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. They expect to find the...
View ArticleLooking for Trisha Torrey, (former) About.com Patient Empowerment Expert?
You found me! Here I am! And I’m moving back in, here to my personal blog. Home. Where I started writing about Patient Empowerment in 2005. It’s been awhile since I’ve been “home.” Look around! You...
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