e-Patients Blog
The blog of the Society for Participatory Medicine. Want to be a contributor?
The Democratization of Academic Medicine
A post many weeks ago by Andrew Leonard in his blog “How the World Works” mused about the significance of the declining number of publications from “top” academic economists. It […]
Health 2.0 in The Economist
Health 2.0. It’s all that people can talk about some days in the online health world. It has no definition, though, it’s not much more than the nebulous “Web 2.0,” […]
Poor and Elderly E-patients
The current issue of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved features an article based on a August 2006 survey by the Pew Internet & American Life […]
“Good enough” technology
What else out there in the e-patient world is “good enough” (or not)? It might be OK if your diet and exercise plan is just “good enough,” but you want your surgeon to strive for perfection. What are some other examples of “good enough” technology or care?
Making the world a better place …
I checked my calendar today, 7/7/07 and found two important events — Live Earth concert and Tom Ferguson’s birthday. In honor of Tom’s birthday, I decided to wear my e-patients […]
Google Forms Advisory Council Heavy on Bigwigs
Well, at least Google tries. We have to give them credit for that, and for this very first step — which I honestly hope is just that (as others have […]
Michael Moore’s Sicko Wants You
Michael Moore has decided to do something a little different with the recent release of his documentary detailing some of the ills, as he sees them, of America’s healthcare system. […]
Health Education vs. Outcomes
The Pew Internet Project has found that the internet has a significant impact on decisions about which school to attend, but it does not play a big role in other “major life moments.” Is there something similar in health care? Are there conditions and diseases which are more likely to yield to an e-patient’s ability to change the outcome? Is it enough that e-patients are more informed and feel empowered by information, or should we expect more?
AMA versus Retail Clinics: Patient Safety or Protectionism?
Unsurprisingly, the American Medical Association has come down on the side of paternalistic “patient safety” (just looking out for us little ole “patients”) in expressing concerns about the rise of […]
E-Patients And The Participatory Internet- Part II
In a post a couple of weeks ago (Part I), I talked about the participatory nature of the internet and related platforms. OK, I agree that “Web 2.0″ is already […]
Three Simple Rules
When in 2002 we came out with our bold new concept of “information therapy” I was sure that Tom would love the idea of doctors or health plans prescribing information to consumers. He didn’t. He was concerned that the prescribed information from clinicians would undermine the patient’s right or ability to search for information from other self-helpers…
…I think I am there—but then Tom might still not agree—for I still think that the self-help world will work better when the patient is also being prescribed information as a part of the process of care.
“Communication between Physicians and Patients in the Era of E-Medicine”
The New England Journal of Medicine has a “Perspective” by John H. Stone, M.D., M.P.H., on how E-Medicine is changing the doctor-patient relationship (June 14, 2007). Here’s a memorable quote: […]
