Christina's Considerations

What Ails Louisiana - the State's top 10 health problems!

My Louisiana Life magazine arrived and I found a really interesting article that addresses one of the issues I've noticed during my trips home over the last several years. I've noticed that people tend to be much larger than those... Read more →

SB Community Health Status Report

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department released the Community Health Status Report for 2009 and identified the casues of premature death, risk factors and prevention steps. The top three causes are: Coronary Heart Disease Motor Vehicle Accidents Accidental Drug... Read more →

H1N1 Educational Materials for Older Teens and Young Adults

Sometimes it is more difficult to reach out to older teens and young adults on public health issues. But, UCSB Student Health has some posters for older teens and young adults and an online self assessment of flu symptoms that... Read more →

H1N1 Awareness and Prevention Materials

Below are links to materials that can be printed out, posted on your business Intranet or website, or emailed out to employees and vendors. Health Alert English and Spanish or English Chinese Cover your Cough Table Tent H1N1 Workplace Health... Read more →

Business Preparations for a Possible H1N1 Outbreak: Foresee Severe Problems

A recent Harvard School of Public Health Survey revealed concerns about maintaining operations if a significant or widespread H1N1 flu outbreak were to occur. The concerns center around continuity of operations, absenteeism, sick leave policies, and other employee issues. Highlights... Read more →

Is your business prepared for the 2009 flu season?

The business community, including non-profits, play a key role in the infrastructure of communities as employers and providers of essential services. As a result, it is really important that businesses are prepared for the upcoming flu season and the impact... Read more →

Santa Barbara Healthcare Forum

I noted in earlier posts (Evolution of the US Healthcare System: A Process and Baseball and Health Reform) that I had been invited to join a panel of physicians and a health insurance broker to discuss the need for reform... Read more →

Hospital H1N1 -Seasonal Influenza Preparedness Checklist

The California Hospital Association has been producing some really great tools to help hospitals be better prepared for any emergency that might strike, but the latest is rather timely. The Hospital H1N1 - Seasonal Influenza Preparedness Checklist can help facilities... Read more →

Southern California Health Care Summit

I'm attending the Southern California Health Care Summit on October 29, 2009 from 9 am to 3 pm at the Marriott Ontario Airport. This year's program should be a good one given the healthcare system reform issues we face. I... Read more →

Hospital Administrator Bloggers

I've followed a couple of hospital administrator's who have blogged over the years, but in writing my book on use of social media in healthcare I found a few more. I also know there are administrator's blogging on secure networks,... Read more →

Healthcare System: Full of Fraud?

Hummm! The President said the "healthcare sytem is full of fraud" last night and I'm a bit miffed about the statement. I've worked in the healthcare system and seen a few people be brought down by the scams they brought... Read more →

The wrong way to reform the health system

Paul Levy shares an example of how not to reform our healthcare system . This is an example of not thinking through the process and the impact it will have on other costs. Those who are not familiar with the... Read more →

Zits: For Moms and Sons

Over the weekend, I read a comic and shared it with my son. When I asked what he thought about it, he replied with a smile that he liked it. I think he may have noticed the familiarity of the... Read more →

Social Media: Disruptive Force in Medicine!

You betch'a social media will be a disruptive force in medicine and healthcare. Glen at the Healthcare Blog does a great job addressing one of the biggests risks. However, their is already great risk in how we conduct our personal... Read more →

King of the World - Flu Fighting

Sometimes it would be nice to be king of the world an see if I could really make it a better place. Well, I've found at least a virtual world where I can practice. The Great Flu is a game... Read more →

Here we go... RHIOs are Connecting!

I've known since 2004 that we would see the day when RHIOs began to find others who shared the same vision and they would pool their resources and collaborate for a sustainable future. It seems the first to do this... Read more →

Hospitals Sustain the Economy

Those of us working in hospitals have realized our role in supporting local economies. Many towns and cities, and now, States rely on their financial contributions to the economy. It was a pleasure to read the article Hospitals Help Sustain... Read more →

Trust, Sharing and Managing Health Information

I been wanting to add a couple of documents related to health information exchange (HIE) to my blog since I read the Spring Issue of the Journal of Health Information Management.They are all worth reading in their entirety. Crying Wolf:... Read more →

Elmo says "Wash your hands!"

Elmo, as usual, has some great advice when it comes to washing your hands and covering your cough to avoid getting the flu. Please share this with you young children. Read more →

Yeah for Teen Hospital Workers!

Teens in Boston are getting a peak into what it is like to work in a hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital is being recognized for their effort with AHA's NOVA Award. I started my career as a candy striper... Read more →