Christina's Considerations

Not in Vain A Promise Kept

Years ago as a blogger, physicians and a few other clinicians found me and shared their books. Today, patients and their caregivers find me. Not in Vain is a daughter's advocacy in honor of her mother and her experience with... Read more →

The Changing Brain: Dementia

The last couple of years were challenging for my family. My mom had dementia and we needed to try and keep up with her changing brain and its impact on her functioning, social needs, and physical status. We also needed... Read more →

Legal Innovations & Healthcare Harm

Effective hospital risk managers and executives, learn the importance of communication when it comes to preventing most lawsuits. Clear communications that can be acted upon make for more efficient and effective workplaces, but also better quality and safer care. But,... Read more →

Changa in Functional Medicine

A few years ago, I read about the life and work of Hildegard von Bingen (c. 1098 - 1179), a German nun and scientific/medical writer. She began using the herbs grown in her monastery garden to aid those she cared... Read more →

The Mystique of Surgery: Three

Dr. David Gelber is a general surgeon and author. Over my career I've seen many surgery schedules, participated in clinical chart review activities and listened to doctors explain cases to me. A great deal was learned, but there is so... Read more →

Exercises for Parkinson's Disease & More

Improving mobility, strength and balance as we age or in response to chronic illnesses is important to our overall health status. Exercise helps us reduce our functional limitations; allowing us to stay more active and independent. More importantly, it can... Read more →

Opioids: Law and Addiction

Most of my prior book review posts involve the writings of doctors and a couple of other health professionals. I'm starting 2020 off with a little something different. An attorney who wrote Law and Addiction. It is a fictional thriller... Read more →

Canines N Kids - At the Hospital

I've been a delinquent blogger again, but have some new ideas.... and a few books to review. One of these books is "We'll Get Through This Together". It reminds me of the power of pet therapy in the hospital or... Read more →

Book Review: Choosing Joy with Alzheimer's

"Joy and woe are woven fine." - William Blake There is a wonderful book for caregivers that offers expert advice ... from a caregiver. It is focused on her experience caring for someone with Alzheimer's, however, the experiences and advice... Read more →

CBD: neuroprotectant, cardio-protectant and antioxidant

My blog posts on CBD are some of my most popular. They helped me organize my thoughts on CBD, but I also want to hear what physicians have to say. Thus, my guest post today. It answers some of my... Read more →

Eat Pray Love: The Spoonie Senior Version

A few years ago I listened to the audio book Eat Pray Love. It is the story of a woman who re-examines herself after a life change and goes in search of her new self. My hero, of course, plans... Read more →

An End to Upside Down Thinking

Early in my career I focused my mental energy on my goals, and opportunities seemed to appear when needed the most. I'm an optimist and also believe I must address challenges in order to control my destiny. The mind has... Read more →

Micro Communities and Dementia

Not long ago I finished a book on the power of micro communities - The Courage to Go Forward . It posed the question of how do we support populations of individuals in ways that achieve what is most important... Read more →

Book Review: Unspoken Truths about Marijuana

One risk to healthy children and families, as I've seen in my own circle of friends, has been marijuana use at a young age. While some don't experience adverse symptoms, others seem to be more prone to troubles and the... Read more →

PERSEVERANCE “To carry on in your course of action, even in the face of difficulty, with little or no evidence of success”

Guest Blogger: Tim Hague The following is an excerpt from my book PERSEVERANCE - The Seven Skills You Need To Survive, Thrive And Accomplish More Than You Ever Imagined. I was just forty-six years of age when diagnosed with young... Read more →

End of Life Care: Choices and Preparing

This third post concludes our series of guest posts from Dr. Sepulveda. I hope it has prompted thought, reflection and perhaps a bit of conversation. by Sebastian Sepulveda, MD, author of At Death's Door: End of Life Stories from the... Read more →

End of Life Care: Open Honest Conversations and a Second Opinion

We continue with the second part in our series on end of life care with another guest post from... Sebastian Sepulveda, MD, author of At Death's Door: End of Life Stories from the Bedside Understanding What’s to Come: Open and... Read more →

End of Life Care: Practical Options and Advice – A Doctor’s Perspective

End of life care is resource intensive and costly... financially and emotionally. As an administrator, I've been involved in mediating conflict between patients and their families and sometimes between either with their professional caregivers. It is an unpleasant position, but... Read more →

Med School 101 - for patients & their caregivers!

Another book, another physician author! Like my last review on pain, this one is directed at patients and their caregivers for improving their experience. Kilbourn Gordon III, M.D., an ER physician, wrote “Med School 101 for Patients,” as a step-by-step... Read more →

Speak Up and Speak Out for Stress

Stress affects everyone, damaging our health and relationships. In honor of International Stress Awareness Day, Nov 1st, Dr. Bradley Nelson, author of “The Emotion Code,” suggests 6 ways to beat stress for the holidays and year round. His tips for... Read more →

Pain: Why does it hurt?

I have encountered med seeking behavior in hospitals and clinics; and also seen family members benefit and/or struggle with their use of opioids for real pain. My grandmother died of cancer, on morphine managed by her nurse daughter, so her... Read more →

Population Health: Management Policy Technology

Improving the health of any population requires management, policy and technology systems and processes. These can be complex and dynamic. Earlier this year, I read Population Health: Management, Policy & Technology and was drawn to the chapter of HIE governance.... Read more →

Compassion when friends/family are ill

As a young hospital administrator I attempted to be empathetic and compassionate when I was speaking with patients. But, I didn't always know how I was perceived. Then I came across the book, What Can I Say? - a guide... Read more →

The Dash of Dr. Todd: The point between life and death

Dr. Howard Adkins has written The Dash of Doctor Todd; a book that gives us a peek into the practice of medicine in pioneering environments of the Wild West. It makes one reflect on the struggles, austere environments and just... Read more →

Stoned: Truth About Medical Marijuana and Hemp Oil

My latest opportunity to read a book written by a physician takes me into an area of medical practice that I'm exploring and looking to find the truth. I've never been one to blindly follow; instead I prefer to question... Read more →