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 →
Rare conditions, syndromes and diseases can include a really long and winding road; especially during the diagnosis period. Rare doesn't mean there isn't a diagnosis, it just means more thought and referrals for second opinions or referrals to specialists are... Read more →
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 →
This guest post from Nightfall (a cloud-native data loss prevention solution) is written for organizations that partner with those in the healthcare industry, but I share this post to help educate consumers. One reason is I often hear "you can... Read more →
Too many consumers of health care services feel stuck. They know something is wrong, but their physician (or another clinician) doesn't find anything or suggests a diagnosis or treatment that just doesn't seem to fit. While we don't want to... Read more →
I've tested some new products and share a few in my latest holiday gift guide; especially for those with chronic illness and/or challenged by the aging process. The first on the list is influenced by our current pandemic and the... Read more →
Medical errors, delays in care, bias and misunderstandings are most often the result in communication failures. In fact, most lawsuits filed by patients and/or their families are the result of communication issues that sometimes lead to poor outcomes. This is... Read more →
Cannabinoid products (CBD) are appearing everywhere and in different forms. We can find salves, chews, gummies, bath bombs, oils, concentrates and beverages on store shelves and online. While high quality CBD can be effective in addressing some of our health... Read more →
In late May, as talk of opening up the economy began, I started to think of my mother and her primary caregiver; my father. They both need my support and assistance as they face the challenges of a serious chronic... Read more →
These days there is a great deal of buzz about hand sanitizer. There are options to the traditional alcohol based products, or those you can make from home. One intriguing option is Clean Well, because my skin is really dry.... Read more →
I was recently asked how did I learn to advocate for myself as a patient. This made me reflect on my career in health administration, where I recognized the importance of patients advocating for themselves early in my journey. In... Read 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 →
Tensions often exist between individual rights and liberties and those of a family, neighborhood or community. No where does this delicate balance seem to get tested more than in the areas of mental health and cognitive impairment. The latter of... Read more →
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 →
There are struggles adult children face when it comes to the safety of aging parents or other loved ones. It might be taking the keys or firearms away, moving them from the home they know, placing them in a facility... Read more →
Tis' the season of holidays and the giving of gifts. But, what do you get for someone with functional limitations caused by injury, chronic illness or aging processes? This year I've been keeping an eye out for a few items... Read more →
Depression caused by loneliness is a real risk in senior populations. It can be triggered by the death of a spouse or friends. For some, however, it might begin earlier when children leave the home and their parents find themselves... Read more →
My online support groups have given me tremendous new insight into healthcare social media. More specifically, about how patients and family caregivers use these tools to get advice on their challenges, threats and needs. These online networks have revealed opportunities... Read more →
"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 →
A little over two years ago I started researching tools to help me stay active in spite of new functional limitations. I looked for products to help me perform activities of daily living as independently as possible. As I progressed... Read more →
Change is good
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