Tag: Participatory Medicine

Patient Activation Triggered by Viewing Online Notes

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I recently recounted the true story of a patient, Joe, who I have been seeing for many years. Through all of that time I had been unable to persuade, convince, or cajole him to change his diet and sedentary lifestyle. Read what happened when Joe read his online office note (our health system was one of the initial sites for OpenNotes) and it provided the trigger for him to change. Then find out how he leveraged an activity tracker and his social network to keep him to task. And now this patient is going to feel better and be such less costly to the health care system.

Leonard Kish wrote, “if patient engagement were a drug, it would be the blockbuster drug of the century.” But exercise is also a wonder drug, not to be underestimated. Joe’s story shows the power of both.

I’d love to hear your comments below or on the Journal of Participatory Medicine website.

Health Care as Collaboration

Dr. Danny Sands3 Comments

I was privileged to contribute to the book,TIC Saúde 2014 – Research on the Use of Information and Communication Technology in Brazilian Health Facilities. It presents the results of a nationwide survey of how health IT (which outside the US is called “ICT,” where the ‘C’ stands for “Communication”) is used in Brazil. The publication includes chapters presenting different… Continue reading Health Care as Collaboration

On a Physician’s Recovery After Major Illness

Dr. Danny Sands16 Comments

As many of my readers know, I was intubated in an ICU about two months ago. (Do scan the comments—many of my readers disclosed their own health stories or those of friends and family.) I promised to post an update after my follow-up MRI and neurologist appointment, and we were incredibly relieved to learn that… Continue reading On a Physician’s Recovery After Major Illness

When Bad Things Happen to Great Patient Advocates

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Kevin Leonard, a tireless patient advocate and dear friend in Toronto, Ontario died this past summer. He was only 55 years old. Had I been blogging at the time I would have written about him, but was reminded of Kevin’s amazing life and untimely death by this fitting tribute in the Globe and Mail recently… Continue reading When Bad Things Happen to Great Patient Advocates

Patients and the Future of Our Health Care System

Dr. Danny Sands2 Comments

Last month, I introduced e-Patient Dave’s keynote at the AMIA Fall Symposium. In that introduction, which I summarized in a blog post about my recent health scare, I drew an analogy between John F. Kennedy’s famous statement delivered at the Berlin Wall in 1963 expressing solidarity with the people of Berlin who were cut off… Continue reading Patients and the Future of Our Health Care System

On The Ultimate Loss of Control, Living with Uncertainty, Reflecting on the Future, and Being a Patient

Dr. Danny Sands83 Comments

Prelude I don’t remember three days of my life. I have generally felt in control of my life and behavior. Although I understand the future is always uncertain, I do as much as I can to plan for it and minimize risk to myself and my family. This includes focusing on avoidance of stress, healthy… Continue reading On The Ultimate Loss of Control, Living with Uncertainty, Reflecting on the Future, and Being a Patient

Patient-Doctor Relationships, Big Data, and Small Data in Healthcare

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Please listen to my interview on RadioActive‘s The Empowered Patient radio show. In it we discuss how big data can used in health care, why it’s not commonly used yet, and how connected technology’s play a role in patient care. We even discussed Participatory Medicine in this brief (20 minute) interview. The host promised to have… Continue reading Patient-Doctor Relationships, Big Data, and Small Data in Healthcare

Person-Centered Healthcare and the Limitations of Government

Dr. Danny Sands6 Comments

As I’m on the lunch break from a workshop of the ONC’s Person at the Center Initiative, for which I am on the advisory board, I am contemplating how we make our health and healthcare truly person-centered, but also the levers government has in promoting this critical transformation. But more importantly, the limitations to what… Continue reading Person-Centered Healthcare and the Limitations of Government

What’s In a Name?

Dr. Danny Sands6 Comments

After years of writing on other blogs, including the Society for Participatory Medicine’s blog, I felt as if I should really be writing posts on my own blog. But for me, perhaps because I am self-critical and perfectionistic, writing has always been time-consuming, and time is something I do not have in excess. While some… Continue reading What’s In a Name?