I’m teaching this week — health informatics to nurses, public health and health administration students. Last week we discussed standards and interoperability; and it reminded me of a story. The memory was triggered by student discussions. One said it must have been difficult to receive excellent medical care 50 years…

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 why it is so important for patients and their family…

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. …

In late May, as talk of opening up the economy began, I started to think of my mother and her primary caregiver; my father. …

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. …

I’ve been quietly watching as panic buying of toilet paper (TP) and water has unfolded. What I’ve seen reinforces my preparedness belief, because if you aren’t already prepared you may not have TP to use in your potty when it is needed. …

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 which is most often seen in cases involving Alzheimer’s and other dementia. — Clinicians and other healthcare professionals have learned through trial and error to walk the fine line of respect for the individual’s wishes and safety of others. Legislation creates a framework and the setting of clear expectations helps set the boundaries for interactions.

Online support groups provide tremendous 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 to improved the education of at-risk patients and their family caregivers; especially those struggling…

I just returned from a long trip to help my dad care for my mom. I was able to get my own scheduled treatments shifted over to providers in that state and community. Upon arriving at my parents’ home; I assessed a serious state and quickly got to work taking…