Barbara Ficarra

This is a four-part series addressing the issues of gaming in health care.

In parts one through three, Joseph C. Kvedar, M.D., Fabio Gratton, and Bill Crounse, M.D., offered their insights on how gaming is helping to change the landscape in health care, and now in part four, I offer...

This is a four-part series addressing the issues of gaming in health care.

In part one Joseph C. Kvedar, M.D., shared his insights on how gaming is changing the landscape in health care.

In part two Fabio Gratton, co-founder and chief innovation officer at Ignite Health offered his insights on...

This is a four part series addressing the issues of gaming in health care.

In part one Joseph C. Kvedar, M.D., answered the question, "Is gaming changing the landscape in health care?"

In part two Fabio Gratton shares his insights on how gaming is helping to change the landscape in...

Do you think gaming can improve health care and help you live a healthier life?

There is no doubt gaming is all the rage, and according to The Entertainment Software Association, (ESA) consumers spent $25.1 billion on video games, hardware and accessories in 2010.

Jane McGonigal, game designer,...

If you're a smoker your company could be penalizing you by tapping into your wallet.

How do companies curb health care costs?

Do healthier employees lead to increased productivity? Several progressive companies believe so and have committed to providing employees with programs to help engage them in a healthier lifestyle.

In a recent Harvard Business Review blog, David Armano writes about the six pillars of influence that leads to measurably favorable outcomes.

To achieve measurably better health, the pillars Armano explains can certainly be adopted.

He notes how the "social web can amplify signals, influence behavior and lead...

Comprehensive Guide for Medical Professionals and Patients Engaging in Social Media

Social networking offers value. It allows doctors, nurses and other health care professionals to collaborate, connect and engage with the community and their colleagues. I recently talked with Dr. Marc Siegel about Medical Social Networking on FOX NEWS Live....

This is the latest post in our series, TwitterPowerhouses, which focuses on the contributions of people who've helped to expand, influence, and redefine how we view social networking.

As the texts and records of ancient societies show us, health and fitness have always been essential to the growth and...

There are some things in life that should clearly be ignored. The telemarketer who calls your house at all hours of the day and night, the endless commercials and newspaper ads claiming unbelievable weight loss results with minimal effort, and any health news story that promises a "miracle" or "cure."...

Do you worry that harmful chemicals leach out of plastic containers into its contents? Are plastic containers toxic? Do you drink from plastic water bottles? Are you concerned about the safety of plastics?

Information circulating about the dangers of plastic containers has created fear and confusion.

Recently, I

Do you feel you are the most important part of the medical (health care team)?

In a recent post on Healthin30, "When Doctors and Nurses Work Together" I wrote about the team-based approach for caring and treating patients, and it addressed the relationship between nurses, doctors, patients and...

It is with empathy that we can engage and empower our patients.

Do you feel it is important for your doctor, nurse and other health care professionals to be empathetic towards your needs? Do they understand you? Do they listen to you, engage you and help empower you in your...

At the Microsoft Health Users Group Exchange last month at the Microsoft Corporate Campus in Redmond, WA, patient engagement was the overall theme.

Whether presenters were talking about "Cloud Computing," "Care Coordination," or "Population Health Management," empowering the patient was the paradigm.

"At the end of the day,...

Have you ever left your doctor's appointment (nurse practitioner or other health care provider) and realized that you forgot to ask him or her important questions relative to your visit? It often happens to patients. You're not alone.

Here are a few simple tips that you may find helpful...

It's amazing where inspiration comes from. It can come unexpectedly from anywhere at any time.

I'll admit it, writer's block was hitting me hard. While I have a ton of outlines written for future blogs, I was uninspired to use any of them here and now.

I wanted something different....

You know that person you work with, the one that always seems to be in a bad mood, the one that never smiles, the one that never has a nice thing to say and complains about every little thing. They just seem miserable. Well, I don't think any of us...

The reason for writing this is to let you know about the opportunity people have to truly save a life.

Even without being a trained health care professional, the layperson can literally take charge of a situation, initiate a simple movement, called Hands-Only CPR, that can literally save a life....

Superwoman Syndrome Fuels Concern
Part I

There's no doubt that prescription drug abuse is a major problem in America, and it's escalating in epic proportions. Prescription drug abuse affects men, women and teens. Concerning trends include older adults, adolescents and women.

On MSNBC's website, Karen Asp writes,

Hollywood Heart Attack

When thinking about someone having a heart attack, it's easy to think about the classic Hollywood example. The person clutching their chest, gasping for a breath and falling to the ground.

After all, Hollywood is hot for drama, and when it comes to portraying a person having...

When you need to take liquid medicine, do you reach for the kitchen spoon? If you do, you're not alone but most likely you're not measuring the dosage accurately and it could be disastrous.

A recent study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that people who use...