For those of us born in the Generation X era, we’ve watched computer technology go from the joys of Pong when we got our first Atari to using our phones to access the entire spectrum of information available on the Internet.
Some of us have grasped the technology with a little more fervor than others. Some folks still prefer to get their news and information from newspaper, TV and radio. Others simply log on and search the Web for whatever they need. Some of us are somewhere in the middle.
I fit into that third group. I grew up on newspapers and while I kind of understand technology, it can be pretty intimidating. At the same time, I appreciate the things it has to offer as – especially when it comes to finding information. And because everyone gets their information in different ways and different places, Martin Memorial wanted to help people access health care topics any time they wanted in a variety of ways.
So in November 2007, Martin Memorial started offering a variety of multimedia formats that deliver news, notes and resources not only on what’s happening in the health system, but also the world of health in general.
We started with this blog, Martin Memorial Housecall. Since that time, we’ve had thousands of visitors to the site and written on topics ranging from cancer and heart disease to how to train for a 5K run.
In December 2007, we launched Martin Memorial Healthcast, a podcast that touches on a wide range of health issues. That’s included tips on how to reach fitness and nutritional goals, as well as how Martin Memorial is partnering in revolutionary cancer care research.
In April 2008, Martin Memorial’s MDoc TV hit the Internet. The videocast is produced in a TV news-like segment and features health issues as well as information on how to improve your health from physicians. You can also see MDoc TV episodes by clicking on the links at the bottom of this page.
We’ve learned a lot in the last year and hope our readers, listeners and viewers have too. There’ll be more to come in 2009 but we hope you’ll continue to check out what’s happening in health through our blog, podcasts and videocasts.
Stay tuned.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Showing posts with label Martin Memorial Healthcast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martin Memorial Healthcast. Show all posts
Friday, December 26, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Lights! Camera! MDoc TV!
Who says watching TV isn’t good for you?
MDoc TV, a monthly videocast produced by the Martin Memorial Marketing Communications Department, is designed to provide information that can help people improve their health. It can be seen on the health system’s Web site, http://www.mmhs.com/.
The videocast, which debuted on April 22, features a wide range of health issues from physicians and clinical experts. In the inaugural videocast, topics included: Martin Memorial’s collaboration in a study called Total Cancer Care; how a specialized rehabilitation program can get golfers back out on the links; and information from cardiologist Howard Helfman, M.D., on how to prevent heart disease.
“MDoc TV is designed to deliver healthcare news and information in an engaging fashion that is convenient to access,” said Lisa McCluskey, director of marketing communications. “Our goal is to provide a wide range of topics that can help people live healthier lives.”
Since November 2007, Martin Memorial has been providing new ways for people to access healthcare information. That includes this blog as well as Martin Memorial Healthcast, a podcast produced twice a month that can also be accessed at http://www.mmhs.com/.
By offering a variety of communication outlets, Martin Memorial is continuing its role as the leading healthcare provider in the community by helping people prevent disease and staying healthy.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
MDoc TV, a monthly videocast produced by the Martin Memorial Marketing Communications Department, is designed to provide information that can help people improve their health. It can be seen on the health system’s Web site, http://www.mmhs.com/.
The videocast, which debuted on April 22, features a wide range of health issues from physicians and clinical experts. In the inaugural videocast, topics included: Martin Memorial’s collaboration in a study called Total Cancer Care; how a specialized rehabilitation program can get golfers back out on the links; and information from cardiologist Howard Helfman, M.D., on how to prevent heart disease.
“MDoc TV is designed to deliver healthcare news and information in an engaging fashion that is convenient to access,” said Lisa McCluskey, director of marketing communications. “Our goal is to provide a wide range of topics that can help people live healthier lives.”
Since November 2007, Martin Memorial has been providing new ways for people to access healthcare information. That includes this blog as well as Martin Memorial Healthcast, a podcast produced twice a month that can also be accessed at http://www.mmhs.com/.
By offering a variety of communication outlets, Martin Memorial is continuing its role as the leading healthcare provider in the community by helping people prevent disease and staying healthy.
--Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Monday, February 4, 2008
Rewriting a Family History of Diabetes
The finger prick was quick and relatively painless, the needle darting suddenly from a small lancing device to break the skin on my index finger.
Maureen Daniello, program coordinator for diabetes education at Martin Memorial, let some of the blood dribble onto a test strip that fed into a glucose meter. It was a routine I’d seen my mother do countless times, the daily monitoring of blood sugar levels that many diabetics must perform.
The numbers flashed on the meter as 117 milligrams/deciliter – well below the 160 mg/dl limit since I’d eaten just two hours prior to the test. That meant I’m holding diabetes at bay – at least for now.
I had been listening to Maureen talk about diabetes as we recorded this week’s Martin Memorial Healthcast, along with a friend of mine who is also our podcast guru. It was a sobering conversation for both of us, given our family histories, our penchant for eating stuff we shouldn’t eat, as well as the extra weight hanging around our guts.
All three are major contributors to diabetes – facts we both conveniently ignore. Still, for people like us it’s hard to pretend we’re not at risk given the family histories: my mother is diabetic, her father was, some of my mom’s brothers have it, my father’s mother had it; both of my friend’s parents were also diagnosed with it.
After our talk with Maureen, my friend tested his fasting blood sugar level and recorded a 132 and a 137 – higher than the range of 80-120 recommended. The numbers may also serve as a wakeup call.
Diabetes is a horrible disease that can affect everything from your eyesight to your feet. It is a leading contributor to strokes, heart attacks and kidney disease. And the problem is growing by the day.
According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 21 million Americans have diabetes – including an estimated 6.2 million people who don’t know they have the disease. Another 54 million Americans are considered pre-diabetic. The total estimated cost of treating diabetes in 2007 was estimated at around $174 billion.
That’s a hefty price to pay for a disease that, in many cases, is entirely preventable. I intend to do whatever it takes to make sure I don’t get added to the list.
-- Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Listen to Maureen Daniello discuss diabetes, including ways you can prevent the disease, by visiting Martin Memorial Healthcast at www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm
Maureen Daniello, program coordinator for diabetes education at Martin Memorial, let some of the blood dribble onto a test strip that fed into a glucose meter. It was a routine I’d seen my mother do countless times, the daily monitoring of blood sugar levels that many diabetics must perform.
The numbers flashed on the meter as 117 milligrams/deciliter – well below the 160 mg/dl limit since I’d eaten just two hours prior to the test. That meant I’m holding diabetes at bay – at least for now.
I had been listening to Maureen talk about diabetes as we recorded this week’s Martin Memorial Healthcast, along with a friend of mine who is also our podcast guru. It was a sobering conversation for both of us, given our family histories, our penchant for eating stuff we shouldn’t eat, as well as the extra weight hanging around our guts.
All three are major contributors to diabetes – facts we both conveniently ignore. Still, for people like us it’s hard to pretend we’re not at risk given the family histories: my mother is diabetic, her father was, some of my mom’s brothers have it, my father’s mother had it; both of my friend’s parents were also diagnosed with it.
After our talk with Maureen, my friend tested his fasting blood sugar level and recorded a 132 and a 137 – higher than the range of 80-120 recommended. The numbers may also serve as a wakeup call.
Diabetes is a horrible disease that can affect everything from your eyesight to your feet. It is a leading contributor to strokes, heart attacks and kidney disease. And the problem is growing by the day.
According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 21 million Americans have diabetes – including an estimated 6.2 million people who don’t know they have the disease. Another 54 million Americans are considered pre-diabetic. The total estimated cost of treating diabetes in 2007 was estimated at around $174 billion.
That’s a hefty price to pay for a disease that, in many cases, is entirely preventable. I intend to do whatever it takes to make sure I don’t get added to the list.
-- Scott Samples
Public Information Coordinator
Listen to Maureen Daniello discuss diabetes, including ways you can prevent the disease, by visiting Martin Memorial Healthcast at www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
‘Total Cancer Care’ is Here
Each year, scientists and physicians find innovative technologies and treatments that improve cancer care.
Today, Martin Memorial announced that it will partner with Moffitt Cancer Center and M2Gen in an exciting new research project called Total Cancer Care. Moffitt and selected affiliates such as Martin Memorial are developing a research initiative to improve cancer prevention and treatment by using molecular technology to enhance the ability to diagnose and treat patients.
The goal of the program is to individualize cancer care by studying the molecular makeup of tumors. Currently, if a person comes in and is diagnosed with colon cancer, that person receives the same treatment as most everyone else who has colon cancer. It’s a kind of “one size fits all” treatment.
The Total Cancer Care project is looking to identify the genetic makeup of different kinds of tumors. That way, if a person comes in with colon cancer that has specific genetic codes, a physician can identify those and prescribe a treatment that has been shown to work specifically for that variety of colon cancer.
Through TCC, tumor tissues from thousands of patients across Florida will be collected and the biological markers unique to each tumor identified. Researchers will then analyze patients’ responses to specific treatments.
It is an exciting project to be a part of, and could help benefit patients from the Treasure Coast. The entire research staff at the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center look forward to working with Martin Memorial staff physicians, the Moffitt Cancer Center and M2Gen, and members of our community in this thrilling new endeavor.
--Christina Cullinane
Clinical Research Coordinator of Total Cancer Care
For more on Total Cancer Care listen to Dr. Timothy Yeatman, M2Gen president and chief scientific officer, and Lee Moffitt, founder of the Moffitt Cancer Center, talk about the project on Martin Memorial Healthcast. The podcast will be available Jan. 21 by visiting www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm.
Today, Martin Memorial announced that it will partner with Moffitt Cancer Center and M2Gen in an exciting new research project called Total Cancer Care. Moffitt and selected affiliates such as Martin Memorial are developing a research initiative to improve cancer prevention and treatment by using molecular technology to enhance the ability to diagnose and treat patients.
The goal of the program is to individualize cancer care by studying the molecular makeup of tumors. Currently, if a person comes in and is diagnosed with colon cancer, that person receives the same treatment as most everyone else who has colon cancer. It’s a kind of “one size fits all” treatment.
The Total Cancer Care project is looking to identify the genetic makeup of different kinds of tumors. That way, if a person comes in with colon cancer that has specific genetic codes, a physician can identify those and prescribe a treatment that has been shown to work specifically for that variety of colon cancer.
Through TCC, tumor tissues from thousands of patients across Florida will be collected and the biological markers unique to each tumor identified. Researchers will then analyze patients’ responses to specific treatments.
It is an exciting project to be a part of, and could help benefit patients from the Treasure Coast. The entire research staff at the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center look forward to working with Martin Memorial staff physicians, the Moffitt Cancer Center and M2Gen, and members of our community in this thrilling new endeavor.
--Christina Cullinane
Clinical Research Coordinator of Total Cancer Care
For more on Total Cancer Care listen to Dr. Timothy Yeatman, M2Gen president and chief scientific officer, and Lee Moffitt, founder of the Moffitt Cancer Center, talk about the project on Martin Memorial Healthcast. The podcast will be available Jan. 21 by visiting www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Freeze the Cold, Shoo the Flu for Kids
It happens every year. First comes a sniffle, then a cough, then a fever and pretty soon your child is in bed with a cold or the flu.
Children often are more susceptible to catching cold or flu because they haven’t had a lifetime of illness to build their immunity. Also, they often spend hours in institutions such as schools or daycares where there are a large number of children serving as incubators for germs. Additionally, children are less likely to have proper hygiene, which is one of the primary methods of preventing disease from occurring.
It’s been said before, but really the importance of hand-washing cannot be overstated. Whether it’s alcohol-based hand sanitizers or old-fashioned soap and water, the best way to prevent cold and flu – for you, y
our child and everyone else – is to wash those hands frequently and well.
There are some potential preventative alternatives as well. Vitamin C, as well as B complex vitamins and Omega-3 fatty acids have shown some ability to boost immune systems in an effort to ward off illness. They are safe for children, but certainly provide no guarantee that your child will never get sick.
Flu vaccines can help. I recommend vaccinations for children between six months and five years of age, provided they have no contraindications for the vaccine. Children under five are at just as high a risk of hospitalization with influenza as the elderly. Additionally any child with a condition that makes them more susceptible to illness should receive the flu shot. The flu shot is very well tolerated by children and it is a rarity that any child gets sick from the vaccine itself.
If your child does get sick, I recommend using medications sparingly. Most cold medicines aren’t terribly effective and it should be emphasized that no medicine available over the counter will get your child better faster. Recently it was determined that children under the age of two should not use cold medicines. Those between the ages of two and six should use them as little as possible.
Finally, if your child does develop cold or flu, you can help prevent it from spreading to others by keeping them home until they are no longer contagious. My general rule of thumb is that if they haven’t had a fever within 24 hours, and if they have started to show signs of improvement, they should be ready to return to school or daycare.
--Michael Jampol, M.D.
Pediatrician
To hear Dr. Jampol discuss tips on how to prevent your child from getting the cold or flu, listen to Martin Memorial Healthcast. You can access the weekly podcast by visiting www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm.
Children often are more susceptible to catching cold or flu because they haven’t had a lifetime of illness to build their immunity. Also, they often spend hours in institutions such as schools or daycares where there are a large number of children serving as incubators for germs. Additionally, children are less likely to have proper hygiene, which is one of the primary methods of preventing disease from occurring.
It’s been said before, but really the importance of hand-washing cannot be overstated. Whether it’s alcohol-based hand sanitizers or old-fashioned soap and water, the best way to prevent cold and flu – for you, y
our child and everyone else – is to wash those hands frequently and well.There are some potential preventative alternatives as well. Vitamin C, as well as B complex vitamins and Omega-3 fatty acids have shown some ability to boost immune systems in an effort to ward off illness. They are safe for children, but certainly provide no guarantee that your child will never get sick.
Flu vaccines can help. I recommend vaccinations for children between six months and five years of age, provided they have no contraindications for the vaccine. Children under five are at just as high a risk of hospitalization with influenza as the elderly. Additionally any child with a condition that makes them more susceptible to illness should receive the flu shot. The flu shot is very well tolerated by children and it is a rarity that any child gets sick from the vaccine itself.
If your child does get sick, I recommend using medications sparingly. Most cold medicines aren’t terribly effective and it should be emphasized that no medicine available over the counter will get your child better faster. Recently it was determined that children under the age of two should not use cold medicines. Those between the ages of two and six should use them as little as possible.
Finally, if your child does develop cold or flu, you can help prevent it from spreading to others by keeping them home until they are no longer contagious. My general rule of thumb is that if they haven’t had a fever within 24 hours, and if they have started to show signs of improvement, they should be ready to return to school or daycare.
--Michael Jampol, M.D.
Pediatrician
To hear Dr. Jampol discuss tips on how to prevent your child from getting the cold or flu, listen to Martin Memorial Healthcast. You can access the weekly podcast by visiting www.mmhs.com/content/healthcasts.htm.
Friday, November 30, 2007
“Martin Memorial Healthcast” to Provide Health Info on the Go for Multi-Taskers
Multi-tasking. Is it becoming a worn-out phrase or does it just wear us out? For me, it means sitting at my home computer writing a marketing plan while being peppered with questions from a 5th grader such as what’s the common factor of 48 (no, I’m not smarter than a 5th grader), meanwhile keeping an ear on the sound of the shower so at exactly 10 minutes I can yell to my teen: ‘don’t make a career out of taking a shower.’ By the way, dinner’s in the oven, the dog wants out and my cup of dark chocolate M & Ms is running low.
Multi-tasking means using the left and the right side of our brains at the same time. It’s texting with the zeal of a 14-year old at a school dance while in the drive thru at Starbucks. It’s answering a few of those daily voice mails while grocery shopping. No matter your version of multi-tasking, we’re all trying to be efficient with our time and accomplish more with less.
When we started this blog, we promised to help you prevent disease and live longer. We also know that sometimes you need health information in a to-go box. That’s why we created Martin Memorial Healthcast, a new weekly podcast premiering Dec. 3 that will deliver health information you can use in a voice file. Simply go to http://www.mmhs.com/ and click on Martin Memorial Healthcast, where you will find programs to help you get fit or prevent disease, all for downloading to your iPod or computer. Listen to Healthcast while doing one of those 100 million other things you do. Like refilling the cup with dark chocolate M & Ms.
--Lisa McCluskey
Director of Marketing Communications
Multi-tasking means using the left and the right side of our brains at the same time. It’s texting with the zeal of a 14-year old at a school dance while in the drive thru at Starbucks. It’s answering a few of those daily voice mails while grocery shopping. No matter your version of multi-tasking, we’re all trying to be efficient with our time and accomplish more with less.
When we started this blog, we promised to help you prevent disease and live longer. We also know that sometimes you need health information in a to-go box. That’s why we created Martin Memorial Healthcast, a new weekly podcast premiering Dec. 3 that will deliver health information you can use in a voice file. Simply go to http://www.mmhs.com/ and click on Martin Memorial Healthcast, where you will find programs to help you get fit or prevent disease, all for downloading to your iPod or computer. Listen to Healthcast while doing one of those 100 million other things you do. Like refilling the cup with dark chocolate M & Ms.
--Lisa McCluskey
Director of Marketing Communications
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