Karen Stewart, Bridge Communities

Thanks to the great middle schoolers who went to NBC5 Chicago this morning to raise awareness of Sleep Out Saturday!

We are living in a generation of “e-patients” who use the internet for medical information. It is important for physicians to understand when and why patient use the internet and to use this information to facilitate positive patient-physician relationships. Furthermore, the increased degree to which we rely on the internet opens many opportunities for doctors and physicians.

Sixty-six percent of adults have researched online for information about a specific disease or medical concern, according to a recent study by Pew Research Center. That being said, when a physician communicates in the online world– via blogs, YouTube videos, Facebook, Twitter, etc.– , the physician positions his or herself as an expert on that topic to millions of Americans researching it.

For example, when a doctor posts an article about elbow pain to his or her blog, any user who searches such a condition could come across that article. Sharing his or her knowledge on elbow pain- or any other health condition or procedure- exponentially enhances the doctor’s credibility.

This study also found that 47 percent of American adults research a specific physician or health professional online. When a doctor’s name is searched online, the first several results will most likely be from doctor rating sites such as www.healthgrades.com, www.vitals.com, or www.ratemds.com, unless the doctor has a personal website or is part of a physicians’ group website.

These user-generated sites allow patients to rate their experiences with a doctor- everything from how long the patient had to wait to see the doctor, to the scent of the waiting room, to how compassionate the doctor was. This is a great way for others to see positive patient testimonials about a doctor. However, user-generated sites enable users to post almost anything: good or bad.

One patient may have had a bad day and unfavorably rated their experience with a doctor on one of these sites. Another user searching this doctor may come across that negative rating before seeing anything else about the doctor. A physician’s website will off-set any negative ratings that may exist.

OK, but social media and the internet are for younger folks, right? WRONG. More Americans of all ages are using the internet. According to the Pew Research Center study, eighty percent of Americans are using the internet. While 95 percent of Americans aged 19-34 use the internet, more than 58 percent of Americans aged 65-73 are also online.

The bottom line: studies show patients of all ages are online, making the internet a great platform for communicating with patients and capturing potential patients.

For more information about personalized physician or physician group’s websites or other services that P.S. Communications, Inc. offers, please explore www.pscommunicationsinc.com or contact Lisa Stafford at lisa@pscommunicationsinc.com | 630-212-1226 or Ann Pitcher at ann@pscommunicationsinc.com | 630-234-4150.

Become a fan of P.S. Communications, Inc. on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @psmedmarketing.

Stroke patients in the Southland have better odds for a successful recovery, thanks to this state-of-the-art telemedicine ‘robot’ available in the MetroSouth Medical Center emergency department (ED). Now, patients exhibiting symptoms of stroke will be seen by a highly qualified stroke neurologist any time of the day or night. In addition to an on-call neurologist, an immediately available stroke neurologist can be present 24/7 via the new robot. This device allows a remote neuro specialist to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of a patient based on data he/she receives from the emergency department staff and observations he/she makes from viewing the patient.

“This new technology is so important because many stroke patients must be treated within three hours of the onset of symptoms,” explains Dr. Eric Nussbaum, Chairman, MetroSouth Medical Center emergency department. “Our stroke patients may now have a better outcome because we can we can obtain a neuro consultatation anytime of the day or night.”

Like a more interactive Skype, this robot, called the RP Lite Robot Unit, can turn its head to better view the patient and zoom in, allowing the physician on the other end to get so close they can check a patient’s pupils or other vital signs. While controlling what the robot does on the other side, the doctor can also read scans and talk to the patient and emergency room staff. The robot can be wheeled to any patient room so that the consulting neurologist can treat patients anywhere in the hospital.

The robot allows for an ideal collaboration between the ED staff, ED physician and the consulting neurologist. “I like the fact that it feels like the neurologist is right in the room with us,” explains Gayle Toscano, Director, MetroSouth emergency services. During the robotic consultation, the emergency department physician relays his physical assessment findings and other pertinent information to the remote physician. The physicians can share data, images and discuss the best course of treatment for the patient.

MetroSouth’s emergency department is partnering with Rush University Medical Center to provide the immediate 24-hour neurology consultation for stroke patients. “Rush is thrilled to be partnering with an exceptional hospital like MetroSouth in this innovative endeavor. We will touch many lives and deliver high level acute stroke care — all as simple as a few mouse clicks,” explains Shyam Prabhakaran, MD, MS, Rush University Medical Center.

For more information, or to view the new RP Lite Robot Unit, please call Ann Pitcher at 630-887-0278.

PS Communications partners Lisa Stafford and Ann Pitcher with John Benish of Cook-Illinois Corporation after receiving a Gold Tower Award from the Business Marketing Association for the Clean Air Club marketing communications program.

Clean Air Bus

]]> http://pscommunicationsinc.com/cook-illinois-corporation/feed 0 http://pscommunicationsinc.com/marriott http://pscommunicationsinc.com/marriott#comments Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:24:50 +0000 admin http://66.147.240.195/~pscommun/?p=431 The new Marriott hotel in Burr Ridge, IL, had just opened and was suffering from an identity crisis, a difficult location and needed to fill rooms starting by creating a “buzz” in the local community.

P.S. Communications coordinated many events, including a celebrity cook-off with professional athletes and TV personalities to benefit Hinsdale Community Service and also coordinated a 5K run to benefit Hanson Center for people with disabilities.

P.S. Communications secured articles in local and Chicago newspapers, TV coverage and free, full-page ads in local newspaper for the event. Three hundred people attended the “Celebrity Cook-off” and one hundred runners ran the 5K. Thousands of dollars were raised for each organization. Hundreds of first-time patrons visited the hotel.