2017 was a year of growth, learning and experimenting with new tools and resources to helped me to be productive and realize the topics that resonate most with readers. In 2017 I wrote 28 Blog posts on a variety of topics. I remained focused on my twofold...
2017 has been a year of adjustments and learning. As a result of complications I sustained from the chemotherapy that saved my life after being diagnosed with a central nervous system brain tumor, I had to make significant changes to how I live my life and do the work...
In the early 80s, I took a German culture course as one of the electives for my Bachelor’s degree. It was a life-changing experience for me. Each week the professor would share information on German history and the culture of the various areas. She brought the...
Today marks three years of being a cancer survivor. Yes, it was November 24, 2014, when I had a ‘little’ car accident’ that sent me to the emergency department where a CAT scan revealed a brain tumor. Following the diagnosis, I found my way to Sylvester...
The healthcare industry has made substantial gains over the past ten years with the implementation of technology and the realization that consumers are the most important members of the healthcare team. Today, most hospital systems and physician practices have...
Sy Simms coined the phrase, An Educated Consumer is Our Best Customer. Today this is true not only in the retail industry but also in healthcare. Because quality, safety, and value are tied to hospital and physician reimbursement rates, patients have a great deal of...
Transitions of care occur when a patient moves from one setting to another. Transitions are when the patient is most at risk for a medical error or injury to occur. To prevent unintended injuries and setbacks there is a focus throughout the healthcare industry to...
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To bring awareness and hope, I share a note Betty Stover, a good friend and colleague wrote about her experience as a Breast Cancer Survivor. I hope her words will give all who read this post hope, strength and courage. ...
Last week I was invited to attend a patient reunion at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Sunrise Florida. I was a patient at HealthSouth after I completed chemotherapy to treat the Brain Tumor I was diagnosed with in November 2014. Once the course of chemotherapy...
Last week, the US Virgin Islands and the State of Florida took a direct hit from Hurricane Irma. I have lived in South Florida for 29 years and have been through 5 major hurricanes, but this one seemed different. The news reports were saying South Florida...
Today consumers are being asked to take a more active role in their health and healthcare. But to be effective, they need help to understand how the system works and what their role is in the complex world of healthcare. If we are honest, most of us don’t worry...
I received terrible news this week that my cousin Paul Francis died suddenly. He was 61 years young and had a beautiful wife and two grown children. I was not aware of any medical problems, so that is why his sudden passing is a shock to us all. As like most...
As many of us know, life is full of detours. A detour is defined as a long or roundabout route taken to avoid something or to visit somewhere along the way. As with driving, a detour can cause frustration, angst, and anxiety so learning how to work through a...
This week, Nurse Advocate celebrates 2 YEARS in production! It has been a journey in which I have learned how to share information that benefits people who utilize the health care system as well as those who work in it. As I look back, I noted my first post appeared...
Continuous learning is a critical competency all professionals must engage as we move forward in our careers. Professionals must stay up-to-date of advances in practice, learn about new opportunities, and hone their skills. Last year I introduced 2016...
Each summer, for the past eight years I have shared my summer reading list with family, friends, and Social Media. The practice has become an annual tradition that I enjoy. This year, I have a wide variety of recommendations from a variety of family and friends from...
When I was growing up, a friend of mine told me, there will always be something that will throw your life off-kilter. It could be your job, your family, your love life or your health. Those words have rung true over the years as I faced many of life’s...
During my recovery from the brain tumor that changed my life, I spent a two-week inpatient stay, followed by weeks of outpatient rehabilitation at Health South Rehabilitation Hospital so I could regain my strength after completing an aggressive chemotherapy...
