nickdawson.net - Latest Comments

Re: Apple iBooks, the future of patient education and shared decision aids

Nick — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:24:50 -0000

Thanks Lisa - in fairness, it's not a term I know much about either :)

Re: Apple iBooks, the future of patient education and shared decision aids

Nick — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:24:49 -0000

Thanks Lee for the comment. You are absolutely right, the potentials span multiple industries and disciplines. I think the challenge will be to create something that is more than just a powerpoint in book format. That's where tech savvy learning designers (like you!) will really make this kind of technology shine. Anxious to see what others come up with…

Re: Apple iBooks, the future of patient education and shared decision aids

Lisa Fields — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:37:49 -0000

Nick,
I have a M.S. in Adult Education and was a little concerned when I didn't remember blended learning. Looked it up and it's new since I was in school. Thank goodness we did learn life long learning.

Re: Apple iBooks, the future of patient education and shared decision aids

Lisa Fields — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 21:32:33 -0000

Nick,
Thank for sharing more of your practical wisdom with a Huge pinch of Tech on Top.
Lisa

Re: Apple iBooks, the future of patient education and shared decision aids

Lee Lindsey — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:59:26 -0000

Nice post, Nick. I also downloaded iBooks Author and have been playing with it. You've done a good job on how this applies to healthcare, but I also see it as a disruption to e-Learning, as most e-Learning is electronic page-turning anyway (note: I don't necessarily think this is wrong, it's just one approach - most criticize page turners as "not e-Learning" but I don't agree). Thanks! - Lee

Re: DIY: Trash Can Cold Smoker

Nick — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:57:48 -0000

Dubtz82 - totally appreciate that concern, and, at times, share it. The goal of cold smoking is to stay under 100f - cooler than the inside of the can would reach on a hot summer day. Generally, I only cold smoke in the winter, to avoid bacterial concerns. Still, there is that linger thought about using galvy in food prep at all. I think it merits research for anyone interested in doing lots of smoking.

Re: DIY: Trash Can Cold Smoker

Dbutz82 — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:47:30 -0000

I don't think galvanized is the best choice. Heat+ Galvanized = Neurological damage

Re: Thomas Keller and designing for experience

Nick — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:21:12 -0000

Thanks Dan. I think you said it very well - seems simple but it's not how we work today. (I have some theories about that in my next post :) ) Your comment about healing environments reminds of my favorite video: Bridget Duffy, MD talking about how when you put patient experience as your first priority, then everyone will naturally do things that align with creating the healing environment http://vimeo.com/7669131

Re: Thomas Keller and designing for experience

Dan Dunlop — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:37:01 -0000

Nick, great post. You make an excellent point when you bring up our failure to design around the patient and visitor experience. We are creating healing environments, and that should involve giving serious consideration to the end user. It seems so simple, but for most it is a new idea in health care.
Dan

Re: Thomas Keller and designing for experience

Nick — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:01:24 -0000

Thanks Ken. Are you in healthcare today? Thanks for bringing your passions and interests to our industry. I think Apple has a lot to teach us about innovation and design thinking. Steve's personal experience may have a lot to teach us about leadership and happiness - while his results were stellar, I'm not convinced he was successful at either. It's been the disappointing revelation of the bio.

Re: Thomas Keller and designing for experience

Ken P. — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:29:49 -0000

Nick, I too am obsessed with Apple and Steve Jobs talents. Thanks for bringing my attention to Thomas Keller. I have heard about the French Laundry, but never been fortunate to experience it. I am just starting out in healthcare and hope to bring Jobs and Keller's passion to detail and perfect to it in whatever my endeavors may hold. I enjoy your writings. Thanks.

Ken

Re: Guest Post: On Being a Patient

MightyCasey — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 16:15:46 -0000

Customer experience is everything in retail. And there is no industry that's more retail than healthcare. Unfortunately, the industry itself is only now realizing that.

Imagine if Target had built all of its stores solely on the recommendations of its Board of Directors. Something tells me that they would not have lasted long.

The healthcare industry has been insulated, in many ways, from its customers by the payer system in the US. You pay attention to the people that pay you, not to the objects moving past you on the conveyor belt in the factory. Patients are partly to blame there, too, because we've b*tched and moaned about healthcare but have not taken enough responsibility for our own care, and the decisions that can put us on the healthcare conveyor belt.

Healthcare is not something that happens after you get sick. It's what keeps you well, too. If you're healthy, that could change at the drop of a falling object, or the mutation of a cell. Be aware, be proactive, build a relationship with the healthcare system. We'll all need it eventually ... the Kingdom of the Sick awaits.

Re: Guest Post: On Being a Patient

Jecollmer — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 22:26:53 -0000

Thanks to you, Nick, and to your father, hero and best friend for sharing this.

Re: Guest Post: On Being a Patient

Lisa Fields — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 22:04:54 -0000

Both you and your Father
have worked passionately to enhance the patient experience. The work you both have accomplished will now hold even more significance and
credibility because.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

It's only when you get the
whole picture can you understand what's really going on.

Re: Guest Post: On Being a Patient

Ed Lovern — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 22:34:47 -0000

It helps to know a little (or a lot) about George Dawson to fully appreciate this piece. He has always been someone with uncommon intelligence, confidence, and general sense of who he is. To consider him suddenly struggling to establish and understand his identity describes how dehumanizing being a patient can be. Thanks for sharing this.

Re: Guest Post: On Being a Patient

meredithgould — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:18:42 -0000

Should be posted on the epatient blog, too...not that any of this would be news to anyone. Goes to the issue of training and how we really ought to stop kidding and really put medical students, residents, and board certified docs into a gown and into the system for a few days.

Re: F___ Cancer

Nick — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:35:37 -0000

Thanks Jenn Michelle - what a great comment, appreciate you taking the time to write it! Thankfully we've made a turn for the better and the outlook is good. I'm trying to be respectful of someone else's privacy, but think it's fair to say things are back to a quasi normal routine. I'd never say things are back to normal - thats part of the process, many changes, some good, some not so good. Thanks for the info on Light the Night - marking it on my calendar now.

Re: F___ Cancer

jenn michelle — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:35:05 -0000

FUCK. FUCK. FUCK.

FUCKITALL.

cancer is shitastic. you know my thoughts on the matter all too well.

on a lighter note, i'm wearing my new "yoda stands up to cancer" t-shirt for you today.

call me anytime. i am here for you and will help in any way you need. vacuuming? sure, i suck at it, but i'll be right over if that's what it takes.

ps, light the night is 10/22 in carytown.

Re: pressure relief

Nick — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:44:08 -0000

Thanks Meredith - I really like that phrase "ministry of presence".

Re: the one where Nick goes vegan…for a week

Nick — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:43:15 -0000

Lisa - I'm with you, the food at the conference was surprisingly healthy and eatable!

As far as tools go, Im no expert. I've been thinking a lot about what we learned from BJ Fogg about behavior. I think the electronic tools can help give feedback about behavior choices, and perhaps provide a trigger, but they aren't magic bullets (not that you suggested otherwise). So far, for the money, I like the FitBit the best. For $99 its a heck of a motivational gizmo and the online service is free and quite complete.

I'm really interested in the soon-to-be-released Basis watch. That will be one to...watch.

Re: the one where Nick goes vegan…for a week

Nick — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:39:19 -0000

I was in geek heaven on that trip! Palo Alto is like Mecca for nerds.
Glad someone got the news paper joke, thanks Cheryl!

Re: 4 Things I hate about mac laptops

Ali — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 07:29:27 -0000

The stupid flashing light, that does not allow me to sleep :(
What is the point.....

Re: the one where Nick goes vegan…for a week

cherylsmith — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:56:12 -0000

I laughed out loud with the whole, you holding today's newspaper bit. And photo ala Jobs? Total Geek! But forks over knives and eating more healthy makes total sense.

Re: the one where Nick goes vegan…for a week

Lisa Fields — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:30:14 -0000

Nick,
Congrats!
I was so pleased the food at #med2 made it easier to eat well balanced meals last week. I was curious to learn how technology is giving us new tools to help with feedback loops and other methods that can balance my love for food and living a healthier lifestyle.

Were there any new tools you learned about during #med2 that you think could the rest of us?

Re: between a Medicare rock and budget hard place

Nick — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 22:11:31 -0000

Thank you for the great comment. Without doubt, there is a lot of waste in the supply chain part of the equation. Take the infamous $15 Tylonel, or as you suggested, $20 stent - frankly, while I haven't checked, I'd be surprised if its that cheap by the time it hits the bill. There are a lot of reasons why these costs get jacked up; some valid, many not. For starters, the US bears the burden of R&D for most of the world. Fortunately, that tide is changing, although it doesn't come without risks. (Take a look at the medical device and drug trial stories out of the developing world).
Bottom line- you are right, there is waste everywhere in the system. From supplies to salaries. We'll have to start cutting it out in order to survive.