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For most industries and professions, technology has increased productivity, reduced costs, and led to better services and products. Health care, however, hasn’t kept pace, but it’s catching up now, and health information technology – or health IT – is rapidly changing health care for both physicians and patients.
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Physician Focus is a monthly, half-hour educational talk show that brings important health and medical information from practicing physicians and health care professionals to people and patients of all ages.
Produced for public access television stations, Physician Focus is a collaborative effort of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the statewide organization of physicians, and HCAM-TV, Hopkinton. The program is distributed each month to 185 Massachusetts public access television stations, reaching some 260 communities and an estimated 1.8 million cable households.* The program also has a national reach, available to public access stations across the U.S. via download from the transfer site, pegmedia.org. It is also available on iTunes. With statewide and national broadcasts, Physician Focus reaches an estimated 2.5 million households.
In each edition, members of the Medical Society share their knowledge and expertise in patient-friendly discussions with a physician host. The principal program host is Bruce Karlin, M.D., a primary care physician in Worcester, Mass. Other regular hosts include Mavis Jaworski, M.D., a primary care physician, James Kenealy, M.D., an otolaryngologist; Lynda Young, M.D., a pediatrician; and John Fromson, M.D., a psychiatrist. Other physicians may appear as guest hosts from time to time.
The Massachusetts Medical Society develops the content and distributes the programs to public access stations as a public service. HCAM-TV provides the studio and production facilities. The show is taped two months in advance of distribution.
Executive Producer of the show is Richard Gulla of the Medical Society’s media relations office. The program is produced by HCAM Station Manager Jim Cozzens and directed by HCAM’s Michael Torosian. Mr. Cozzens has over 25 years experience producing programs and overseeing community access television stations, and Mr. Gulla has more than 25 years experience in public relations and communications for some of the region's largest nonprofit and media organizations. The producers welcome inquiries and comments. Write to PhysicianFocus@mms.org.
*Subscriber figures from Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy, Cable Television Division |
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Lupus
Lupus is a chronic disease of the immune system that affects approximately 1.5 million Americans, with an estimated 16,000 new cases reported each year in the United States. The condition can range from mild to life-threatening and produces a range of symptoms similar to many other conditions, making diagnosis tricky. Discussion will include the characteristics of this disease, who is most susceptible to it, how it’s diagnosed, and available treatments.
Concussions
The severity and long-term health effects of concussions – mild traumatic brain injuries or TBI - are now being recognized by coaches, parents, players and fans at all levels, but concussions aren’t limited to just collision sports. This Physician Focus program, a collaboration of the Massachusetts Medical Society and Massachusetts Department of Public Health, will examine the aspects of TBI and concussions, their leading causes and health consequences, and what is being done by public officials, schools, and other groups to prevent and reduce their incidence, including new laws and regulations by states to protect players in school-based activities.
Healthcare and Information Technology
Information technology is fast becoming a part of health care, much of it being prompted by federal and state programs. Physicians and hospitals are now tied to computers, tablets, and even mobile devices, using such tools for such purposes as e-prescribing, electronic health records, and even diagnostic procedures. Patients can now even secure their own electronic PHR’s - personal health records. What does this IT wave mean for healthcare? Will its use improve quality of care and outcomes? What impact will it have on patients and the physician-patient relationship?
Youth and Substance Abuse
Substance abuse by youth remains a personal and public health concern. The abuse of alcohol, illicit drugs such as marijuana and methamphetamines, and prescription drugs has been linked to unintentional injuries, physical fights, academic and occupational problems, and illegal behavior. What are the latest national and local trends in alcohol and drug usage by youth? What causes such behavior? What are the long-term consequences? And what can physicians, parents, schools and others can do about the problem?
Adult Vaccinations
Vaccines are one of medicine’s most effective preventive measures and have an extraordinary record in preventing disease. But aside from an annual flu shot, too often we think of immunizations only for children. Adults need them, too, but more than half don’t know which shots are recommended for their age, and immunization rates remain low. The result: more than 40,000 adults die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases according to government research. Who should get recommended vaccines? What are the barriers to adult vaccinations? And how do we increase adult immunization rates?
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