Last Mile Blog

50% of Americans (prescribed) to take a prescription drug last month-but did they take as prescribed?

2010-09-02T16:01:00.001-07:00

http://blog.jayparkinsonmd.com/photo/1280/1054814551/1/tumblr_l85125npXx1qz72yw

And Jay Parkinson notes that "One of every five kids and 9 of 10 older Americans took at least one prescription drug"

My question: This sounds like the level of prescribed pharmaceutical dosages I read in various estimates. I also read that more than half of the recommended and prescribed doses are not taken as prescribed - never filled, filled but never refilled, not taken in the prescribed time frame, etc.

The iPad and Healthcare: Tell me less about the device & docs, more about how patients benefit

2010-08-30T12:11:00.001-07:00

Fun to read all the mentions, reviews, free and sometimes paid reports about how off the shelf iPads are being used in healthcare. More fun to read between the lines given that the iPad wasn't specifically designed for healthcare use. I suspect there are meetings happening in HIT and dedicated medical device companies which focus on "how do we stop this off-the-shelf device known as iPad from eating our very profitable, high margin proprietary device and application lunch?" Wonder what we can expect when the first generation of Android tablets hit the healthcare market? Will a lower device cost and easier application distribution drive more tablets into use by healthcare professionals?

But here's the real question. Now that we've established there is adoption of the iPad by health professionals (hurrah), could we hear more about how patients are getting benefits from iPad use? How patient outcomes are improved by iPad applications? I know that patient perspectives don't have the same zippy headline and click potential of new shiny hardware stories. I know that doctors telling stories about the iPad hardware use - dust, dirt, cleaning, battery life, etc. - are easier to quote.

But how about sharing the patient perspective on the iPad use in healthcare for a change?

iPad_Infographic_Final.gif

(Credit for graphic: http://mobihealthnews.com/8731/infographic-sizing-up-the-ipad-for-healthcare/ )

Live long and live happy? Longevity is the new normal. Who's working on the happy part?

2010-08-20T18:16:00.001-07:00

(via http://ilovecharts.tumblr.com/)

Jay Parkinson wonders if we should be focus on "additional happiness expected after age 65" versus focusing on "additional life expectancy." According to various sources, more people age 65 and over are alive today than ever in recorded history. People over 80, the "oldest old", are the fasting growing population segment. Wonder why we don't see more visible changes in retail and other basic services matched to creating more satisfaction for those experiencing longer life expectancies? Why aren't local governments coming up with new property tax scenarios for those over 65 so that schools get essential funding but seniors are not forced to move? Seems like the reality of longevity has not been matched by responsible changes in policy, practice and commerce.

South by Southwest Panel Picker Voting Starts Monday 9 August

2010-08-08T22:05:00.001-07:00

Last time I checked, there were over 75 SXSW 2011 proposals submitted and tagged for Health. The SXSW staff has been reviewing the proposals. Those proposals that were selected will be published sometime Monday 9 August for voting. Be sure to vote for your favorite Health Track proposals. The process for voting on panels is explained here.

The SXSW staff review counts for about 30% of the selection process. The community based voting counts for 30%. The advisory board review counts for 40%. The advisory board makes its decisions during late August and early September. (Health Track advisory board members are not allowed to submit proposals in the health category.)

2011 will mark the first year that South by Southwest Interactive Festival has dedicated a Track to Health presentations as well as showcasing top Health Technology startups with patient-centric applications and services in the Accelerator program.

More about Accelerator Health in a post later this week.

Portion Distortion: 10 Food Servings, Now Vs. Then

2009-12-14T08:45:00.001-08:00

Portion Distortion: 10 Food Servings, Now Vs. Then
by David K. Israel - December 10, 2009 - 10:07 AM

Ever wonder who decides how many Gummy Bears = 1 serving? (18) Or that one cup of Wheaties = 1 serving? Well, nationwide food consumption surveys do, but also the NHLBI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute). So if you’re wondering why a serving of ice cream is usually only a ½-cup (on their Web site the NHLBI says no more than the size of half a baseball), it’s because that’s what they’ve determined is the right amount to stay healthy. Meanwhile, we all know how many baseballs Baskin Robbins scoops into their hot fudge sundaes–enough to fill a small bathtub, right?

The NHLBI has studied portion explosion over the last 20 years and has done a lot of groundbreaking research. The good folks over at DivineCaroline.com used that research, re-purposed some NHLBI photos from a fun portion explosion quiz, and tell us that “in the 1970s, around 47 percent of Americans were overweight or obese; now 66 percent of us are. In addition, the number of just obese people has doubled, from 15 percent of our population to 30 percent.”

Scary stuff, right?

This all starts to make a lot of sense when you look at the following images, culled from the NHLBI site and DivineCaroline.com. Clearly the majority of us are eating more than 18 Gummy Bears.

1. Two Slices of Pizza

You’d have to play golf (walking and carrying your clubs) for an hour to burn the extra 350 calories.

2. Bagel

You would have to rake leaves for 50 minutes to burn the extra 210 calories added over the last 20 years to the average bagel.

3. Movie Popcorn

You’d have to do water aerobics for 1 hour and 15 minutes to burn the extra 360 calories.

4. Cheeseburger

You’d have to lift weights for1 hour and 30 minutes to burn off the 257 calories.

5. Chicken Caesar Salad

Yes, even “healthy” food has exploded in size over the last 20 years. You’d have to walk your dog for 1 hour and 20 minutes to burn the 400 calories. (If you don’t have a dog, you’d have to buy one first.)

6. Cup of Coffee

You’d have to walk 1 hour and 20 minutes to burn the extra 305 calories.

7. Soda

In the early ’70s, 6.5 ouncers were popular. Today it’s 20 ounces, or more (Super Big Gulp = 44 oz = 700 calories!) You’d have to work in the garden for 35 minutes to burn the extra 165 calories.

8. Turkey Sandwich

You’d need to ride a bike for 1 hour and 25 minutes to burn the extra 500 calories.

9. French Fries

You’d need to walk leisurely for1 hour and 10 minutes to burn the extra 400 calories.

10. Spaghetti and Meatballs

You’d need to houseclean for 2 hours and 35 minutes to burn off the extra 525 calories.

via mentalfloss.com

Wonder why are the smallest portions (e.g. child portion of frozen yoghurt) are often more expensive than the larger portions?

Posted via web from tstitt's posterous

A Romance Flowchart: When Is It Inappropriate to Use Your iPhone? (Gizmodo)

2009-12-06T11:02:00.001-08:00

via gizmodo.com

I would add a high level yes/no node: Will disinterested but randomly geolocated parties have to suffer through unsolicited listening while you call or text? If yes, then wait and call/text when no disinterested or randomly geolocated parties are required to experience unsolicited listening.

Posted via web from tstitt's posterous

Notoginseng: Blood Vessels Ads at Street Anatomy

2009-11-28T09:47:00.001-08:00

“Keep your blood vessels young.”

Remember, it’s what you have on the inside what really matters!

via streetanatomy.com

Posted via web from tstitt's posterous

The Ban On Drug Company Gifts To Physicians, Captured In A Photograph - Better Health

2009-10-13T09:24:00.001-07:00

via getbetterhealth.com

Posted via web from tstitt's posterous

Nerd Venn Diagram - Which One are You?

2009-09-12T20:36:00.001-07:00

Last Mile Blog

50% of Americans (prescribed) to take a prescription drug last month-but did they take as prescribed?

The iPad and Healthcare: Tell me less about the device & docs, more about how patients benefit

Live long and live happy? Longevity is the new normal. Who's working on the happy part?

South by Southwest Panel Picker Voting Starts Monday 9 August

Portion Distortion: 10 Food Servings, Now Vs. Then

1. Two Slices of Pizza

2. Bagel

3. Movie Popcorn

4. Cheeseburger

5. Chicken Caesar Salad

6. Cup of Coffee

7. Soda

8. Turkey Sandwich

9. French Fries

10. Spaghetti and Meatballs

A Romance Flowchart: When Is It Inappropriate to Use Your iPhone? (Gizmodo)

Notoginseng: Blood Vessels Ads at Street Anatomy

The Ban On Drug Company Gifts To Physicians, Captured In A Photograph - Better Health

Nerd Venn Diagram - Which One are You?

Blogging Shoes

Cool tea-infuser “Sharky”

The Venn Diagram of Social Media

Morning Glory Clouds Over Australia

Zubbles - Colored bubbles that don't stain

How many minutes do people in your city have to work to buy a Big Mac?

Grilled Chocolate

Flow Chart Explains Song Total Eclipse of the Heart

Melt Down

photo ©2009 kevin reed

Pink slips

Pink slips

Brain cupcakes

Mice Bento Box

Bento Concept: Chaplin

Sushi to Go

Gummy Bear Anatomy

More Keyboard Humor (failed keyboard security)

Marketing vs. PR vs. Advertising vs. Branding

S'more Keyboard (talk about sticky keys)

Chocolate Biscuit & Bar Taxonomy

RSStroom Reader (does it support RSS 2.0 or Atom?)

Magnate Hospitals (vs. Magnet Hospitals, I guess)

Bacon Donut

Tim Hortons Donut

WTF

Cluny, a Scottish Fold