Family Medicine: Innovation and The "Hershey Conversation"

Innovation is our middle name in Family Medicine, as evidenced by many of the presentations at the Health Care Innovators Network at the FMEC NE 2010 meeting in Hershey, PA. Elder Power with "Freedom at Home Packages" that use high tech and high touch methods, enable seniors to stay at home longer instead of going into assisted living or extended care nursing homes. "Seven Dollars Can Change Lives" relates to insurance premium discounts for employees of a P&G site in PA. The Patient Broadcast Network delivers info to pts in FM offices to educate and motivate. Patient blog and doctor blogs about health and illness are included. Honors to Dayton, OH for being the worst allergy city in America! The "Hershey Conversation" has furthered the movement of Family Medicine to recapture a central role in patient care. We'll also talk about human aspects of patient-physician relationship and socio-technical innovation that helps them in clinical and human decisions.