Social Networking, Healthcare and the Village

I usually write about The Village on my BizMediaScience blog. The Village is the euphemism I use to describe the internet when its social aspects are obviously and unquestionably benefitting people. You can find links to some of those posts listed below.

I'm writing about The Village here on AllBusiness because I think this audience can respond or might know those who can respond.

I got a note asking for some help. I hope you can.

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For over twenty years I have had a condition known as "non-cardiac chest pain." This is an unexplained condition that is not life-threatening or heart-related at all. It occurs in no particular pattern or predictable circumstances (in my case, about a dozen times a year). For me the symptoms would last for over an hour, are uncomfortable enough to make it difficult to work or think, and can even wake me from a deep sleep.

I was in a study on non-cardiac chest pain sponsored through Beth Israel Hospital (after my physician had thoroughly checked me out). They collected information from me and many others, but could offer no solutions and no "community" to connect with. If they had been able to offer a community, that community might have been interested to know that years ago I accidentally discovered that drinking ice cold water makes the pain go away immediately. Without that discovery, I would be suffering a lot more. It might not work for everyone, but who knows?

To this day, no one has explained the condition, but I would be fascinated to speak with others who also experience it, even though it is no "health threat."

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First, if you'd like to be put in touch with this individual, please contact me and I'll send your information on to them.

Second, this person wrote to me because the traditional health care system completely broke down for them and for several others in similar situations. They had done their homework. Social networking in traditional healthcare has only been recognized as a valid avenue for patient interaction and response starting in 2006 (according to the Seventh Annual Edelman Trust Barometer and Health IT News, both in '06).

Now it is more and more recognized that there are stories about medical experiences that only consumers can provide (35% of people say either they or someone they know have experienced a medical error or misdiagnosis).

I'm interested in learning what The Village, one of the most powerful entities on the planet, is doing to reform healthcare and bring social networking into the game. One of the thinktanks I'm affiliated with, CSE "The Waltham Group", is currently involved in researching the benefits of social networks in rural healthcare systems and implementing solutions based on that research.

Please let me know if a) you'd like to be put in touch with the individual referenced above and b) if you're familiar with social networking healthcare systems, and thanks.

Please contact NextStage for information regarding presentations and trainings on this and other topics.

Examples of The Village Links:

• Corazon de Vida Foundation
• Stonewall's Findings: Darfur, One Minute of Peace, and More...much, much more
• Stonewall's Findings: A New Kind of Community Response Grid
• WindKiller's Findings: "It is public record"
• Interesting Content from Kimberlee Morrison
• More on The Village

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