Category Archives: Practice Enhancement

Why You Can’t Miss The Medical Education Convergence Weekend

The 2022 Medical Education Convergence (MEC) Weekend is a three-day educational experience designed to connect leading minds and influential voices in healthcare. Gathering experts from a range of medical specialties – from psychoneuroimmunology to pediatric nutrition – and game-changing educational programs, this event provides unparalleled learning and networking opportunities.

Taking place at the stunning Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, between September 8-10, 2022, MEC Weekend offers more than just professional development. Hosted on a luxurious property offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, 102 acres of lush grounds, and a suite of amenities, the event venue is a reason to attend in itself.

California is the perfect place to kick off a new academic season with sun-filled days and outdoor activities abound, immersed in the nature of the coast. The event brings together the best of both worlds, a relaxing end-of-summer getaway with cutting-edge educational programming. Featuring the inaugural Pediatric Brain and Resilience SummitNavigate Aging: Telomere Biology and Longevity SummitPeptide Therapy Masterclass, and the bestselling Module XVI-A: Advanced Cardiovascular Health – the MEC weekend will be a monumental event.

Read on to discover some innovative programs and topics we are most excited about.

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Addressing Barriers to Care: Improving Patient Health Literacy

The medical lexicon and associated jargon are both dense, complicated, filled with data, and often difficult to navigate for patients who may receive news about their diagnoses or condition while in a negative emotional state. The extent to which they comprehend this information relies on their health literacy, which corresponds to their ability to gain access to, understand, and use information to promote and maintain good health for themselves, their families, as well as their communities. Health literacy includes the ability to read and comprehend essential health-related materials, such as prescription bottles, post-appointment slips, and educational literature.

Having adequate health literacy can increase a patient’s capacity to take responsibility for their and their family’s health. Individuals who lack health literacy may encounter challenges in understanding health information, including hospital discharge and treatment instructions, which may have detrimental effects on their health outcomes.  Continue reading

Lessons from 2020: 3 Takeaways for 2021 Medical Practice

The COVID-19 pandemic was a massive disrupter of healthcare systems, exacerbating its various shortcomings and serving as an important catalyst for transformation in both public and private sectors across the globe. With the approved vaccine rollout progressing, the end of this immensely challenging time is on the horizon and it is important to approach the beginning of the new year strategically.

Throughout the past year, the practice of medicine changed drastically with traditional pre-COVID methods rapidly replaced by digital and remote monitoring telehealth solutions. Now with a heightened awareness of existing economic and health inequities, the viral outbreak has exacerbated the need to take better care of public health and effectively address the prevailing barriers to care that affect millions of patients.

Despite its devastation, the global health crisis has provided the world with a tremendous learning opportunity that needs to be used to the advantage of the practice of medicine. Taking into account the critical lessons the past year has taught us, we must transform and shape the future of healthcare. To help clinicians and healthcare organizations, Jag Singh, MD professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and clinical director of cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, and other medical professionals have outlined a few key lessons from 2020 to implement into practice moving forward.

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