Power to the Patients

Media advisory: Researcher unveils findings on e-powered patients

University of Denver IT grad presents “Power to the Patients” on how patient-driven Internet communications can help deliver more powerful medicine

WHO: Presented by Ron Harman King, MAS, 2009, CEO of Vanguard Communications/MedMarketLink

Moderated by Thomas Tierney, Ph.D., University College, University of Denver

WHEN: Saturday, January 8, 2011, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Ben Cherrington Hall, Cyber Café, University of Denver, 2201 S. Gaylord Street, Denver 80210

WHAT: In the face of life-threatening illnesses, how are 21st-century health care consumers using information technology most effectively? How important is consumer access to electronic medical records?

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How could physicians in private practice better harness the power of patient-driven Internet knowledge and communications for more physician-patient win-wins?

Along with exploding usage of the Internet has come strong advocacy for providing patients direct, online access to their own medical records. The Internet has allowed patients today to seize more control over their medical destiny through access to electronic communications and information. This presentation will be of special interest to sufferers of chronic, life-altering health conditions, health care managers, practice administrators and anyone involved in health informatics along with health care providers.

A former engineer, corporate PR executive, and newspaper and magazine journalist, Ron King has focused his career in the last decade on consumer healthcare informatics – the study of how patients use online information and knowledge for managing their own medical treatments.

In graduate studies in information and communications technology at the University of Denver, Ron analyzed how patients find and evaluate doctors and treatment options in the information age. He concluded that not just the Internet but also cable TV has upended the practice of medicine in less than 10 years: Whereas physicians once held the monopoly on health care knowledge, today patients increasingly mine the latest in medical research and news to control their own care and destiny.

Ron is founder and CEO of Vanguard Communications, a Denver-based marketing, public relations and communications firm specializing in growing specialty medical practices.