On this day we thought it fitting to pay homage to the culture from whence we took our name by creating a custom logo for SironaHealth (what do you think?).

In this day and age, a click of the mouse is all a consumer needs to find health information on pretty much any health topic. Search engines, social networking sites, and interactive health tools have given the general public an understanding of human health unlike any other time in our history.

So why then, if health information is so readily available, do healthcare consumers continue to flood emergency departments with non-emergency issues and sabotage their health through poor lifestyle choices?

Reason: behavior change begins with information, but rarely occurs without clinical guidance.

Each person's health concerns and circumstances are unique. The Internet is a useful resource for generalized health information, but it can be difficult for consumers to identify what applies to them and their specific situation -- let alone decide what the next appropriate step is. Even the most informed individual can have doubts about what they should do.

Each year, non-urgent, and often avoidable, visits to emergency departments (ED) cost health insurers roughly $180 billion. During instances of stress and indecision, many healthcare consumers will choose the ED as their initial source of healthcare regardless of whether they are experiencing an emergency or not. With the costs of an emergency room visit as high as $1,000 (if not higher), it's clear that guiding consumers with non-emergency issues to more appropriate resources is a critical step in reducing unnecessary healthcare spending.

The key to helping consumers make smart decisions about their health, and where to seek care, is to provide them with easy access to clinicians, 24 hours a day.

Providing healthcare consumers with free access to a registered nurse has proven to be a critical component of any successful health improvement and/or ED diversion program. Guideline-driven advice services provide context for general health information while providing the advice and support callers need to be sure that they are making the right choices.

When offering health information on your website, through a mailed newsletter, or via some other interactive tool, remember to always provide a clear way for your patients to reach out and ask clarifying questions with a clinician.

Slainte!
(To Your Health!)