Innovation, influence and business in America's medical cities.

With the explosion of social media, I am amazed at how many cardiologists I encounter who know little to nothing about blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Google Buzz and the like. “I’m too busy.” “Who has time for that stuff?” “I wouldn’t have time for anything else.” “How can I possibly keep up?”And yet today, as more [...]

Highlights of the important and the interesting from the world of health care:A controversial new type of health insurance in Oregon: Five Oregon health insurers are set to begin selling a new type of “carrot-and-stick” insurance plan that’s aimed at pushing employees towards more proven treatments and away from tests and surgeries that are deemed [...]

Apple has finally drawn back the curtains on its Tablet, er, iPad so what will it mean for health care? The short answer is, of course, “It’s too early to tell.” The long answer is, well, maybe not as much as we’d hoped.

Employees of home health care equipment maker Invacare Corp. are using YouTube videos to woo President Obama to visit their company during his White House to Main Street Tour through Lorain County on Jan. 22.

Tannus Quatre says young providers should “by all means, connect with friends online connect with strangers.” But, too often, these same physicians forget their reputations are at stake.

Mayo Clinic Medical Edge Weekend is one of two online initiatives the health system announced this week. It also unveiled improvements to its Mayo Clinic Health Manager that add tracking applications to monitor and manage stress, blood pressure and cholesterol.

There are no Ashton Kutcher’s in health care, according to a review of the popularity of hospitals on Twitter.

More health-care institutions have tried to turn their medical knowledge outward as they witness the success of social media and sites like WedMD. The Clinic’s site culls the information from many of its print and other online publications, draws from a video database, includes its alphabetic index of health problems and intersperses personal stories about diseases.

There’s an increasing discussion about where to find the best medical reads on Twitter. Here are a few doctors worth following.

A quartet of health systems are experimenting with MedicalMommas, a fledgling social network for health-conscious mothers. Akron Children’s Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Emory Healthcare and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta have signed on as strategic partners – a new way to find the appropriate method to join with patients online.