The Wellinformed Blog

Gum Disease and Diabetes - is there a link?

2008-09-29T16:09:00.002+05:30

An interesting article in the NYT Health Blog - Well discusses links between Gum Disease and Diabetes.

Vital Step Program Presentation on SlideSix.com

2008-09-29T16:00:00.001+05:30

Vital Step - Employee Wellbeing Enhancement Program for Employers

2008-09-15T19:34:00.002+05:30

Is health care a business priority for business leaders? Do they believe it can have a measurable impact on their bottom line?

2008-08-04T06:59:00.005+05:30

I recently posed a question to about 150 people on LinkedIn. The question was:Is health care a business priority for business leaders? Do they believe it can have a measurable impact on their bottom line?In my 15 years of work in Employee Health & Benefits, I have often wondered whether business leaders view employee health care as an important business priority. My experience says that health

Restaurants Banned from using Trans-fats in Food

2008-07-27T11:26:00.004+05:30

The State of California, yesterday, banned the use of Trans-fats in food at ALL restaurants by 2010. Trans fats are partially hydrogenated vegetable oils that increase the shelf life of food. They are also said to enhance flavor. The are used because they are cheap(er) and also add bulk to foods.Trans fats are also said to significantly increase the risk of Coronary Heart Disease by boosting "bad

Another twist to the privacy of health data question...Apple's Culture of Secrecy

2008-07-27T10:59:00.004+05:30

I was reading an article on the NY Times website titled "Apple's Culture of Secrecy" that got me thinking about the issue of health data privacy from a perspective different than the usual issues surrounding this very controversial topic.We all have a basic understanding that health data should be held private and it is up to the concerned person to decide when and how much of that data should

A Great Teacher is No More

2008-07-27T08:36:00.003+05:30

Professor Randy Pausch, a virtual reality pioneer, mentor, teacher and guide and leader, and a professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University passed away last night. He was afflicted by Liver Cancer and gave his last lecture at CMU in Sept 2007. This lecture is one of the most inspiring lectures that I have ever heard.

What Should Employers Do about Health Care?

2008-07-22T11:10:00.003+05:30

An excellent article in the Harvard Business School - Working Knowledge by Michael E. Porter, Elizabeth O. Teisberg, and Scott Wallace.The article provides clear direction to employers about the focus shift that they will have to make in terms of employee health care. An important point that Professor Porter makes is "In every other aspect of their business, employers are attuned to quality and

Increase Doctor's fees and save money!

2008-07-21T12:34:00.006+05:30

Another effort to improve the quality of care in the US, a pilot program in Philadelphia, pays a doctor's practice incentives to spend more time with their patients and monitor the patient better by paying them to increase staffing and encouraging them to use email and phone based monitoring so that patients are cared for on a more continuous basis.The Indian version of this type of system would

New Anti-Smoking Vaccine in Clinical Trial

2008-07-21T10:15:00.002+05:30

There's a new anti-smoking vaccine that stops your brain from processing the neurological effects of nicotine. The hope is that the vaccine will neutralize the "high" from nicotine that most smokers crave and therefore help them quit smoking quickly. Interesting concept, sounds similar to the impact of Pfizer's drug Champix (Chantix in the US).Take a look at this video.

Mac vs. PC...this one says it all!

2008-07-21T08:08:00.001+05:30

Fantastic tips for Start-Ups!

2008-07-21T08:03:00.002+05:30

I just read 2 great posts on tips for Start-Ups - how to save money, who to hire, how to run the office, how not to buy expensive software, "buy really expensive chairs and use kitchen tables instead of desks, it'll still end up being half the price of a standard cube set".Jason Calcanis writes about "How to save money as a start-up" and billionaire Mark Cuban on his many start-ups and their

Windfall for Surgeons...as if they needed it!

2008-07-20T15:16:00.004+05:30

The National Health Service of the UK is contemplating a program where Surgeons who demonstrate the best outcomes for select procedures, could stand to earn a Bonus, reported the BBC on its website today."The Imperial College Healthcare Trust in London will launch a pilot programme later in 2008 aimed at 'rewarding excellence', a spokesman said."The controversial program, has its critics in the

New York City leads the way in supporting its citizens with Wellness!

2008-07-20T14:55:00.003+05:30

Remarkably, one city on this planet has taken strong strides towards helping its citizens lead healthier lives. New York City, that city most known for its art, culture, riches and famous people is now leading the way towards a healthier life for its citizens. The City administration introduced a ground breaking legislation that would require ALL restaurants with more than 15 branches nationwide,

The Need for Service Innovation

2008-07-17T09:24:00.003+05:30

"Services make the world go around. In modern day society, we are all connected to each other by either giving or receiving a service." A recent article in ZDNet talks about the need for significant service innovation and education in this century.From the minute that we wake up, until we fall a sleep and even while we are sleeping, we are either receiving or providing service. Be it the local

Zap your way to a slim waistline!

2008-07-14T19:47:00.003+05:30

Read that there's a really cool new technique to lose weight. Discovery News reports that by using a new implant that sends electrical impulses to the vagus nerve, quelling hunger pangs, about 25 people have lost up to 29.1% of their body weight without changing ANYTHING about their lifestyle or diet! Almost magical!

New Feature: Blog Roll - Across The Web...

2008-07-11T13:32:00.001+05:30

We've added a new blog roll to our blog called "Across The Web..". It contains feeds to some of our more popular blogs, websites etc. Do take a look at it, as you might find it interesting.

Wear your helmet, better still some sunglasses at night!

2008-07-11T09:20:00.004+05:30

I was driving north on Marine Drive in Bombay, on my way to a dinner in Santacruz. As I was passing a pedestrian overbridge at chowpatty, the kind that's on stilts over the road, I looked at an advertising video screen, which flashed an image that was so bright, that I was momentarily blinded. When I regained my eyesight a few seconds later I looked back at the same screen only to read a message

Why Don't Agencies Do More For Their Constituents?

2008-07-10T19:03:00.002+05:30

Over the last several years, I have noticed that the value of knowledge and information seems to be understood best by nations like the United States. As I traverse through volumes of knowledge, information, data, support services on the internet, it is increasingly clear to me that the equivalent agencies responsible for their health specialties do NOTHING for the average consumer. Case in point

If you want to have babies, lose weight and diabetes, both!

2008-07-10T18:50:00.003+05:30

US News and World Reports states that two reports to be presented July 9 at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction & Embryology, in Barcelona, Spain will discuss the genetic impact of diabetes and obesity on a man's ability to procreate.Its interesting how as we continue to research the subject of chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes and others, we find more

Map This! How diseases are being tracked on Google Maps

2008-07-10T18:40:00.004+05:30

A very interesting new website, HealthMap tracks the outbreak of disease on a map using several sources for news of the outbreak. The promoters of the site are of the opinion that since there is so much "noise" on the internet, it is somewhat difficult to see the news about a new disease outbreak. So HealthMap will help you track the outbreak as it spreads through the world. Interesting!

3D Chat Rooms by Google

2008-07-10T13:54:00.002+05:30

Google has just released a really exciting technology, the ability to create a virtual 3D room with 3D characters, clothing, furniture. The technology allows chat among participants, each with their own 3D avatar in a virtual 3D chat "Room".The technology is labeled "Lively" and can be accessed through this link. The best part is that you can create this entire 3D world and it generates the code

How To Blog

2008-07-09T10:42:00.002+05:30

Over the last few days, I have noticed that more people are getting interested in blogging. So, I thought it would be a good idea to post some links to guides that I have seen that you might find useful.1. Robin Good's How to Blog: A Beginner's Blog Publishing Guide2. Michael Hyatt's Working Smart: How to Start a BlogThere are many more such links and the links above have a directory of such

Living Voyeuristically Through Our Children

2008-07-09T09:39:00.002+05:30

Earlier this week I was horrified to see an eleven year old stare seductively from a staged photo setting, lipstick, mascara and glittery ensemble in place. What was worse was that her mother was proud of her precocious tween's get-up and has, as the article went on to expound, spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on her daughter's jouney into the world of the Bold and Beautiful. The mother

Disease Management: Sounds like it could save money, but does it?

2008-07-09T08:06:00.003+05:30

This post was submitted by Nidhi Mundra, Program Manager, Disease & Lifestyle Management at Wellinformed.A recent study by researchers at the RAND corporation, the US's largest independent health policy research program, with a broad research portfolio that focuses on health care quality, costs and delivery, argues that though Disease Management programs have demonstrated improvement in quality

Would you like to know if your genes will lead to health problems?

2008-07-08T21:37:00.004+05:30

Wired Magazine has an interesting article on how to go about detecting whether your genes will lead to future health problems. A very interesting, but somewhat disturbing at a subconscious level, the article very matter-of-factly describes how you can go about analyzing your genes!Interesting what the future holds with this stuff!

Pen and a Diary, Best weight loss tools in the world!

2008-07-08T19:27:00.002+05:30

Read an interesting article based on a study conducted by the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research where people who kept a diet journal lost twice the weight of their counterparts who didn't keep a journal!I can almost hear all the weight-loss folks jumping for joy! The study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine used over 1,500 obese people to determine whether

A focus on chronic disease would mean lower costs and easier access

2008-07-08T17:12:00.005+05:30

The following post was submitted by Andal Durbha, Vice President - Marketing and Communications at Wellinformed.Jacob Kuriyan of the LA Times has written a wonderful article that discusses the benefits of using the incidence and severity of chronic diseases among a population to be a better indicator of future health care expenditure than the current system of simply using age and gender."The

Video - High Blood Pressure by Dr. Meena Shah

2008-07-08T12:10:00.001+05:30

I have Type 2 Diabetes - Video

2008-07-08T12:04:00.003+05:30

A nice 6 minute video by a Doctor who is a Type 2 Diabetic. Enjoy.

Consumerism in Health Care in India

2008-07-08T07:04:00.003+05:30

Consumers in India have been purchasing health care products and services for centuries. Despite the Government's health care machinery, and the recent flurry of media articles on the plight of health insurance and Third Party Administrators (TPAs), the Indian consumer is clear that like everything else, he has to fend for himself when purchasing care.The concern is that the consumer uses the

Wellness can start at a really young age...

2008-07-08T06:37:00.002+05:30

I was talking to a Senior Occupational Health specialist last evening. We had met over a drink to discuss how Wellinformed's disease management products could support his organization. "We are focusing on colleagues who are between the ages of 25-35" he said. "I can guarantee a better outcome for these people if I am able to help them as early as possible.""Most IT workers are the ones that are

Madonna, brought to you by Hindustan Unilever!

2008-07-08T06:29:00.003+05:30

The New York Times reported yesterday that FMCG companies like Procter & Gamble and retailing majors like Wal-Mart are producing music by backing new bands.This article tells you more about this very interesting marketing trend. What will we have next, Abhijeet Sawant produced by Dabur?

Apple cuts the price of MacBook Air with SSD by $500

2008-07-07T16:36:00.002+05:30

Apple announced that it would cut the price of its fabulous MacBook Air with the Solid State Drive (no moving parts) by $500 today. That's fantastic news for the Apple fans out there. Imagine a wafer thin laptop with no moving parts!

Gmail Blog turns 1!

2008-07-07T14:30:00.003+05:30

The Official Gmail Blog turns 1 today!Wellinformed uses Google Apps for all its productivity needs including Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar. We've been using this for over a year and we are thrilled with the applications and the performance.I urge other business users to switch to Google Apps. Its cheap, reliable, secure and extremely efficient.

Eager to please!

2008-07-07T13:12:00.002+05:30

Nimish's Rant of the Day:I stay in a hotel about 3 nights in a week. I'm currently on a strict diet and so I asked the Head Chef to have the kitchen create lunch for me using a certain set of ingredients and cooked in a very specific way. I spent 30 minutes explaining exactly what I wanted.The first day, the lunch was perfect. The second and third days were a disaster. It was as if the folks in

Customer Service...its so true...is dead!

2008-07-07T13:04:00.003+05:30

Seth Godin wrote a really nice piece called Two Seconds on his blog today. Isn't it so true that the most trivial activity, if done without thinking, can lead to such an unpleasant experience? Read it, I'm sure you'll connect with what he's saying.

The Indian Love Affair with Junk Food

2008-07-07T11:14:00.003+05:30

An AC Nielsen pan-Indian survey across Indian metros revealed that we are a nation of snackers. No surprises then that lifestyle diseases like diabesity are on the rise.Read this article on the Indian's love of junk food on the Wellinformed Health Magazine available on the portal at www.wellinformed.in (registration is free)The magazine is a monthly and provides a contemporary and stylistic view

Conference on Diabetes & Obesity "Diabesity" - July 12, 2008 in Ahmedabad

2008-07-07T08:32:00.007+05:30

I will be speaking at the Diabesity conference to be held in Ahmedabad on July 12, 2008. The conference is organized by Johnson & Johnson to increase awareness on the impact of Diabetes and Obesity on health and wellness.If you are in Ahmedabad, do try to attend.In case you are not aware, you can find a good definition of the word diabesity at Michael Quinion's website called World Wide Words.

Health123 - Save Money when you need diagnostics!

2008-07-06T13:45:00.003+05:30

Did you know that the Health123 section of wellinformed.in allows you to select a diagnostic center, then select a set of tests and purchase those services like an airline e-ticket?You could save as much as 35% on diagnostic tests at centers of excellence, the next time that your doctor requests such tests from you.Do visit the portal and register for free to get savings on your healthcare needs!

"The Itch" by Dr. Atul Gawande in The New Yorker

2008-07-06T12:56:00.004+05:30

Dr. Gawande, a Surgeon and Author in NY recently wrote a most fascinating article titled "The Itch". Dr. Gawande has written a few books as well which have got critical acclaim. Do try and read some of his work when you can.You can visit his own website to learn more about him and his work.

From Seth Godin's Blog: Two simple web businesses

2008-07-06T12:49:00.005+05:30

One of my favorite authors, Seth Godin posted a very interesting note on his blog titled Two simple web businessesDo try to read his blog, its fascinating stuff. Great insights and his thoughts and observations. Any marketeer would find his thinking refreshing.

The Poetry of Cancer

2008-07-06T12:44:00.003+05:30

HEALTH | July 2, 2008 Well: The Poetry of Cancer Tara Parker-Pope Patients and families often express their hopes and fears about cancer through poetry. Copyright

Diabetes: Underrated, Insidious and Deadly

2008-07-06T12:41:00.003+05:30

HEALTH | July 1, 2008 Well: Diabetes: Underrated, Insidious and Deadly By TARA PARKER-POPE Vision, hearing, sexual function — you name it, diabetes

The 11 Best Foods You Aren't Eating

2008-07-06T12:39:00.002+05:30

HEALTH | June 30, 2008 Well: The 11 Best Foods You Aren't Eating Tara Parker-Pope An unusual list of foods that probably aren't in your shopping cart. TECHNOLOGY | July 4, 2008 Google Told to Turn Over User Data of YouTube By MIGUEL HELFT The order raised concerns that the online video viewing habits of tens of millions of people could be exposed. Copyright 2008 The New

NYTimes.com: As Web Traffic Grows, Crashes Take Bigger Toll

2008-07-06T11:41:00.002+05:30

TECHNOLOGY | July 6, 2008 As Web Traffic Grows, Crashes Take Bigger Toll By BRAD STONE As the Web has become an irreplaceable part of life, users

Welcome to Wellinformed's Blog

2008-07-06T00:05:00.005+05:30

Welcome to Wellinformed's Blog!I am very pleased to welcome you to read about Wellinformed Health Care, its portal, its services and its progress in developing the Indian health care market. We hope to post any items that influenced us, evoked our interest, piqued our curiosity or generally amused us.I encourage you to visit our blog regularly or subscribe to the RSS feed and of course comment on