Producing a Video For Your Medical Practice or Vlogging for Doctors

Posted by Salem Global on Aug 4, 2009

Doctors not only need to have a specialty, they also need to have a good “bedside manner.” If you had to choose between the doctor that smiled all of the time vs. the doctor who never smiled, obviously you would go with the one with the friendly disposition. Doctors can be know-it-alls and they can be geniuses. They can be the smartest people in the world, the most skilled surgeons and have graduated at the top of their class. But if they don’t market themselves and let the world know how great they are, they might lose out on the great potential of their practice and lose out on helping as many people as possible.

The same holds true for the doctor in front of the camera. Doctors, just like anyone else, need to smile and show their friendly and warm regard through the lens.

Now you might say that some doctors are very skilled in their profession, but they are simply shy and a bit introverted. It’s not that they aren’t friendly, it’s just they don’t love to promote themselves. So today’s tip of the week is for that doctor who needs a bit of a push onto the camera in front of the audience.

In this economy believe it or not, people are actually scaling back on their health. I know it’s crazy, but some people are passing up on their annual checkups. Some insurance companies are charging higher premiums and people basically forget about their health. Recently I spoke with a Dentists office who said that fewer patients were calling up and scheduling appointments so they need to step up their marketing.

There are a few ways to get in front of the camera. First is the monologue. The camera focuses on the doctor and the doctor introduces him/herself to the audience. She/he then introduces his/her practice, office and staff. Then the doctor speaks about the services his/her office offers. Then there is preparation before procedures, and care after the procedures. In addition, to the monologue, there is also the “interview” as well as the “procedure.” With these three types of videos, you can certainly push out 52 videos in a year. Then next year – repeat the process. I guarantee it is all worth it!

There is a logical step to producing videos for anyone in any profession. If you need help thinking about, creating, directing and / or producing a video for your practice or profession, please email me at raphis@salemglobal.com, give me a call at 212-993-5828 or check out our site, www.SalemGlobal.com. Though SalemGlobal will work with any particular practice, we know that we can help dentists, orthodontists, lasik eye doctors, dermatologists, podiatrists and plastic surgeons. Next week we will talk about videos for the legal profession.

Protect Your Eyes on July 4th

Posted by raphi.salem on Jun 11, 2008

courtesy of  Emil W. Chynn, MD, FACS, MBA

(Dr. Chynn is the Manhattan Laser Eye Surgeon)

As befits any birthday, Americans will celebrate this July 4 with food, pageantry, and, of course: fireworks!

Who cannot remember the thrill of their first fireworks display, the childish wonder that is rekindled each 4th?  Fireworks are a big part of this holiday.

But would anyone claim that such celebrations are worth $100 million — the amount that fireworks-related injuries cost Americans each year?  Each year, over 10,000 Americans seek treatment in emergency rooms and almost a dozen people die from fireworks-related injuries.  Nearly half of these injuries occur during the July 4th holiday weekend.

Most frequently, fireworks-related injuries involve the eyes — nearly a third of these ER visits are for serious eye injuries.  And 33% of ocular fireworks injuries result in a permanently blind eye (U.S. Eye Injury Registry Data). With nearly 50% of the victims being children, about seventy-five children lose an eye each July 4th weekend due to fireworks.

According to the volunteer organization Prevent Blindness America, in 2004 there were 9,600 firework-related injuries for that year: 300 more than in 2003. And 6,600 of these were treated around the Fourth of July.  Forty percent of all fireworks injuries are to those aged fifteen or less.

But we respond to people, not to statistics.

Carleen was your average, happy fifteen year-old when some of her friends were playing with bottle rockets.  Two rockets went up.  When Carleen glanced at the third rocket that didn’t launch, it exploded, crushing her left eye.

She was brought to the hospital for emergency surgery.  Despite the heroic efforts of her ophthalmologists, who performed seven surgeries over a period of five years, she never saw again.  Eventually, because of constant pain from glaucoma, her eye had to be removed and replaced with a prosthetic eye.

This case illustrates the enormous danger of bottle rockets.  Although they account for only a fraction of all fireworks, bottle rockets caused 70% of all ocular fireworks injuries in 2000 — half resulting in blindness.  In a seven-year analysis by the Eye Injury Registry of Alabama, bottle rockets accounted for 100% of fireworks injuries requiring surgical removal of an eye.  The average age of the victims: thirteen.

Bottle rockets were invented by the Chinese in the thirteenth century, not for entertainment but as a weapon of war.  A small Class C bottle rocket can take off at seventy-five miles per hour with an explosive payload.  Yet over twenty states still allow the sale of bottle rockets, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology advocates legislation banning the sale, resale, use, and possession of bottle rockets, except by trained professionals.  A wide range of organizations support this ban, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Helen Keller International, the National Fire Protection Council, and the National Safety Council.

But it is not just bottle rockets that pose a significant hazard.  Even sparklers, those seemingly innocuous toys, can be extremely dangerous in the hands of young children.  In 2004, 300 children under the age of five were hurt by sparklers.  Don’t forget, a burning sparkler can reach 1800 degrees at its burning tip — not something that a young child should be waving around!

Keeping all fireworks, including sparklers, away from children this holiday season is critical, as 43% of injuries happen to children under 15 years old, 23% in children under age 5–and 69% occur in the month surrounding July 4th!

While Americans do not want to see an end to fireworks, most would support a specific bottle rocket ban; half of the states have already adopted such legislation.  A uniform ban in every state would be much more effective, preventing individuals from purchasing bottle rockets in neighboring states.

What can one do as a parent?  Write, call, or fax your elected representatives, telling them you support a bottle rocket ban.  Encourage your children to attend only professional fireworks displays, rather than using fireworks themselves.  If your child must use fireworks, while nothing can eliminate the danger, the following guidelines (adapted from the American Academy of Ophthalmology) can help decrease risk:

• Always have adult supervision and use protective eyewear.

• Use a specially designed stick, or “punk,” rather than a match to light fireworks.

• Have a bucket of water ready.

• Always follow manufacturers’ directions and dispose of used fireworks properly.

  Do not light firecrackers bigger than your pinkie, do not light them indoors, and avoid relighting duds.

  Never put fireworks in your pocket, throw them while lit, or make homemade firecrackers.

As a first-generation Chinese-American ophthalmologist, I have a unique perspective.  A beautiful fireworks display can be among the most moving of cultural expressions, evoking a visceral reaction, whether on Chinese New Year or July 4th.

At the same time, fireworks, invented for war, hold great destructive potential, which I am unfortunate enough to witness each year.  I am proud of my ancestors for their invention.  I would be many times as proud of my fellow Americans if they joined together to end needless blindness caused by fireworks.

Emil WilliamChynn, MD, FACS, MBA is a LASIK surgeon and advisor to the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH.org).  He can be contacted at dr@parkavenuelaser.com or via his website www.ParkAvenueLaser.com

Park Avenue Laser Vision’s Offers A Free Seminar Vision Correction in NYC

Posted by Salem Global on Jan 4, 2008

See What You Have Been Missing …

Park Avenue Laser Vision is offering a free seminar on Wednesday – 1/23/08 to anyone interested in vision correction surgery. This educational seminar gives an overview of no-cut, no-flap, all laser vision correction procedures.

• Live laser surgery performed by Harvard-trained surgeon – Dr. Emil Chynn, MD, FACS, MBA
• Have your eyes checked to see if you are a good candidate.
• Medical doctors will provide in-depth information on various type of laser vision correction procedures.
• Speak to patients who have had the procedure and are now 20/10!
• Raffle for $500 off a Laser Surgery or $100 off a Botox Injection!
• Free refreshment and goodie bag!
• Date:  Wednesday – 1/23/08
• Time: 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Trust your eyes to the Leader …

PARK AVENUE LASER VISION
102 E. 25TH Street
New York, NY 10010
www.parkavenuelaser.com

Special Offer for 23rd Street Association Members: $500 off Bladeless Lasek Laser Vision Correction. Please RSVP to info@parkavenuelaser.com or call (212) 741-8628

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