Monday, March 21, 2016

"Patient Listener" - New Medical Career Option?

How about outsourcing "Medical Patient Listening"?

The "Patient Listener" could listen at length to a patient, take medical history, ask probing questions, etc. - working with the patient to develop a summarized version, symptom/event timeline, etc. of the patient's story - for the doctor to better diagnose, and treatSummary would include more than just medical history and symptoms - like "what else is going on" in their lives, personality profiles, etc. - to help the doctor hone in on the exact diagnosis and treatment plan.



Why not?  Could this be a new career option in Complementary Medicine 

New value-added feature for Patient Advocates?

This concept might help bridge the gap between the unheard patient and the busy practitioner.

Qualifications might include:
  • Good listener
  • Caring
  • Have time (retired health care professionals?)
  • Able to interpret body language
  • Ability to guide conversations to achieve results
  • Know what questions to ask to get at the root problem
  • Be open to symptoms being partially physical and partly psychological. 
Maybe this "Story Listener" wouldn't have to be a doctor, nurse, etc. - Maybe the Listener could be a caring LPN, Community Health Worker, etc.

Maybe this concept could reduce overall health care costs.  Sometimes just listening heals in itself.  Maybe the M.D. would be more efficient.  Sometimes when the patient realizes what the problem is, they can fix it themselves, e.g. manage stress, self-help, etc.
In addition to interviewing the patient, the listener could interview family/friends to better understand "what is really going on".

This approach might be particularly helpful for chronic health conditions....for those who are "sick and tired of being sick and tired".


It is much more important to know what sort of a patient has a disease than what sort of a disease a patient has. William Osler
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/williamosl391388.html
It is much more important to know what sort of a patient has a disease than what sort of a disease a patient has.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/williamosl391388.html
"It is much more important to know what sort of a patient has a disease than what sort of a disease a patient has." - William Osler
It is much more important to know what sort of a patient has a disease than what sort of a disease a patient has.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/williamosl391388.html
It is much more important to know what sort of a patient has a disease than what sort of a disease a patient has. William Osler
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/williamosl391388.html
It is much more important to know what sort of a patient has a disease than what sort of a disease a patient has. William Osler
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/williamosl391388.html

******************************************************************************

Some ideas to think about....

Narrative medicine 

Medical Listener patent

Are You “Sick and Tired” of Being “Sick and Tired”? - Health ...

The Medical Inquiry: Invite, Listen, Summarize

Doctor as story-listener and storyteller

Patient Stories May Improve Health

Help the patient tell his story by Murray Wexler; Leta McKinney Adler

Getting diagnostic help through sharing the patient's story

Healing, the Patient Narrative-Story and the Medical ...

Every Patient Tells A Story by Lisa Sanders ...

Why patient stories actually matter

We listen but do we hear? The importance of patient stories

The patient's story: integrating the patient-and physician-centered approaches to interviewing

Why did I miss the diagnosis? some cognitive explanations and educational implications.

Physician Cognition | The Patient's Story - the Whole Story ...

A Medical Detective Story: Why Doctors Make Diagnostic ...

Patients' Diagnostic Accuracy is Better than Physicians!

Getting diagnostic help through sharing the patient's story

Narrative medicine: a model for empathy, reflection, profession, and trust

Diagnosis Goes Low Tech - NYTimes.com

Narrative Medicine: Honoring the Stories of Illness

Diagnose This, by Heidi Julavits | Harper's Magazine

Narrative and Medicine

Practical strategies for practising narrative-based medicine

Broken doctor–patient relationships: why won't they listen ...

Who is more helpful, a doctor who does not listen to you or ...

It's A Long Story, Doctor! - Google Books Result

Listening and Focusing

As hospitals go digital, human stories get left behind

Why patient stories actually matter | Heart Sisters

The Importance of Telling (and Listening) to the Story

Invite, listen, and summarize: a patient-centered communication technique

Narrative Medicine - Patients Telling Their Stories - Oprah.com

Galen and the rhetoric of healing by Susan P Mattern 

Saunders Essentials of Medical Assisting

Preparing medical students to become attentive listeners.

What I learned from listening to a patient

Patient Listening | University of Iowa Press

The importance of physician listening from the patients ...

ERIC - If You Listen, the Patient Will Tell You the Diagnosis ...

Always Listen to the Patient - They're Trying to Tell You the ...


History Taking. Information about History Taking | Patient

Doctor as story-listener and storyteller


**************************************************

Disclaimer - Article is for information only and not medical/legal advice.


Friday, October 31, 2014

You might be able to connect to the "Doctor Within" each of us, using the Ideomotor Response!

You might be able to connect to the "Doctor Within" each of us, using the Ideomotor Response! - Try this below....

Arduino Controlled Ouija Board - If you're looking to chat with those on the "other side," - https://www.sparkfun.com/news/1631?utm_source=SparkFun+Customer+Newsletter&utm_campaign=005078f568-StandardNewsletterOct27-31&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fa5287abaf-005078f568-60600153 

Disclaimer - Article is for information only and is not medical advice.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Could Biofeedback Be Used to Assist Medical Diagnosis and Treatment?

Just read a good book....New Mind, New Body - Bio-Feedback:  New Directions for the Mind by Barbara B. Brown

The book is excellent.  I was hoping to find reference to using biofeedback for medical diagnosis, similar to my research in "Interfacing With The Doctor Within".  Maybe I missed the diagnosis references, though.

Anyhow, here's some links you might find interesting....

Please let me know of actual devices or instrumentation to access a person's mind, dreams, subconscious, and/or intuition....or anything like that.

I still think emotion sensors could be used to assist in medical diagnosis.  Sometimes I get excited when find others working in this area, but not to the extent I want it to happen.


Ms. Brown's books are excellent in the area of Biofeedback.  I've read none better. 


Yet, I was disappointed to not see where this monitoring of emotions was not used to detect "emotional hotspots", which might be causing, or contributing to, the reported malady.


Here's what I'm looking for...."Doctor using an emotion sensor to assist in clinical diagnosis."


Let me know if I missed something.  Got any suggestions?


Here's the Search String I used...barbara-brown (diagnosis OR diagnose OR diagnostic) (biofeedback OR lie-detector OR polygraph OR polygrapy)


Anyhow, that's all for today.  What am I missing?  Please comment.


Thanks!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Tom's Writings - New Blog - News of all my writing and inventing


Hello All – FYI – I now have a news hub for all my writing and "virtual inventing" – Tom's Writings | TG Ideas LLC

If you want to know of all my activities then please “Follow by E-Mail” or “Subscribe” on Tom's Writings.

I’m off to a fresh start in my blogging. Stay tuned. I’m so excited to start writing, researching, inventing again. 

Best Wishes to you in your endeavors. 

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Improvement on First Working Model


Hello All - Just an update....

I'm now using "Self Hypnosis" instead of "Guided Imagery" to "Interface with the Doctor Within".

Here's how this works (using the parts from my first working model)....

  1. I listen to Tape Recorder 1, whereon I pre-recorded a self hypnosis script.  I usually have a question or two for each day, but sometimes I just leave it open ended.
  2. I speak into Tape Recorder 2, what my mind sees, hears, intuits, etc. in this self-hypnotic session.
  3. Later, I transfer my comments to text using Dragon Voice Recognition.  To this text, I add my daily intuitions, dreams, etc. that relate to the questions or something that seems significant.
This is so exciting!!!  I'll keep you posted.  I'm just getting started, folks.  "Listening within" reminds me of shortwave radio listening when I was a kid - try this, try that until I got the signal I was looking for.

I'm also working on a "Pain Dimmer" that might augment above.  Stay tuned for updates !!!!


Monday, May 24, 2010

Has anyone used polygraphy techniques to obtain better health information from patients?


Has anyone used polygraph (e.g. lie detector, biofeedback indicator, galvanic skin response, etc,) techniques to obtain health information from patients?

The premise is that health care practitioners (e.g. doctors) must rely on accurate and complete verbal information from the patient to make a good diagnosis and treatment plan. Sometimes, this information is missing from the patient, either on purpose or inadvertently  (e.g. forgetting, holding back hunches of what they think is going on, etc.)


It seems to me that "polygraphy" might be a good start at viewing the "inside workings" of an individual to find out "what's really going on".

This might be most useful for those patients who don't seem to improve, are difficult to diagnose, or for which there is no hope for recovery - and the patients or family are willing to try anything for a chance to get better.
I am working on this topic, as part of my blog  and I would like to know your thoughts on this.  I have a working model and continue to improve it as time goes on.  First working model is at
http://doctor-within.blogspot.com/2010/02/hello-all-i-now-have-first-working.html
  • Is anyone else doing similar research, or would like to?
  • Would you like to know more of my own research and experimentation?
  • Would you like me to show you how to make and use your own apparatus, using off-the-shelf components?
  • Could my work be a springboard for you in your own research project or maybe even science fair project?
  • Are you interested in me showing, training, teaching my work in person or via video conference?
  • As a healthcare professional, would you like me to show you my work?
  • How else can I help you?
Thanks!  Keep in touch, if you want.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

How It Works

“Interfacing with the Doctor-Within” – How It Works

My first “working model” uses established Polygraphy
(Lie-Detector) techniques and technology for a new purpose – asking health related questions.  Typically polygraphs are used by police departments in identifying suspects or in pre-employment screening.  Polygraph equipment is usually not available to the general public, but Biofeedback
devices are readily available.  Biofeedback devices make use many of the same principles of Polygraphy.  This first working model uses a Galvanic Skin Response
(GSR) Biofeedback Device to determine emotional state in response to health related questions posed to a subject.

For example, the questions below are presented to a subject along with control questions.  In response, the subject answers the questions.

1.      Is the stress level in your life adversely affecting your health?
2.      Do you think expect the stress in your life to improve?
3.      Is the pain in your stomach related to the stress in your life?
4.      Do you have pain anywhere else related to the stress in your life?
5.      What do you think you need to feel better?

With my apparatus, the question, verbal answer, and GSR “answer” are recorded simultaneously.  The recording is then reviewed at the end of a session.  The GSR is an indicator of “internal emotional tenderness”, similar to a doctor pressing on a body part and asking “Does it hurt here?”.  GSR is a signal to the person or practitioner to ask additional questions to determine the true source of the “dis-ease”.

For example, in Question 1 above, the verbal answer might be NO because to answer YES might mean a sign of weakness.  The GSR would, however, scream YES, since the stress is killing the person.  This would indicate more questioning is necessary to arrive at the truth.


In practice, the health questions could be asked by the apparatus or by another person.  This technique could be used by:
·         Individuals asking themselves questions using Guided Imagery Techniques
.
·         Health Care Practitioners, e.g. M.D., asking their patients questions.
·         Asking questions of those concerned about the health of the patient, e.g. mother with infant, spouse, friend, etc.
·         Asking Health Care Practitioners to pick the best diagnosis amongst several, when there is no clear choice, to add a “Medical Intuition
” dimension to their diagnosis.

I’m hoping this concept is not used so much for Patient Compliance
, but rather for the individual or practitioner to use because they want to obtain a more “Holistic
” answer.  Perhaps this device would be most helpful for those who are willing to try anything to get better.

This first working model was made for under $300 with components available to the general public.  For full details, please see “First Working Model”
.  I’ve just begun to experiment and research in this concept.  I made this concept public early in hopes that “Open Innovation
” would develop this more quickly than me working on this alone. 

For more information and a report of continuing research, please see http://doctor-within.blogspot.com/

For questions or comments, please contact Tom Garz (TG Ideas LLC) at tgideas@gmail.com.

This writing, and any other communication, from TG Ideas LLC are strictly for informational purposes. See full disclaimer on TG Ideas LLC publications and website - https://sites.google.com/site/tgideas/

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Conscious-Subconscious Interface

Hello All - Moving along with my first "working model"....

  • FYI - Estimated cost of parts the way I made it is about $300.  Estimated time of assembly 1/2 hour.  Estimated setup and getting used to the apparatus and operation - 2 hours.  You can probably do much better though...and faster!
  • You know I've been thinking that this device is really a "Conscious-Subconscious Interface".
Question + Conscious Answer + Subconscious Answer = Holistic Answer
Q + CA + SA = HA
  • Also, here’s some links related to “Concealed Information Test” I mentioned in my PowerPoint presentations.  Perhaps “concealed information” is in my subconscious – further experimentation will prove this out (hopefully).  Think about it…I’m asking myself essentially multiple choice health questions with Guided Imagery.
Stay tuned…I’m just getting started. 
For details on my first "Working Model" - Please go to http://doctor-within.blogspot.com/2010/02/hello-all-i-now-have-first-working.html
 Stay tuned for news/progress in this exciting research area!
Do you share interest in this topic? Let me know. Thanks!

This writing, and any other communication, from TG Ideas LLC are strictly for informational purposes. See full disclaimer on TG Ideas LLC publications and website - https://sites.google.com/site/tgideas/




Wednesday, February 17, 2010

First Working Model !!!!

Hello All - I now have a first "Working Model" to "Interface with the Doctor Within" me. I hope you find it of interest.








If interested, check out the Overview - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vgau3fgQHE

For much more information, see the details are below. Feel free to download or pass this information along to others who might be interested.  Essentially, the apparatus uses Polygraph (Lie Detector or Biofeedback) techniques to give a more "holistic" answer to health questions asked.


Google Docs File Folder
of PowerPoint Presentations (Narrated), Diagrams, Parts List, Instructions, Guided Imagery Scripts etc. - https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0ByxQMXIbYsLcNDdlMTU4MTgtMjYwMy00OTQ4LThjYTQtOWY2NmIwNjQ5NDBi&hl=en 
 



Contents of File Folder Above – All PowerPoint Presentations are narrated.
  • Seven Separate Short PowerPoint presentations – Overview and 6 part series.
  • One Long (Large) PowerPoint presentation - Overview and 6 part series combined.
  • Connection Diagram, Parts List, Setup, Operation of first “Working Model”
  • Four Sample Guided Imagery Scripts – Health Overview, Body Scan, Needs and Wants, Evaluate Current Situation

FYI -
Overview and 6 part series are also on YouTube.



Stay tuned. I've just gotten started on this new adventure!

First Webinar Below - Register if interested.

Friday, July 4, 2008

Interfacing with the Doctor Within

Hello All – I hope this blog finds other people interested in using science to record and explore the “intuitive messages” the body, mind, and spirit are trying to tell us about our health and health of others. Up to now, we could only say or write these "intuitive messages".

I'm just starting in this work, or really adventure. This first posting describes what's been done before and offers up some ideas of what else might be done. As time goes on, I plan to post my learnings and experimentation on myself for the benefit of others.

Something to think about....Albert Schweitzer wrote We are at our best when we give the doctor who resides within each patient a chance to go to work." - Maybe some day we'll have a way to access our "doctor within". Maybe this article is a step toward that direction.

Please read this information over and If you like what you see, please pass this along to as many others you think might also be interested. Feel free to comment on this blog posting, perhaps adding your own research or experimentation. I'm interested in finding others who are interested in this topic.

Throughout the world, there is much research being done on "Brain Computer Interfaces" that show brain or mind activity (e.g. EEG, MRI, etc.). On the other hand, very little research is being done on automatically recording "intuitive messages", perhaps by computer. By doing so, we could scientifically study and improve on this process, and maybe someday, have a device to "Interface with the Doctor Within", like that described below.




  • A low-cost or free device, readily available to the general public, that would give advice regarding what a specific individual should or should not do to restore or preserve health.
  • This device might be used directly by individuals or indirectly by others.
  • This device would give advice as good as or better than existing healthcare professionals.
  • This advice would be “spot-on” and not “trial and error”.
  • If “prescriptions” are necessary, this device would advise exactly the correct substance and dosage for the individual.
  • If “operations or procedures” are necessary, this device would work with the surgeon or practitioner on informing exactly what needs to be done as the procedure is being done.
  • For those individuals unable to communicate, this device would express the individual’s current healthcare status and wishes.
  • This device would be completely aware of the current health status of the individual, plus have a complete medical history of the individual.
  • This device could give a written report of what to do or not do, plus provide updates of how treatment is going.
  • This device could inform and work with healthcare professionals, if needed.
Anyhow, let's get started!....here's a start.....feel free to add your comments as time goes on....

There seems to be a "Doctor Within" that takes care of most of the body functions, with or without our help or the help of a medical professional. Sometimes, however, the "Doctor Within" might need help from the outside to complete the body repairs. Currently we only "look in" to fix the health problem by our medical tests, etc. We don't “ask” the "Doctor Within" what it needs to fix itself. I'd like to lay the foundation for better accessing the "Doctor Within", perhaps by electronic means.

Maybe intuition is a way to access the "Doctor Within". Other names for
intuition are – hunch, gut feel, sixth sense, gut instinct, gut knowing, innate wisdom, gut reaction, etc. Nothing new here, Medical Intuition has been around for some time.

This posting proposes some ways to detect and record intuition, plus some information on possible “how-to” techniques. I couldn't find much in Traditional Science on this concept, so some of below is from Fringe Science. When you think about it, all science was once considered fringe, weird, against the rules, etc. at one time in history. Anyhow, enough theory - Let's get on with how this concept could be implemented. Please keep an open mind as you read, since this seems to be the best science we have at the moment on this topic. If you don't like what you see, how would you "interface with the Doctor Within"? Please let us all know.


Diagnostic Dreams Access – Possible How-To Information

Dreams have been used throughout history to diagnose health. A few examples are below:


* Hippocrates studied dreams as diagnosic tools.


* Interpreting dreams for corrective regimen: diagnostic dreams in Greco-Roman medicine.

* Healing Through Dreamwork

* Edgar Cayce - see "health readings"

* "How to Listen to Dreams" by Patricia Garfield PhD

One way to communicate with our “inner selves” while sleeping, might be Morse Code or Texting, as evidenced below:

* “Morse code communication from the lucid dream” – See Figure 4.

* “Not even sleep can stop us texting”

* Communication and control by means of brainwave and other processes causing ...US Pat. 6529773 - brain alpha waves can send messages in Morse code and be printed out by printer...

* EncephalolexianalyzerUS Pat. 5840040 - EEG to Morse Code...

* Lucid Dreaming By Celia Green, Celia Elizabeth Green, Charles McCreery - discusses using eye movements for Morse Code communication while dreaming...

I'm thinking Diagnostic Dreams might be the best place to start....but more possibilities below!!

Medical Dowsing or Radiesthesia – Possible How-To Information

Dowsing has been described as an indicator of intuition or unknown knowledge. As you will see below, computer-assisted dowsing is not new. I suggest starting with what has been done already with medical dowsing or Radiesthesia. Then, interface this dowsing with a computer.

A computer or PDA could record dowsing answers very nicely without interrupting the dowsing train of thought. Looking ahead, I can see where computers can help explore these ideomotor effects by recording, analyzing, interpreting, and communicating these effects. Computers can also help form questions and provide known information to the user. It seems like all the traditional uses of dowsing could be duplicated and maybe enhanced by computer-assisted dowsing.

*
DE19517828 - Deflection measuring device for divining rod. This patent application shows how to interface a divining (dowsing) rod to a computer (computer-assisted dowsing.

*
A Simple, Low-Cost, Data-Logging Pendulum Built from a Computer Mouse

*
Camera Mouse to record any dowsing tool response.

*
Hand worn remote computer mouse - US Pat. 5489922 -– could be part of a dowsing tool.

* Once dowsing tool responses are inputted to computer,
Mouse Gesture software could interpret the tool response into answers.

* A
Pie Menu might be viewed as a pendulum-dowsing chart. A Mouse Pad or Computer Screen could be in the form of a Dowsing Chart or an anatomy diagram, Aura diagram, or Chakra diagram. WebMD or other Internet resources could also be dowsed for diagnosis/treatment.

*
Tactile-acoustic information detecting and measuring apparatus and methodUS Pat. 5744715 - measuring "stick" as used in Radionics. Furthermore, a computer touch pad might be used instead of a Radionic Stick Plate.

*
System and method for speech generation from brain activityUS Pat. 7275035 – Ideomotor responses might initiate speech.

* Polygraph (Lie Detector) Devices to record intuition – Possible How-To Information

*
EP1651942 - ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL INTUITION INDICATOR…uses body measurements to infer intuition….

*
US6067468 - Apparatus for monitoring a person's psycho-physiological condition…uses skin resistance…

*
DIY Polygraph

* Build on the work of
Cleve Backster and his theory of Plant Perception. Maybe plants could be a remote intuition indicator in themselves and the results could then be inputted into a computer. Don’t forget about animals having a “sixth sense”, knowing when someone is sick.

*
Gut Feelings, Intuition, and Emotions: An Exploratory Study - Dean I. Radin, Marilyn J. Schlitz. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. February 1, 2005, 11(1): 85-91. doi:10.1089/acm.2005.11.85. – uses electrogastrogram to investigate gut feelings.

* The intuitive responses of
Medical Intuitives, Doctors, Veterinarians, Patients, etc. could be recorded and studied to enhance medical diagnosis.

Inputting Other Intuition Indicators into a computer – Possible How-To Information

*
Message type recording psychographsUS Pat. 4753439 - Filed Oct 10, 1985

*
Ouija Mouse Pad

*
Gypsy: The First Computerized Talking Board

*
Automatic Writing could be inputted to a computer using handwriting recognition software.

*
Facilitated Communication or Coma Work could be inputted to a computer helping a patient unable to communicate their healthcare wishes.

* Diagnostic Dreams could be automatically inputted to a computer - instead of writing or speaking them after waking.

Use existing tools for measuring/recording Ideomotor involuntary movements – Possible How-To Information

*
Tremor measurement deviceUS Pat. 4306291 - Filed Dec 14, 1979

*
Measuring movement disorderUS Pat. 5562104 - Filed Apr 6, 1994

*
System an method for detecting tremors such as those which result from ...US Pat. 5293879 - Filed Sep 23, 1991

Collaborative diagnosis and treatment plan – Possible How-To Information

*
Collaborative software could link computer-assisted dowsers or other information seekers together in an efficient manner. This is similar to “getting a second opinion”.

Decreasing computer assistance – Possible How-To Information

* Perhaps there could be
computer based training to help people increase their own innate intuition. Computer-assisted intuition tools could be viewed as “training wheels” to using intuition efficiently.

FYI - This "Interfacing with the Doctor Within" concept first appeared on my other blog “Ideas for Products or Inventions” several months ago. I thought it has so much potential I made a new blog just on this topic alone. If interested in the original postings, please go to.... http://tgideas.blogspot.com/2008/04/design-notes-for-low-cost-medical.html and
http://tgideas.blogspot.com/2008/03/design-notes-for-low-cost-medical.html

Stay tuned for news/progress in this exciting research area...especially after I retire soon!

Do you share interest in this topic? Let me know. Thanks!

NOTE - Please remember that newer patents are probably not expired, and therefore active. Please also be advised that many countries have legal restrictions or regulations regarding diagnosing and treating others and the equipment used therein -
Alternative Medicine - Regulation, and Medicine - Legal Restrictions, Biomedical Engineering - Regulatory Issues, Medical License, etc. On the other hand, there might be little or no legal restrictions to Self-Diagnosis/Treatment or Self-Experimentation. If in doubt, please check with a legal professional.

This writing, and any other communication, from TG Ideas LLC are strictly for informational purposes. See full disclaimer on TG Ideas LLC publications and website -
http://www.athenet.net/~ideas/ The above is a collection of publicly available information that anyone could have found and pieced together.