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Health news going out over the airwavesMore often than not, patients get information from their physician only when they are sick. Recently, a monthly radio show on New Ulm radio station KNUJ 860 offers health care providers an opportunity to get information out to the public in a proactive way. The show airs every third Friday at 9:15 a.m. during the Community Round Up show with host Brian Filzen and features a different physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner each month. “We wanted to develop some venue for medical experts to discuss health care issues in public other than the twice-a-year educational forums we host,” explained New Ulm Medical Center’s Medical Director, Joan Krikava, M.D. The Medical Center hosts annual educational forums in the fall and in the spring. “It is part of our obligation as a not-for-profit health care organization to help give our community the tools they need to stay healthy.” Some of the radio topics have included prevention of breast cancer, an orthopedic update, allergies, colon cancer and diabetes. Repeating seasonal topics have been a discussion about flu shots in the fall or early winter and information about skin cancer in early summer. “Our goal is to provide health care information and education in as many different ways as we can, impacting as many people as possible. We want our patients to know what kind of questions to ask and ultimately, what kind of health care they should be getting,” Krikava said. “They come away better informed so that they can be a good consumer.” Topics have also focused on happenings at the Medical Center, such as the transition to the automated medical record, and medical happenings in the community at large, such as the Heart Safe Communities initiative that placed Automatic External Defibrillators in various facilities throughout the community. The radio show platform has the added advantage of allowing listeners to hear from the newest providers at New Ulm Medical Center. “This has proven to be a good way to introduce new physicians and gives patients a chance to hear them talk about a health care topic,” said Dr. Krikava. “It almost gives you a sense that you know them, before even meeting them.” |
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New Ulm Medical Center
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