Barbara Ficarra

Bio

Sharecare editorial advisory board member, and health educator, Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA, is an award-winning broadcast journalist and a featured writer for The Huffington Post. She is the founder of Healthin30.com, which offers health news and advice from a nurse’s perspective. Barbara is an international speaker and she is on the front lines of health care as a registered nurse and a leading voice in health offering practical advice focusing on patient engagement and empowerment, health care social media, health IT, digital technology, (mHealth-mobile health, gamification, telemedicine), doctor|nurse team and healthy living.

Barbara began her broadcasting career in radio as creator, host and executive producer of the award-winning Health in 30® radio show, which brought listeners the latest health information and featured renowned health and wellness guest experts.

Barbara is a contributor to many health sites, is frequently quoted and featured by numerous media outlets, and has appeared on FOX News Live. You can watch her on Sharecare in dozens of Health Smarts videos, in which she delivers her trademark brand of advice: simple, practical and trustworthy tips to help people take charge of their health and feel their best.

Barbara received a Broadcast Journalism Award of Excellence for Health in 30® from the American College of Emergency Physicians. The winning program, “Ins and Outs of the ER,” explained what patients should expect in the ER and explored the challenges created by crowding. In 2011, Healthin30.com was voted Best Health Blog by Healthline.

Barbara was a board member for the National Association of Medical Communicators and served on the Academy of Judges for the International Health and Medical Media Awards. She was invited by Microsoft to judge a series of innovative technology entries for the Imagine Cup 2012. She served as faculty for the American Medical Association’s Medical Communications Conferences, has taught classes in media broadcasting, and is a team member for one of TEDMED’s 20 Great Challenges, Improving Medical Communication.

Currently she is president of Barbara Ficarra Productions, LLC, and is a consultant, moderator on panels and webinars, and media trainer. She speaks internationally on healthcare issues, focusing on professional development, patient engagement and empowerment, social media, and digital technology, including mHealth (mobile health), gamification, health apps, telemedicine and telehealth, leveraging her experience as former senior director of clinical affairs for a telehealth company.

She is also an administrative supervisor at a large university medical center, where she covers multiple medical and surgical units, critical care, oncology, cardiology, the psychiatric unit, women’s and children’s services and the emergency trauma department. She always encourages patients and their families to be proactive and take charge of their health.

Her professional affiliations include the Association of Health Care Journalists, New York Women in Communications, Microsoft Health Users Group, HIMSS (Healthcare Information Management Systems Society) and American Telemedicine Association.

Activity

  • Barbara Ficarra

    How do companies curb health care costs?

    Do healthier employees lead to increased productivity?  Several progressive companies believe so and have committed to providing employees with programs to help engage them in a healthier lifestyle.

    As part of the incentives to lead a healthier lifestyle some employers

    ...Full Post
  • Barbara Ficarra

    Practice forgiveness, acceptance, compassion, consideration, graciousness and generosity. Turn the other cheek. Treat others as you wish to be treated.

    Try to avoid getting defensive and angry. Give the benefit of the doubt. Don’t assume the worst. Don’t assume your partner did what they did

    ...Full Post
  • Barbara Ficarra

    By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

    People engaged in social media networking platforms are using it to build and strengthen relationships, establish trust, network and it may get them a walk down the aisle.

    A recent article in Harvard Business Review, “Social Strategies That Work,” author Mikotaj Jan

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  • Barbara Ficarra

    By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA

    Guy Kawasaki referred to himself as a “Bozo” during his keynote address at the Health Tech Next Generation Conference in San Francisco...Speaker, author, former chief evangelist of Apple, founding partner at Garage Technology Ventures, and founder of Alltop, Kawasaki

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  • Rachel Leclerc
    Rachel Leclerc posted on Barbara Ficarra’s wall:
    Hi Barbara ~ I am thanking all my friends. You are one of them. I have received so much in such a short time. Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday. LOL
  • Jeff Arnold
    Jeff Arnold posted on Barbara Ficarra’s wall:
    Thank you for the nice message and everything you do for Sharecare.
  • Jodie is Jammin'
    Jodie is Jammin' posted on Barbara Ficarra’s wall:
    Hi Barbara! I have been thinking of you here and there... thanks for checking in. :) Thanks for the compliment and the congrats too! I have definitely lost at a slower rate with the different injury and Vit D recovery challenges, but it is still GREAT! The most difficult has been to learn new stratagies to deal with hormonal type cravings. The most rewarding has been actually overcoming the various speed bumps and obstacles in life and persisting and continuing on. Meeting all the great people on here has been so helpful! I think that we all know the inherent difficulties and have experienced some of the same challenges in life, makes sticking with it and going through it easier. We lost a lot along the way. Sure hope they make it on the path! I guess we have to find what works for us. For me being on here every day has kept me focused. Still have a way to go, but I WILL get there. :) Thanks again for thinking of me! Hope you are doing great!!
  • Barbara Ficarra
    Barbara Ficarra posted on Dawn Whaley’s wall:
    Hi Dawn, Thank you!--I'm glad you found the answer to, "What should you ask your doctor during every appointment?" helpful. Best, Barbara
  • Barbara Ficarra
    Barbara Ficarra posted on Jodie is Jammin'’s wall:
    Hi Jodie! How are you? I'm checking in--I haven't forgotten about you! Wow! Congrats! I’m so proud of you!---Since starting with Sharecare 1/20/11---you’ve accomplished losing 33 lbs., what has been the most rewarding part of this experience? The most difficult? Your photo is great! Thanks Jodie—Congratulations again! Cheers, Barbara
  • Danielle Nice
    Danielle Nice posted on Barbara Ficarra’s wall:
    I am currently taking percocets and muscle relaxers 3 times a day for chronic nerve pain after a thorocotomy procedure I underwent on May of this year, are there any supplements that I may be able to take to help with the severe lack of sexual desire I am dealing with as a result of the drugs used to treat my condition?
  • Barbara Ficarra
    Recently,  I had the pleasure of being surrounded by brilliant health care thought leaders.  First, I delivered a social media presentation at the Eyeforpharma conference.  Secondly, I sat in the audience at the Social Communications and Health Care 2011 conference to listen to others present on social...Full Post
  • Barbara Ficarra
    The energy flowing recently through Tampa’s mega convention center at the 2011 American Telemedicine Association (ATA) conference was electrifying.  Surrounded by brilliant telemedicine experts all competing to showcase their devices and products, there was one common denominator, the patient...Full Post
  • Barbara Ficarra
    The energy flowing recently through Tampa’s mega convention center at the 2011 American Telemedicine Association (ATA) conference was electrifying.  Surrounded by brilliant telemedicine experts all competing to showcase their devices and products, there was one common denominator, the patient...Full Post
  • Barbara Ficarra

    New on HuffingtonPost...

    Comprehensive Guide for Medical Professionals and Patients Engaging in Social Media

    Social networking offers value. It allows doctors, nurses and other health care professionals to collaborate, connect and engage with the community and their colleagues. Full Post>
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  • Barbara Ficarra

    By Barbara Ficarra, RN, BSN, MPA and John C. Lipman, MD

    Ladies imagine planning your daily events based around the timing of you menstrual cycle.

    Some women suffering from uterine fibroids have a menstrual flow so heavy that it can impede their life.

    “Everything must be planned around their menstrual, and it can be very draining

    ...Full Post