I am happy to report to all friends of The Medical Blog Network that I was invited to speak at Spring 2006 Consumer Directed Health Care Conference and Expo.

In case you are not aware, CDHCC is the primary gathering spot for top movers and shakers of healthcare consumerism, which continues its inexorable march on the industry.

What has been missing from CDHCC picture up until now? That is right - blogging and open media! I feel honored to be the one to introduce this distinguished group to whats and whys of healthcare blogging. Here is the title and summary of my talk:

Blogs & Open Media: A New Force in Consumer Driven Healthcare:

Why should you care about open media generally and blogs specifically?

Because it has already changed the rules of the game in politics, news and technology, by giving the power of expression to individuals. Now open media is ready to make a real impact on healthcare. Are you ready?

The short talk will introduce the audience to healthcare blogging, discuss latest trends and consider the opportunities and challenges that the greater openness will create for healthcare organizations.

What should you do as medical blogs are moving into mainstream?

But this talk is not about myself of even TMBN. What I want to do is use the bully pulpit to highlight a few case studies of how blogs are empowering healthcare consumers and professionals to take a greater control of their lives. I could rattle off a few myself, but would much rather ask YOU to suggest the best stories first. Then I would pick and present a few representative ones. I will try and balance our own TMBN contributors with the good folks blogging elsewhere.

With a luncheon speaker slot on Tuesday, May 9th, this is a chance to address (almost) the entire attendance. Use my contact form to submit your entries or leave the comments below.

Finally, if you have a post about healthcare policy, submit it to Health Wonk Review by 04/19. This week's HWR is hosted by Fard Johnmar, who authored the ground-breaking report on medical blogging.

I look forward to your nominations!