Each week Fard Johnmar, Envision Solutions' founder, offers insight, information and commentary on healthcare-related issues on his blogs, Envisioning 2.0 and HealthCareVox.  Click the links below to read some of the best posts from both Weblogs. 

Social Media & Healthcare Communications

As blogs, podcasts and wikis gain influence healthcare organizations are becoming increasingly interested in these technologies.  The articles below focus on the practical applications of social media for industry players looking to use it to communicate with their audiences. 

-Why Genzyme Should Start A Blog

-The Current State Of Podcasting In Healthcare

-Blogs & Corporate Communications:
What Big Pharma Can Learn From GM

-The Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative:
Using Social Media Effectively & Successfully

The FDA & The Pharmaceutical Industry:
Crisis, Controversy & Change

Over the past few years, the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) relationship with the pharmaceutical industry has come under increased scrutiny.  Critics have charged that the agency is beholden to drug companies and is putting politics over science. 

Click the links below for articles focusing on this important subject, including an interview with John Powers, MD, lead medical officer for Antimicrobial Drug Development and Resistance at the FDA.

-Clinical Trial Development: FDA Representatives Suggest Improvements But What Will Prompt Action?

-The FDA: Paper Tiger Or Overzealous Regulator?

-Antibiotics, Clinical Trials & More:
An Interview With The FDA's John Powers, MD

Rebuilding The FDA's Reputation:
A Conversation With Mark Senak

In May 2006, the Wall Street Journal and Harris Interactive released a poll indicating that the public has lost confidence in the FDA.  In addition, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report in late September concluding that the agency's ability to ensure that drugs are safe and effective has been severely compromised. 

Clearly, the FDA is facing a communications and organizational crisis, but what should it do?  In this interview, Mark Senak, senior vice president at public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard and author of the influential blog Eye on FDA, offers his advice on how the agency can start to rebuild its tarnished reputation.

From Glitzy Ads To More Education:
The Changing Face Of Pharmaceutical Marketing

In 2005, drug industry trade group PhRMA developed new voluntary guidelines on direct to consumer (DTC) advertising.  The new regulations, along with increasing criticism of DTC commercials, has led some drug firms to focus more attention on educating consumers rather than developing glitzy advertisements. 

Read this article to find out:

-Why critics charge that pharmaceutical companies sponsoring or producing educational campaigns are engaging in "disease mongering"

-How proactive communications can satisfy the public's demand for increased transparency and bolster the credibility of educational initiatives