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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
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Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." - Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic. Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's Web sites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the Web site) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
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Stress blog
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Jan. 28, 2009
Be proactive in caring for yourself and loved ones
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Some of you have shared stories of dealing with the elderly, dealing with individuals with developmental disorders, and we wonder what are the limits to human perseverance?
There is no easy answer, but to access the appropriate social service agencies and professional organizations may provide some guidance. The healthcare delivery system doesn't work well, and we need to be proactive in caring for ourselves and our loved ones.
Equally importantly, at the top of our to-do list needs to be some concept of self-care. We have belabored this point in the past, but it bears repeating: We have gifts and skills to share, but if our health deteriorates, those gifts cannot be used to make our world and our families a little bit better.
The gift to laugh at ourselves, the gift to get away for a brief period of time, and the gift to take care of ourselves physically cannot be negotiated. These are things we must do for ourselves or there will be nothing left.
For all of you dealing with these challenging situations, I would welcome insights and perspectives on how you navigate through the healthcare "system" to do the right thing for loved ones who depend on you?
7 comments posted
January 1, 2010 10:07 a.m.
Rukmini: My heart goes out to you and your daughter. Have you ever considered Orthomolecular Psychiatry for her? Traditional medications for schizophrenia, shizoaffective disorder, and depression can work wonders for these disorders. At the same time, Orthomolecular Psychiatry might be another viable option. Blessings, Barbara A You can get information by googling it.
- Barbara A
January 1, 2010 10:02 a.m.
There are very few situations in life that call for "havee toos." We all have to die and pay our taxes. I think a third "have to" needs to be added. When in the position of being a caretaker, periodic breaks and reliance on social agencies are mandated. Barbara A "Cry Depression, Celebrate Recovery" coming out soon!
- Barbara A
February 19, 2009 10:14 a.m.
I agree. I write you from Italy and I've been diagnosed of a serious cronichal illness 3 years ago. I thin that your "there are things we must do for ourselves or there will be nothing left" is a perfect synthesis of life. Thank you for your blog. Paulina
- No name given
February 4, 2009 4:26 p.m.
Love your blog!
- Steven
February 4, 2009 5:04 a.m.
I like the way you write - you seem to understand the challenges faced by those who struggle in giving care. I have a daughter diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. She has been living with this illness for fifteen years. She stays with us. I live in India where the health care system is in shambles. Even for middle class families such as ours there are no affordable crisis centres. Our family has been severely impacted because there is little time for self-care. Thank you for your understanding and this wonderful blog.
- Rukmini Pillai
February 3, 2009 3:59 p.m.
I was a Long Term Care Case Manager (CM) but couldn't do it any more. If only once in a while people on the receiving side would remember that CM's arranging for needed services work with the toughest of the tough cases, those who are not only aging but have long histories of mental health problems, AODA issues, fractures families, developmental disabilities with few providers, etc. Those nice little ladies with good family supports and with people willing to support them are few and far between. The CM struggles are compounded by news articles saying their service delivery efforts are a failure, politicians crying we've abandoned our neediest and yet won't provide adequate funding to enable us to meet their needs, programs with state imposed strictures that hamper nothelp CMs trying to assist people in need. I had to go elsewhare
- No name given
February 3, 2009 3:50 p.m.
I am the Administrator for a Healthcare delivery system dedicated to helping people stay in thier own homes as long as possible and assist families in adjusting to change as members age. Please know the stress on those case managers working to meet the needs of this large population with so many different needs and levels of support is also staggeringly stressful due to limited monies, high caseloads, state mandated paperwork and the demands and complaints from families frustrated with CM stretched to their limit in trying to serve all.
- LTC Healthcare Administrator
7 comments posted