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Women speak up on new health blog


by Megan Fink
Public Relations
What began as a way to alert visitors and employees to the various services offered by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Perinatal Service Line has blossomed into a repository and forum on important women’s health information.

Dr. Jill Mauldin reviews one of her post to Women Speak, a new health blog. Mauldin and several other physicians and nurses from the Department of OB/GYN contribute to the weekly blog.

The MUSC-affiliated blog, “Women Speak,” was an easy communication tool that morphed into a way for women, and even men, to find answers to women’s health concerns.

Women and infant services is the first service line at MUSC to offer a blog as an additional resource to patients. Several Women Services physicians, nurses and staff contribute to Women Speak—Straight Talk about Women’s Health, http://blogs.musc.edu/womenspeak, and diversity to the topics and advice given through the blog.

The tone is informational yet lively. Current blog topics include intra-uterine devices (IUD’s) as birth control, identifying the symptoms of urinary tract infections, female sexual dysfunction, and the importance of midwifery in women’s health; just to name a few.

In addition to providing information on common ailments and demystifying routine tests, blog contributors also share what’s new for entry and inspiration.

“If something’s big in the news, then women in the Lowcountry will be talking about it as well,” said Renee Merriam, Obstetrics and Gynecology communications coordinator and blog administrator. “This gives MUSC an opportunity to be a part of the conversation.”

Seasonal topics, such as the flu vaccine and new research, also will also supply content and freshness to the health blog.

Women Speak also provides an interactive medium to discuss delicate issues concerning women: sex, postpartum depression, domestic abuse, collapsing reproductive organs, incontinence, and emergency contraception. So not only can women benefit from MUSC’s expert advice, they can assist each other by sharing their experiences and best results when facing similar health issues.

“Women Speak is our department’s first step toward becoming more user-friendly to the younger generation,” said Jill Mauldin, M.D., Obstetrics and Gynecology perinatal service line medical director and blog author. “Women also can talk to a nurse online and connect to other MUSC-affiliated sites to request appointments, find doctors, and obtain backgrounds on available physicians.”

While the blog is expected to reach younger women who often utilize new media as their main communication channel, both men and women of every age are encouraged to read entries and post comments.

To reach Women Speak through MUSC Women’s Services’ Web site, visit http://www.muschealth.com/women. For information on blog participation, contact Merriam at 792-1077, or e-mail merriamr@musc.edu.



Friday, Jan. 16, 2009


The Catalyst Online is published weekly by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. The Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to The Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.