Sooooooooooooo…it’s ‘been a long time since my last post–I know, I know! I haven’t been exactly meaning to be so distant, but have just not made it top priority to write here. Also, I know the site needs updating…serious updating, so I’ll try to get in touch with my super-duper webmaster sista, Felicia of Felicia Designs here in Albuquerque; (a link to her site can be found on this site’s “links” page!)

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I cannot believe it took me this long to come across this website, and I feel quite embarrassed about not having found it sooner. In any case, I love the fact that you can search the archives by specialty, i.e. “pediatrics” or “geriatrics” or “rehab,” etc. They don’t have an “aesthetics” section yet, but I’m working on coming up with some ideas so that they will have no choice but to add one soon! Check out their site–you’ll definitely dig it. I found particular interest in this story from 2006 whose study suggests what we all already know–sassying up a medical device is beneficial to the user! The University of New Mexico School of Medicine (UNM Rocks!) research study found that using cute, colorful needles significantly reduces the level of stress in patients. In fact, UNM professor Dr. Wilmer Sibbitt, Jr. says that “it is likely that decorating a medical device is a neurophysiologic intervention, resulting in stimulation of brain areas NOT usually associated with fear, anxiety and aversion.”

Hallelujah! We know, We know!

http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2006/08/cute_needles_a.html

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In related news, I want to share with you an uber-diggable company that seems to truly understand the important relationship between aesthetics and user response: PediaPals!