Brevard Business BBN News Vol. 31 No. 49 December 9, 2013 $1.00 A Weekly Space Coast Business Magazine printed in Brevard County, Florida since 1984 Dr. Priyanka sees her ‘MyMedWall’ as way to engage community By Ken Datzman Social media, which started slowly, has invaded most business sectors over the past few years. Now it is growing as a force in health care, and consumers are driving the activity in that arena. Companies and organizations are following the lead of consumers, in what looks to be a new movement in a huge business segment that hasn’t changed much over the decades. Online platforms, mobile technologies, and their associated applications seem poised to shake up the multitrillion–dollar health–care industry in the years ahead. In a recent survey by hospital market research firm YouGov Healthcare, 57 percent of users revealed that their social–media connections with a hospital strongly affected their decision to use a particular facility for treatment. Health care in general is starting to move into the consumer– engagement era. The American Diabetes Association has tens of thousands of people following its updates on Facebook, and the American Cancer Society page has throngs of followers as well. Those are just two of many examples. There is an emerging consensus in health–policy circles that informed and engaged consumers are uniquely positioned to play an important role in improving the quality of care that the U.S. delivers to patients. “Engagement is the key and it has to be on the local commu- nity level,” said board–certified internist and businesswoman Geetha Priyanka. “All health care is local.” Dr. Priyanka, a longtime practitioner in the area, saw a business opportunity to meet this growing social–networking demand in health care and is filling the niche with her resource– rich venture “MyMedWall.com,” which is likened to a “medical BBN photo — Adrienne B. Roth Facebook” and is also designed to be accessed with mobile Dr. Geetha Priyanka, a board–certified internist, is chief executive officer of MyMedWall.com, a West Melbourne business devices such as Apple’s iPad and iPhone. she launched in April 2012 which is likened to a ‘medical Facebook.’ More than 2,000 health–care providers and consumers “MyMedWall’s goal is to provide a person–centered virtual are using MyMedWall at some level. It is also designed to be accessed by mobile devices. The multifaceted venture is being medical home. For example, you go into Macy’s, visit the rolled out in phases and plans to be ‘live’ in all 67 Florida counties by the end of next year. department that sells kitchen appliances, you make your purchase, and you’re on your way. This is the same thing. We have multiple virtual medical homes. People will be able to go 32904 into a diabetic medical home. They can interact with providers INC. NEWS, and learn about diabetes. They can purchase various products. If BUSINESS BREVARD they decide to make a purchase, and then find the item at a PAID lower price elsewhere, we will match that price,” she said. POSTAGE US STANDARD PRESORTED Please see MyMedWall.com, page 19 BBN BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS Michaels for Men Michaels mens Wear pick up BBN Southern Photo 12/17/12 new ad emailled pick uppage BBN 16 FULL COLOR FULL12/20/10 COLOR page ? 0U6]LY@V\Y/LHK& (YL`V\JVUM\ZLKI`[OLJOHUNLZ[VOLHS[OPUZ\YHUJL& Beachside*HSS[VKH`MVYH-9,,YL]PL^VM`V\Y Therapy newNYV\WOLHS[OPUZ\YHUJLWSHUSL[\ZZOV^ ad emailled `V\OV^[VYLK\JL`V\YJVZ[ Chris Robinson, FULL COLOR MBA, President, We offer solutions from Health Insurance Specialist And many more! Call today! (321) 474-4825 1900 S Harbor City Blvd.Ste 102 Melbourne, FL 32901 www.OneInsuranceGroupInc.com BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 2 Call Adrienne Roth at 321-951-7777 for Advertising Information DECEMBER 9, 2013 BBN BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS Downtown Produce Market and More to host annual Holiday Wine–Tasting event Dec. 12, 13 and 14 Downtown Produce Market and More in Melbourne tasting. Downtown Produce Market and More is also known will host its annual Holiday Wine–Tasting event from For the holidays and year–round, their 8,000– in the area for its wide range of gift baskets, which are 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Thursday, Friday and Satur- square–foot market stocks a full range of gourmet foods, popular items especially at this time of year. day, Dec. 12, 13 and 14. including meats and seafood, fruits and nuts, domestic Jill Aker said customers have the option to purchase The longtime independent family owned retailer and imported cheeses, olives, artesian salts, sauces, the gift baskets “that are displayed and are ready to go, showcases one of the largest selections of wine in the spice rubs and ethnic foods. or they can customize their basket with the items they region. “We have great values on wines and cham- “Our store offers many unique products not sold in purchase in the store.” pagnes for the holidays,” said businesswoman Jill Aker, any other stores in the county.” Jill Aker says business Downtown Produce Market and More is open from who operates Downtown Produce Market and More has been “steady” this year in all of the store’s depart- 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to with her husband Gaylord. ments. 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Their store also has one of area’s best selections of beers, including imports and micro–brews. In addition to wine tasting, the store will offer the Pancake Breakfast to benefit Toys for Tots holiday guests and shoppers samplings of food on those The pilots at Merritt Island Airport will host their 19th annual Pancake Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, three days. Dec. 14, in the hangar at the airport. The event will benefit the Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots campaign. Jill Aker said there will be roughly “150 different Anyone who brings a new, unwrapped toy, will be served pancakes, sausage, orange juice and coffee. At 11 a.m., the wines” available for the public to taste. The individual toys will be presented to members of the Marine Corps Reserve. All toys collected will be distributed to children locally cost is $5 at the door to sample the wines. The price who otherwise might not get anything from Santa. For more information about Toys for Tots, call Bobbi Lasher at includes a Downtown Produce wine glass for the 636–5346. Your Financial Future: Will You Be Ready? Militano Construction pick up BBN Getting your financial and investment act together takes time and close attention 11/25/13 to detail. With more responsibilities, the process becomes even more complex. page 5 As a Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor, I have access to a range of resources, advice FULL COLOR and services to help you meet your needs. Residential Commercial t&RVJUJFT ëYFEJODPNFBOENVUVBMGVOETMorgan t#SPLFSBHFTFSWJDF Stanley T 779-9797 t5SVTUBOEFTUBUFQMBOOJOHTFSWJDFT t#VTJOFTTëOBODJBMTFSWJDFT www.MilitanoConstruction.com t"MUFSOBUJWFTUSBUFHJFTnew ad t-FOEJOHTFSWJDFTemailled t*OEJWJEVBM3FUJSFNFOU"DDPVOUTFULL COLOR t'JOBODJBMQMBOOJOHTFSWJDFT Please call me to arrange a meeting about your wealth management needs. Ayad B. Saad Vice President Focus on your Financial Advisor 8150 N. Wickham Road Melbourne, FL 32940 Future Opportunities 321-751-2007 [email protected] Earn a degree in Business Administration with concentrations in: t.BOBHFNFOUt'JOBODF t)VNBO3FTPVSDF.BOBHFNFOU t.BSLFUJOHt*OUFSOBUJPOBM#VTJOFTTKeiser University Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees vary by program and by campus Programs and delivery format vary by campus The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. new ad emailled .PSHBO4UBOMFZ4NJUI#BSOFZ--$ JUTBïMJBUFTBOE.PSHBO4UBOMFZ'JOBODJBM"EWJTPSTEPOPUQSPWJEFUBYPSMFHBMBEWJDFɨJTNBUFSJBMXBTOPUJOUFOEFEPSXSJUUFOUPCF VTFEGPSUIFQVSQPTFPGBWPJEJOHUBYQFOBMUJFTUIBUNBZCFJNQPTFEPOUIFUBYQBZFS$MJFOUTTIPVMEDPOTVMUUIFJSUBYBEWJTPSGPSNBUUFSTJOWPMWJOHUBYBUJPOBOEUBYQMBOOJOH 866.240.8235 and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters. FULL COLOR .PSHBO4UBOMFZ4NJUI#BSOFZ--$JTBSFHJTUFSFE#SPLFS%FBMFS OPUBCBOL8IFSFBQQSPQSJBUF .PSHBO4UBOMFZIBTFOUFSFEJOUPBSSBOHFNFOUTXJUICBOLTBOEPUIFS UIJSEQBSUJFTUPBTTJTUJOPêFSJOHDFSUBJOCBOLJOHSFMBUFEQSPEVDUTBOETFSWJDFT#BOLJOHBOEDSFEJUQSPEVDUTBOETFSWJDFTBSFQSPWJEFECZ.PSHBO4UBOMFZ1SJWBUF#BOL KUMelbourne.com /BUJPOBM"TTPDJBUJPO .PSHBO4UBOMFZ#BOL /"PSPUIFSBïMJBUFT*OWFTUNFOUTFSWJDFTBSFPêFSFEUISPVHI.PSHBO4UBOMFZ4NJUI#BSOFZ--$ NFNCFS4*1$6OMFTT TQFDJëDBMMZEJTDMPTFEJOXSJUJOH JOWFTUNFOUTBOETFSWJDFTPêFSFEUISPVHI.PSHBO4UBOMFZBSFOPUJOTVSFECZUIF'%*$ BSFOPUEFQPTJUTPSPUIFSPCMJHBUJPOTPG PS HVBSBOUFFECZ UIF#BOLBOEJOWPMWFJOWFTUNFOUSJTLT JODMVEJOHQPTTJCMFMPTTPGQSJODJQBMBNPVOUJOWFTUFE ª.PSHBO4UBOMFZ4NJUI#BSOFZ--$.FNCFS4*1$ NY CS 7181350 BC004 09/12 CRC394531 DECEMBER 9, 2013 Visit BrevardBusinessNews.com for Advertising Information BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS / 3 BBN BREVARD BUSINESS NEWS Let’s set aside differences — not just during this season, but for entire year ahead social media, I just wish it weren’t a huge declaration or differently from us, and even wonder if their moral By Erin O’Flaherty movement when they decide to pause to be thankful for compass is pointed in the right direction, without ever UCF Forum columnist what I hope they are also doing every other month of the questioning our own. year. If we are able to look past differences during “the ‘Tis the season, the season of giving–whether giving When people “forget” to be thankful, not just in season,” to come together and be our most accepting and thanks, praises, spare change, an extra tip or bonus. You November, it’s kind of sad. giving selves to spread a shared sense of peace and name it, and it’s officially “the season” for it. So, what does “‘Tis the Season” mean, anyway? Does it excitement among all, why does that have to change with For me, the beginning of “the season” is evidenced by mean a special red cup at Starbucks, or a Thanksgiving the start of a new year? the conversion of one of my pre–set radio stations to play sub from Publix, declaring your thanks via social media, or My message today is concise.