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Why doctors should embrace uncertainty for better patient outcomes

Physician

April 22, 2024

Recently, I met a coaching client for her second session. As we greeted each other, it was immediately apparent that her energy and mood had shifted from the first session. She seemed lighter, her shoulders were higher, and her posture was straighter. There were smiles instead of tears.

In the initial session, we discussed pressures and expectations. It became clear that these were largely internally generated. Like many doctors, this person …

Medicine’s struggle for inclusivity

Shah-Naz H. Khan, MD

Physician

April 22, 2024

Medicine, with its somewhat tarred history in the matter, has woken to the cause of inclusivity. Not too long ago, in the early twentieth century, the American Medical Association (AMA) orchestrated reforms requiring immigrant European doctors to pass rigorous qualification exams, which most American doctors themselves were highly unlikely to clear. Rather than concern about standards, it was largely cynical turf protection to squeeze out better-trained doctors the patients were …

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Medicine’s struggle for inclusivity

Addiction treatment, legal troubles, and the role of the DEA [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 21, 2024

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Joining A.J. Reid Finlayson, a psychiatrist, Jeffrey A. Singer, a general surgeon, and Peter R. Martin, also a psychiatrist. We’ll be discussing the case of Dr. Ralph Thomas Reach, an addiction medicine physician …

Embracing vulnerability: a doctor’s journey of healing and connection

Koshin Paley Ellison, MFA, LMSW, DMin

Conditions

April 21, 2024

One doctor I’ve worked with had gotten caught up in the idea of being a doctor. She realized, during her training with us, that she had stopped looking her patients in the eye. In fact, she had stopped making eye contact with her patients when she was in residency. She had to tell these two parents that their baby had died in the womb, and she did not know how …

The greatest story you never tell: It’s yours

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Physician

April 21, 2024

Adapted from Narrative Medicine: Harnessing the Power of Storytelling through Essays, on the occasion of Passover.

“The Greatest Story Ever Told” is a phrase often used to refer to stories that have had a significant impact on humanity and continue to resonate across cultures and generations. Paul Simon’s song “Old” praises the Bible as the greatest story ever told. …

Breaking free from denial: Embracing the truth

Debbie Moore-Black, RN

Conditions

April 21, 2024

I understand it well. You persuade yourself that everything is fine. And then you persuade others that your marriage is perfect.

You’re facing a terminal illness, but you’re the exception because it surely can’t happen to you.

You’re in poor health with unexplained aches and pains, but you avoid visiting your doctors, instead praying to Jesus to alleviate your pain. To heal you of whatever it might be.

Denial. I was a workhorse. …

Sham peer reviews [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 20, 2024

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Join Aysun Alagoz, an associate chief medical officer, to unravel the chilling reality of the medical peer review process. In a candid discussion, Aysun shares her firsthand experience of facing unjust disciplinary actions, …

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Sham peer reviews [PODCAST]

Medical ethics in a changing world: Navigating identity and patient care

Osmund Agbo, MD

Physician

April 20, 2024

My buddy John and I fortuitously found ourselves enacting roles in an impromptu theatrical production last week. As medical practitioners, the thematic essence was predictably centered around matters concerning patients. The scene unfolded thus:

“So, this person’s name is Emily, but her pronoun is ‘they,'” John started. “She identifies as a therian belonging to the Elf theriotype. Emily explained to me that though she was born human, she is an inseparable …

A Pakistani oncologist’s journey: Navigating commute challenges

Dr. Damane Zehra

Physician

April 20, 2024

I’ve always been afraid of driving. My home is quite far away from my hospital, and for the past eight years, I’ve been traveling via Uber for my daily commute. I don’t have a good memory of roads, lanes, and streets, even in my own city. I just rely on the driver and Google Maps. This experience with Uber and online taxi services is comfortable for me for two reasons: …

Supporting medical resident families [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 19, 2024

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Join Elizabeth Landry, a certified coach, as we explore practical strategies to support medical resident families during the challenging transition into residency. Discover how spousal support programs, inclusive social gatherings, and mentorship initiatives …

The Change Healthcare hack: a wake-up call for the health care industry

Christopher Habig, MBA

Finance

April 19, 2024

In a recent cybersecurity breach, Change Healthcare, one of the largest health care technology companies in the United States, fell victim to a sophisticated cyber-attack. This incident has sent shockwaves through the health care industry, significantly impacting revenue cycles for numerous health care providers who rely on Change Healthcare’s services for billing, claims processing, and health care operations. The breach has exposed vulnerabilities in traditional health are payment systems and …

Venture-backed telemental health care companies are creating a new opioid epidemic

Tamir Aldad, MD, MBA

Meds

April 19, 2024

More Americans are seeking mental health care than ever before, but many people receiving treatment have never met their psychiatrist in person—or even at all.

Telemedicine has been growing in popularity for years, but the COVID-19 pandemic sent tele-health care utilization rates through the roof. Now, after sharp increases brought by COVID-19 lockdowns, American telehealth utilization has stabilized at levels a staggering 38 times higher than before the …

Working patients and health care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 18, 2024

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Join Benita Talati, a patient advocate who illuminates the biases health care providers may hold toward patients unable to adhere to traditional appointment hours. We explore how limited paid time off, extended wait …

Preventing amputations and saving lives starts with bringing PAD into the 21st century

Anahita Dua, MD, MBA

Conditions

April 18, 2024

There’s a condition that is crippling Black and brown communities at a disproportionate rate and causing 400 amputations each day in the U.S. That may sound scary, but the most frightening part? A new consumer survey found that 70 percent of Americans have never heard of the most common vascular disease, peripheral artery disease (PAD) – PAD kills more people than three of the top cancers (breast cancer, …

Optimizing IUD placement: prescribed medications and timing tips

C. Nicole Swiner, MD

Conditions

April 18, 2024

I’ve been inspired by a recent New York Times article that came out about IUDs, better known as intrauterine devices, and how painful and horrible some of the experiences for women have been over the years. Since writing some of these thoughts, I saw that a Cosmopolitan article recently chimed in on the topic. I figured it was time for me, as a medical professional, to share my thoughts on …

AI’s role in simplifying communication [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 17, 2024

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We sit down with Carlo Mahfouz, a technology executive and author, to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care communication. Carlo delves into AI’s historical roots, its recent acceleration …

Practicing patience with patients

Natalie Enyedi

Education

April 17, 2024

Patience is a notoriously hard skill to master. When working in health care, your patience is constantly tested, a lesson I have repeatedly learned in my time as a medical assistant in a large orthopedic surgery practice. Whether it is taking the time to reexplain instructions to a patient when I know am running behind in clinic, waiting on hold with another doctor’s office to obtain pertinent information regarding a …

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Practicing patience with patients

GLP-1 medications like Wegovy are effective metabolic health tools for teens with insulin resistance

Karla Lester, MD

Meds

April 17, 2024

Lizzie is a 13-year-old with a great sense of humor.

She tells it like it is, especially to her Mom, Jackie, who admits to being a bit of an Almond Mom (the parent who is stuck in a weight-focused diet culture). Jackie leads a very healthy lifestyle and has never had to deal with being overweight. Jackie is different from other Moms I work with because she isn’t telling me that …

Embracing imperfection: strategies for growth and self-compassion [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 16, 2024

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Join Caissa Troutman, an obesity medicine physician, as we delve into the intricate relationship between self-perception, mistakes, and personal growth. Caissa shares insights on how our beliefs about perfectionism shape our reactions to …