Unveiling a journey marked by talents and turmoil

Conditions
August 31, 2023

His 5-year-old daughter asked her mom, “Today is daddy’s birthday. Can we have a picnic at his grave?”

Bryan was 49 years old. He could really do anything. He could do renovations, carpentry, electrical work, play music, be a father and a husband, a son, an uncle, a brother, and a brother-in-law. He had an incredible sense of humor, was down-to-earth, and a big teddy bear to his children. No one …

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Unveiling a journey marked by talents and turmoil

Balancing health care worker immunization and patient safety

Conditions
August 30, 2023

Recently, I heard a news report regarding several states’ attorneys general suing the federal government to eliminate the requirement that health care providers be immunized against COVID. They argued that as fully immunized individuals still contract COVID, and that allowing unimmunized people to be rehired would relieve provider shortages, the regulation was unhelpful.

Initially, I agreed that rehiring these individuals would generate some relief for those staff members who have worked …

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Balancing health care worker immunization and patient safety

Empowering health care professionals: the art of saying “no” and more

Conditions
August 30, 2023

Setting limits, asking for help, delegating, or even saying “no” are important assertiveness skills. Health care professionals should be proficient in assertiveness because of the potential impact on patient safety, patient experience, workforce health, and cost-effectiveness.

Assertiveness examples

How might these assertive statements influence outcomes?

  • “I haven’t had training in using that IV pump and need help.”
  • “Stop! Don’t make that incision! It is the wrong leg.”
  • “I cannot keep seeing patients …

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Empowering health care professionals: the art of saying “no” and more

Unveiling alcohol’s health paradox: heart benefits and detrimental effects

Conditions
August 30, 2023

Tons of ink have been expended on the health effects, both positive and negative, of alcohol consumption. Beneficial effects on the heart were discussed in the 1990s based on the “French paradox.” A paper published in 1995 noted that there was less ischemic heart disease in France compared to the U.S., despite higher saturated fat intakes and a higher prevalence of smoking.

The relatively lower incidence of ischemic heart disease in …

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Unveiling alcohol’s health paradox: heart benefits and detrimental effects

Rising longevity and cognitive health: Navigating dementia and treatment

Conditions
August 29, 2023

The comedian George Burns once quipped, “By the time you’re eighty years old, you’ve learned everything. You only have to remember it.” With the average life expectancy in the United States up from 54 a century ago to 74 today, the damage that can be done by aging and mental decline is more prevalent than ever. We see evidence of it all too often in our world leaders, families, and …

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Rising longevity and cognitive health: Navigating dementia and treatment

Is a PSA test right for me? A urologist answers.

Conditions
August 29, 2023

“Should I get a PSA?”

It depends. Who is asking, and why?

If the question is being asked by a 45-year-old man, the answer is going to be different than if it’s being asked by a 75-year-old. If a primary care clinician is asking, he/she may be confused about current recommendations regarding screening for prostate cancer. The answer is complicated and fraught with bias. Unfortunately, the controversy over PSA screening for prostate …

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Is a PSA test right for me? A urologist answers.

Essential postpartum care: lessons from 30 years in OB/GYN

Conditions
August 24, 2023

Almost 30 years ago, as an OB/GYN intern at a large urban medical center, I was privileged to learn from exemplary doctors and midwives. After 4:30 a.m. postpartum rounds one day, a midwife said, “I saw your note. You listened for bowel sounds and examined her abdomen.” I replied, “I did.” She asked, “Did you also check her bottom?” I responded, “No. Why?” She explained, “She delivered the baby through …

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Essential postpartum care: lessons from 30 years in OB/GYN

Terminal illness: Navigating the struggles of acceptance

Conditions
August 23, 2023

Reality knocked me for a loop one evening when my father-in-law called from his home in another state and asked for help. This kind of request was very uncharacteristic for him. We responded immediately and drove to his home. After much conversation and many questions from both sides, we eventually came to the hard truth. His cancer had progressed and, to my mind, was most likely terminal. I dug in …

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Terminal illness: Navigating the struggles of acceptance

For orthopedic surgeons, an all-of-the-above approach lowers liability risks

Conditions
August 22, 2023

The Doctors Company

During a total hip replacement, a patient experienced a brisk bleed and a drop in blood pressure that required intervention from the anesthesiologist. There was a discrepancy in the documented estimated blood loss, with the surgeon noting 30 0cc while the anesthesiologist recorded 1100 cc. The patient was hypotensive in the PACU and had a discolored leg with no …

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For orthopedic surgeons, an all-of-the-above approach lowers liability risks

Explore the rise in facelift options and embrace the trending popularity

Conditions
August 21, 2023

The facelift procedure was first described in 1901 by Eugene Hollander and in 1916 by Erich Lexer. Over the last century, the facelift has become the gold standard for facial rejuvenation and continues to grow in popularity. One of the reasons we can attribute this growth spurt to is the options and advancements in how facelifts are handled. Let’s delve into the fascinating realm of modern facelifts, exploring the incredible …

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Explore the rise in facelift options and embrace the trending popularity

A heartbreaking COVID-19 case: the importance of trust in medical care

Conditions
August 20, 2023

An excerpt from One Hundred Prayers: God’s answer to prayer in a COVID ICU.

(August 30, 2021)  Susan was 44 years old and previously healthy; an ardent anti-masker. When she caught delta COVID, she took ivermectin, zinc and vitamin C. She arrived at our ER about a week later, requiring immediate …

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A heartbreaking COVID-19 case: the importance of trust in medical care

The old man’s friend: Refuse antibiotics to achieve a peaceful death

Conditions
August 20, 2023

“If you don’t know how to die, don’t worry; Nature will tell you what to do on the spot, fully and adequately. She will do this job perfectly for you.”
– M. Montaigne (1533-1592)

In 2021, former U.S. President Bill Clinton was rushed to a California hospital suffering from a urinary tract infection that had developed into sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection. According to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, …

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The old man’s friend: Refuse antibiotics to achieve a peaceful death

3 ways clinicians can unlock their career potential through writing

Conditions
August 20, 2023

When I was a child, I discovered I had superpowers. One day my mother left me at home with a list of tasks, chores and invented homework assignments to complete over summer break — the joys of having a mom who is also a teacher. As my eyes wandered down each line of the list, I decided now was the time for my rebellion.

I flipped the paper over, took a …

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3 ways clinicians can unlock their career potential through writing

Michael J. Fox asks: “Am I still me?” in a new documentary – a question many with critical illness face

Conditions
August 19, 2023

Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie was recently released by Apple TV+ and provides a ringside seat to the daily, formidable challenges facing the actor since he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease more than 30 years ago.

There is, of course, tremendous irony in this movie’s title, given Parkinson’s disease, a non-curable neurodegenerative disease that affects well over six million people around the world, denies those afflicted the ability to keep …

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Michael J. Fox asks: “Am I still me?” in a new documentary – a question many with critical illness face

TikTok aging filters may help those considering cosmetic surgery

Conditions
August 18, 2023

There’s a new viral trend on TikTok, and it’s motivating a lot of people to consider plastic surgery. It’s the platform’s latest facial filter, meant to show one’s older self, and many people are taking it as accurate and predictive. However, while it can be accurate in several ways, it does have its faults. TikTok has many of these filters that use programming and AI to change how a …

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TikTok aging filters may help those considering cosmetic surgery

Star Trek’s profound narrative on trauma and healing

Conditions
August 17, 2023

In the vast and intricate universe of Star Trek, we often find narratives that reflect our own realities, despite their setting in the distant reaches of space. One such narrative is found in the eighth episode of the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, “Under the Cloak of War.” This episode offers a profound exploration of the psychological aftermath of war, serving as a mirror to our struggles …

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Star Trek’s profound narrative on trauma and healing

Removing workflow burdens and improving access for colorectal cancer screenings

Conditions
August 16, 2023

After much outcry, UnitedHealthcare announced that they are no longer moving forward with their controversial prior authorization policy that would require members to get approval from the insurance company to receive a diagnostic colonoscopy to detect cancer. Instead, UnitedHealthcare has discussed implementing an alternative: an advanced notification process that would require physicians to collect and submit patient data before performing non-screening and non-emergent colonoscopies. This latest policy change is …

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Removing workflow burdens and improving access for colorectal cancer screenings

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