Conditions

Biological weapons: a history and emerging risks

Conditions

September 1, 2023

Biological weapons are not new. Their use by armies has taken place for centuries. Take the Plague, for example. The pandemic was reportedly first introduced to Europe during the siege of the Genoese trading port of Kaffa in Crimea by the Golden Horde army of Jani Beg in 1347. It decimated 30 percent of the European population. Paradoxically, the resultant labor shortage and lack of faith in the prevailing order …

What is intersex? What do you know about your patient’s sexual development?

Rosemary Eseh-Logue, MD

Conditions

August 31, 2023

I don’t know about you, but I learned very little about variations in sexual development during my medical education over a decade ago. Commonly presented topics were usually of a genetic nature—this person has XXY or XO chromosomes and the “abnormalities” such chromosomal variations can bring. That’s about the extent of my education regarding sex development and gender, with the impression conveyed that these were minor topics.

Fast forward to now, …

Unveiling a journey marked by talents and turmoil

Debbie Moore-Black, RN

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 …

Balancing health care worker immunization and patient safety

M. Bennet Broner, PhD

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 …

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

Beth Boynton, RN, MS, CP

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 …
Read more…

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

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

Edward Hoffer, MD

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 …

Rising longevity and cognitive health: Navigating dementia and treatment

Ken Blaker

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 …

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

Stephen Lieberman, MD

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 …

Caring for the cognitively declined individual

Nancie Wiseman Attwater

Conditions

August 28, 2023

An excerpt from A Caregiver’s Love Story.

My husband was diagnosed with cognitive decline in the last three years of his life. I was desperate for understanding and help and referred to the following source.

Here are ten tips for communicating with the cognitively declined individual from the Caregiver.org website …

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

Theresa Mahon, MD

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 …

Terminal illness: Navigating the struggles of acceptance

Linda Thomas, RN

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 …

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

Jacqueline Ross, PhD, RN and Eric E. Cleckler, RN & The Doctors Company

Conditions

August 22, 2023

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 …

Explore the rise in facelift options and embrace the trending popularity

Babak Azizzadeh, MD

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 …

Pericardiocentesis saves a life

Drew Remignanti, MD, MPH

Conditions

August 21, 2023

An excerpt from The Healing Connection: A Partnership for Your Health.

The blood spurt was alarming though because it therefore indicated that the pressure in the venous system had to be sky high in order to shoot a column of blood in such a continuous arc over my right shoulder.

So, I …

Read more…

Pericardiocentesis saves a life

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

Robert Raschke, MD

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 …

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

Althea Halchuck, EJD

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, …

3 ways clinicians can unlock their career potential through writing

Harrison Reed, PA-C

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 …

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

Harvey Max Chochinov, MD, PhD

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 …

TikTok aging filters may help those considering cosmetic surgery

Fadi Nukta, MD

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 …

Star Trek’s profound narrative on trauma and healing

Sean Wilkes, MD

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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