Patient voices

1,315 articles · Since 2005

Articles, page 41

Will a healthy lifestyle prevent illness?

August 17, 2011Aug 17, 201117

I am utterly sick of the myth that living a healthy lifestyle will prevent illness. Granted, eating a balanced diet of nutritious food is better than grazing on ice cream and bon-bons all day. Getting regular exercise has distinct health…

I am utterly sick of the myth that living a healthy lifestyle will prevent illness.

Granted, eating a balanced diet of nutritious food is better than grazing on ice cream and bon-bons all day.
Getting regular exercise has distinct health benefits; moving as little as possible has a detrimental impact on people’s health.
Is there anyone who isn’t aware of the health ramifications of smoking?
Excessive alcohol consumption is another no-no.

The story goes …

The physical and emotional costs of non-compliance

Stewart Segal, MD

August 16, 2011Aug 16, 20113

There are multiple costs to non-compliance, including financial, both personal and societal, and physical-emotional. When patients fail to comply with treatment protocols, fail to get prescribed tests, or fail to stop destructive behaviors, there is a societal cost. Today, I…

Today, I want to address the physical and emotional costs of non-compliance. I just read a brilliant article by Roxanne Sukol, MD. Dr. Sukol’s article discussed the fact that diabetes starts …

Think about mindfulness when seeing a new patient

Steve Wilkins, MPH

August 15, 2011Aug 15, 201112

I had a "wow" experience recently when I accompanied my wife to interview a new doctor for her. As some reader may know she is being seen by specialists at MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston for Stage IV lung…

I had a “wow” experience recently when I accompanied my wife to interview a new doctor for her. As some reader may know she is being seen by specialists at MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston for Stage IV lung cancer. She has not had a local oncologist for the past 6 years, but she does now. And we both love this guy!

You need to understand that I have …

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Demystifying anesthesia to put patients at ease

American Society of Anesthesiologists & Kenneth Elmassian, DO

August 15, 2011Aug 15, 2011

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com. As patient safety advocates responsible for monitoring vital signs, managing pain and safeguarding a patient’s overall health through the surgical process, anesthesiologists are committed to informing patients about…

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

As patient safety advocates responsible for monitoring vital signs, managing pain and safeguarding a patient’s overall health through the surgical process, anesthesiologists are committed to informing patients about the anesthesia experience. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and the Michigan Society of Anesthesiologists (MSA) have launched a new public education campaign to help patients better prepare and …

Nursing is methodical and precise, like military special ops

Sarah Beth Cowherd, RN

August 14, 2011Aug 14, 20114

Another crazy three days at work and I begin to think about the similarities of Seal Team 6 and nurses. Methodical. Precise. Nursing is not a glorious profession. Even though my father thinks I sit at the bedside of the…

Another crazy three days at work and I begin to think about the similarities of Seal Team 6 and nurses. Methodical. Precise.

Nursing is not a glorious profession. Even though my father thinks I sit at the bedside of the sick and dying and hold their hands all day, the fact of the matter is, I simply do not have the time. We run around attempting to tread water with …

3 easy ways for doctors to respect patients

Erin Breedlove

August 14, 2011Aug 14, 2011

One of my professors teaches psychology, but he was hired as a "generalist" meaning that he has no area of specialization when he’s teaching. He ends up with all the 101 classes. And I love that. Trained as a biopsychologist,…

One of my professors teaches psychology, but he was hired as a “generalist” meaning that he has no area of specialization when he’s teaching. He ends up with all the 101 classes. And I love that. Trained as a biopsychologist, he’s now known as a clinical psychologist and is one of the best in the area.

As I walked into the class the first day and he was going over standard …

Why developing trust with your doctor is important

Jeffrey I. Kreisberg, PhD

August 14, 2011Aug 14, 20116

I’ve spent a lot of space on this site writing about participating in your healthcare so you get the right care. And, I talked about developing a "relationship" with your doctor so you can effectively communicate. Relationship does not mean…

I’ve spent a lot of space on this site writing about participating in your healthcare so you get the right care.

And, I talked about developing a “relationship” with your doctor so you can effectively communicate. Relationship does not mean drinking buddy, golf partner, or someone to do shopping with. What is meant by “relationship” is developing a trust that allows you to effectively and unashamedly discuss your medical concerns and question treatment options …

Caregiver burnout is just a fancy term for exhaustion

Maria Basso Lipani

August 11, 2011Aug 11, 20113

Are there moments when caregiving makes you want to scream? Any number of things related to caring for your aging parent can cause you to feel like you’re at the end of the proverbial rope including: your relationship with your…

Are there moments when caregiving makes you want to scream?

Any number of things related to caring for your aging parent can cause you to feel like you’re at the end of the proverbial rope including:

your relationship with your parent
elements of your work life/family life which are separate from, but inextricably linked to, your caregiving
the myriad experiences inside the elder care maze

But here’s where things get a bit dicey: While …

The problem with I Heart Boobies bracelets worn by middle school students

Ann Silberman

August 11, 2011Aug 11, 20119

Many of you know that a judge in Pennsylvania has determined that the popular "I Heart Boobies" bracelets worn by middle school students are a form of free speech intended to raise awareness of breast cancer and cannot be restricted…

Many of you know that a judge in Pennsylvania has determined that the popular “I Heart Boobies” bracelets worn by middle school students are a form of free speech intended to raise awareness of breast cancer and cannot be restricted by schools.

As much as I love a good double-entrendre, I find the entire situation to be sad, particularly the misinformed comments I’ve seen made by parents of …

Explaining an abnormal pap smear is no longer simple

Nicholas Fogelson, MD

August 10, 2011Aug 10, 20115

As I look back over my 10 year career in obstetrics and gynecology, I am sometimes struck at how many things have been discovered in this time period. When I started the origin of pre-eclampsia was unknown, and now we…

As I look back over my 10 year career in obstetrics and gynecology, I am sometimes struck at how many things have been discovered in this time period.

When I started the origin of pre-eclampsia was unknown, and now we know that it likely originates in an overabundance of a molecule called Soluble FMS-Like Tyrosine Kinase, a competitive inhibitor to natural angiogenesis in the placenta. Ten years ago the origins of …

Why don’t simple messages convince people to take action?

Christina Zarcadoolas, PhD

August 10, 2011Aug 10, 2011

It’s hard to find anyone who would argue against keeping things "plain and simple." Or would they? Is it possible that the imperative to create simple health information has over-promised – hasn’t lived up to its billing? What if the…

It’s hard to find anyone who would argue against keeping things “plain and simple.” Or would they?

Is it possible that the imperative to create simple health information has over-promised – hasn’t lived up to its billing? What if the complexity of health, science and technology information in the first half of the 21st century requires more than simple simplicity?

Think back to swine flu.

Dateline November 2009: We were awash in …

Every new scientific finding to be nothing more than a first draft

Dave deBronkart

August 10, 2011Aug 10, 2011

A recurring theme on e_Patients.net is the need for empowered, engaged patients to understand what they read about science. It’s true when researching treatments for one’s condition, it’s true when considering government policy proposals, it’s true when reading advice based…

A recurring theme on e_Patients.net is the need for empowered, engaged patients to understand what they read about science. It’s true when researching treatments for one’s condition, it’s true when considering government policy proposals, it’s true when reading advice based on statistics. If you take any journal article at face value, you may get severely misled; you need to think critically.

Sometimes there’s corruption (e.g. the fraudulent vaccine/autism data reported …

What the death penalty has to do with medical errors

angienadia, MD

August 10, 2011Aug 10, 20115

A fascinating, beautifully-written article on a death penalty granted to a most likely innocent man, with interesting details on fire dynamics and the history of the judicial system pertaining to the death penalty. Reading about the system in place that…

Reading about the system in place that should prevent an innocent man from being wrongfully executed reminds me of the supposed system that prevents medical errors from occurring – both are imperfect, with innocent victims falling through …

Women are now choosing safer options for beauty

Orly Avitzur, MD

August 9, 2011Aug 9, 2011

Women have a long history of risking health for beauty. But several developments over the past few months suggest they might be starting to choose safer options. 1. Temporary tattoos. The latest trend on the runway and in the beauty…

Women have a long history of risking health for beauty. But several developments over the past few months suggest they might be starting to choose safer options.

1. Temporary tattoos. The latest trend on the runway and in the beauty isle is temporary tattoos, according to the advertising firm JWT. Chanel now offers limited-edition skin art, and Beyoncé has signed up to help sell Temptu’s product. Permanent tattoos not only cost …

The insensitivity towards kids with food allergies

Sakina Shikari Bajowala, MD

August 9, 2011Aug 9, 20113

Dear Members of the Illinois State Board of Education, As a parent of a child attending Illinois Public Schools, a taxpayer, and a board-certified pediatric allergist and immunologist, I was distressed to hear of the irresponsible comments made by Illinois…

Dear Members of the Illinois State Board of Education,

As a parent of a child attending Illinois Public Schools, a taxpayer, and a board-certified pediatric allergist and immunologist, I was distressed to hear of the irresponsible comments made by Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Members Catherine Campbell and Lawrence Gregorash regarding the requirement for Illinois schools to have a food allergy policy in place by 2011.

When the parents …

The achievement culture problem in our country

Claire McCarthy, MD

August 8, 2011Aug 8, 2011

My friend Nancy went for physical therapy for her back pain the other day, and was really surprised by what she saw there: the place was full of kids. "Yeah, it’s like this now," said the therapist when Nancy asked…

My friend Nancy went for physical therapy for her back pain the other day, and was really surprised by what she saw there: the place was full of kids.

“Yeah, it’s like this now,” said the therapist when Nancy asked about it. “It’s the sports.”

It’s not that kids are getting clumsier or having more accidents. The injuries that are sending kids to physical therapy are overuse injuries. Kids these days are …

Your medical information is not private, and it’s sold routinely

Stewart Segal, MD

August 8, 2011Aug 8, 201116

Privacy, is it important to you? Do you believe that your medical and personal information should be kept in strict privacy? Do you expect your doctor to keep your information private? What is the cost of privacy? The computer I…

The computer I am typing this article on is protected by Norton’s Security Suite and by Comcast’s Constant Guard. My friends, family, and patients invest a small fortune every year to keep their …

There is no billing code for compassion

Paul Levy

August 7, 2011Aug 7, 201112

Back in 2009, Dr. Amy Ship gave a moving acceptance speech when she received the annual Compassionate Caregiver Award from the Schwartz Center. The most memorable tag line from the speech was, "There is no billing code for compassion." This…

Back in 2009, Dr. Amy Ship gave a moving acceptance speech when she received the annual Compassionate Caregiver Award from the Schwartz Center.

The most memorable tag line from the speech was, “There is no billing code for compassion.” This resonated with so many of us — patients and providers — in part because it set forth the proposition that compassionate care should be an inherent aspect …

Read more…

There is no billing code for compassion

The different types of frail to consider before surgery

Bruce Campbell, MD

August 6, 2011Aug 6, 2011

"If I’d known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself." -Eubie Blake He leaned forward, energetically listening to my conversation with his daughter. There was more than one cancer treatment option. We…

“If I’d known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.”
-Eubie Blake

He leaned forward, energetically listening to my conversation with his daughter. There was more than one cancer treatment option. We reviewed everything and she asked what he could expect with either a major surgery or seven weeks of daily radiation treatments. Soon, both the father and daughter were peppering me with questions about …

Being a patient is an unforgettable form of medical education

Carolyn Thomas

August 6, 2011Aug 6, 201115

In his online essay, This Won’t Hurt A Bit, cardiologist Dr. Eric Van De Graaff tells his own story of being a hospital patient after surviving a motorcycle accident while he was in med school. His experiences as a patient will sound very familiar to heart patients, and the lessons he learned while on the other end of the stethoscope may very well have made him a far better doctor.

A …