Medical residency closures: Is nothing sacred anymore?

Education
January 14, 2024

Closing a residency program can significantly disrupt a physician’s training. In 2019, the closure of Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia forced 570 residents to find new placements. First-year residents discovered a week before they started that the hospital was closing after its owner filed for bankruptcy.

Fast forward to January 2024. Within days, two additional residency training programs in the Philadelphia area announced closures.

Albert Einstein Medical Center said it was ending its …

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How comprehensive data documentation holds the power to transform maternal mortality rates

Conditions
January 14, 2024

The United States is a global medical care leader in many aspects, including the development of new pharmaceuticals, acute stroke care, and cancer screening. Yet, despite our advances and wealth, we lead peer nations in maternal mortality and morbidity.

While the vast majority of the nearly four million women who give birth in America every year do so without complications, maternal deaths have more than doubled over the past two decades.

In …

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How psychological depth shapes paranormal fiction [PODCAST]

Podcast
January 13, 2024
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Join Daniela Valenti, a psychiatrist, as she brings a unique perspective to her writing, weaving psychological depth into her characters. Today, she discusses her book, Sentinel 10, The Edge of Destiny. We’ll explore the creation of her …

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Global aspirations for value-based health care

Policy
January 13, 2024

The authors of the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst article urge countries to allocate 1 percent of their health care budgets toward establishing standards and processes for assessing the value of health outcomes. What matters most to patients is the fundamental principle of value-based health care. The cost of unnecessary care amounts to billions every year, not only in the United States but worldwide. This article presents the …

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What the DEA does not understand or does not care about medication cessation decisions

Meds
January 13, 2024

Reports sent back to Washington during the Vietnam War made it clear to everyone. The U.S. was winning. There could be no debate or doubt. It was right there in the numbers. When searching for a metric to measure “success,” U.S. politicians and the military had come to rely on body count comparisons. Defining “winning” as having a higher body count. And by that measure, the U.S. was indeed winning. …

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How health systems are improving preparedness for winter surges

Tech
January 13, 2024

Winters often bring a surge in sicknesses that can overwhelm many health systems. More specifically, a winter-related uptick in the flu, COVID-19, and other illnesses can create overcrowding in physician offices and emergency departments (EDs), which then decreases a health system’s ability to provide timely access to care for non-urgent issues, such as chronic and preventive care needs.

Additionally, EDs see a rise in a wide variety of non-respiratory illness cases …

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Medication-assisted therapy and opioid use disorder [PODCAST]

Podcast
January 12, 2024
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Join physician Jill Becker as we delve into the world of medication-assisted therapy (MAT) for opioid use disorder. Discover why MAT is crucial, the challenges patients face, and how Jill’s compassionate approach sets her apart from the …

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Being defensive: Evolutionary healthy or modernly inconvenient?

Conditions
January 12, 2024

In the world of medicine, we often encounter the term “defensive” used in various contexts – from patient interactions to professional evaluations. However, it’s crucial to reevaluate our understanding of this term and its implications on our practice and relationships.

Labeling a reaction as “defensive” carries a subjective judgment, often seen as problematic or negative. “Defensive” is often equated to a “bad” and “problematic” reaction or behavior. “Defensive” is a judgment, …

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5 days, 5 minutes: life-changing daily habits for health care professionals

Physician
January 12, 2024

It’s no secret that health care workers are some of the most stressed and burned-out professionals in the workforce. Health care was a tough job even before we had to bear the brunt of the worst of the pandemic. Even now that we’re nearly four years out from the initial outbreak of COVID-19, we’re still contending with a myriad of challenges, such as mental health disorders and ever-diminishing staff.

Amidst …

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Why your doctor has an OnlyFans

Social media
January 12, 2024

I read an article yesterday about a teenager who became suicidal after his classmates learned that his mother had an OnlyFans account. Ironically, I have a 12-year-old son, and I had just created my own account. I shared this news with my son, and his first question was, “Is your face on it?” The second question was, “Is your name on it?” and the last question was, “Why are you …

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From denial to redemption: a physician’s Medicare battle [PODCAST]

Podcast
January 11, 2024
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We sit down with Catherine L. Chen, an anesthesiologist and health services researcher. Join us as she shares her personal story of facing a Medicare Part B enrollment denial for her mother during a vacation in Hawaii. …

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The virtuous yellow brick road in medicine

Physician
January 11, 2024

Studies involving the virtue ethics of a sound medical practitioner have provided insight into the nature of ethical demands on the physician as a moral person. Kotze et al., the authors of “Virtue in Medical Practice: An Exploratory Study,” agree that thinking about virtues contributes to doctors’ and medical students’ thinking about common moral dilemmas in medicine. However, they also acknowledge that the question of what virtuous medical practice …

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2024: Is it time to (re)negotiate your physician contract?

Finance
January 11, 2024

Most of us fall short of making New Year’s resolutions.

The reason is simple: unrealistic goals. Negotiation or renegotiation of your physician contract is attainable. Your income is paramount to financial freedom, job satisfaction, and avoiding burnout risk and stress.

Hospital or practice employment has increased among physicians. The motivations include financial stability, lower risk, steering clear of managing employees, running a business, and negotiating rates with insurers.

What do physicians look for …

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Shielding physicians: the untold story of legal preparedness

Physician
January 11, 2024

Federal and state regulators have intensified the scrutiny of physicians in recent years in response to mounting overdose rates and the corresponding rise in mortality. Many in health care see this as a good thing. They would be wrong.

Look no further than the many physicians who were acquitted or exonerated after being charged with prescription-related crimes. Their plight tells the untold story of the collateral damage inflicted on medicine as …

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Breaking the silence on caregiver stress [PODCAST]

Podcast
January 10, 2024
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Join R. Lynn Barnett, a patient advocate. We’ll explore the world of caregiving, its challenges, and the profound impact it has on individuals and families. Discover valuable insights on caregiver stress, self-care, and the importance of respite …

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America’s health care safety net is in danger

Policy
January 10, 2024

A new health crisis is looming on the horizon in the United States, and it will affect the most vulnerable people. I am not talking about another pandemic, the downstream impact of delayed preventive screenings, or even the ongoing substance use crisis. I am talking about the endangerment of America’s health care safety net, including the providers that serve marginalized communities.

Safety net providers are primarily in unserved and underserved communities, …

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Palliative care and the garden of hope

Physician
January 10, 2024

My grandmother had a beautiful garden that she expanded through years of effort in her terraced backyard. Despite rocky soil and areas of deep shade, her flowers blossomed, and the garden thrived. I do not know if her skills as a gardener were innate or learned through trials and failures, but I know my garden could certainly benefit from her guidance now.

In the medical field, there is a long-held misconception …

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Physician burnout: the hidden quality metric [PODCAST]

Podcast
January 9, 2024
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Join Trina E. Dorrah, an internal medicine physician. We explore the concept of integrating physician burnout as a quality metric in health care. Discover why Trina believes this change could revolutionize the American health care system, potentially …

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Thriving, not just surviving: Cracking the formula for physician well-being

Physician
January 9, 2024

In the relentless world of health care, where long hours and high-stress situations have become the norm, finding happiness can often feel like an elusive goal for physicians. The pursuit of professional excellence and the demands of patient care can overshadow the importance of personal well-being and happiness. But what if we could shift the narrative from merely surviving the daily grind to truly thriving within it?

This journey to happiness …

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A call for equity: fair compensation and overtime pay for resident physicians

Physician
January 9, 2024

Amidst significant rises in resident unionization, a policy shift is warranted to guarantee equitable compensation and overtime pay for resident physicians contending with demanding 80-hour workweeks. On October 13, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom made history by signing California Senate Bill No. 525 (SB 525) into law. This monumental legislation will increase the minimum wage for California health care employees to $25 per hour. While SB 525 addresses the …

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