Navigating Goodhart’s Law dilemma and the future of AI in medicine

Tech
December 12, 2024

As artificial intelligence (AI) systems increasingly permeate our health care industry, it is imperative that physicians take a proactive role in evaluating these novel technologies. AI-driven tools are reshaping diagnostics, treatment planning, and risk assessment, but with this transformation comes the responsibility to ensure that these systems are valid, reliable, and ethically deployed. A clear understanding of key concepts like validity, reliability, and the limitations of AI performance metrics is …

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A wake-up call for dementia detection: the urgent need for precision tools across health care

Conditions
December 12, 2024

Dementia is advancing at an unprecedented rate—every three seconds, another person is diagnosed. Currently, 55 million people worldwide live with dementia, and by 2050, that number could soar to 139 million. These figures aren’t mere statistics; they represent individuals, families, and communities facing complex, life-altering challenges. For primary care providers, who often stand as the first line of defense, this signals a crucial need for precise, sensitive tools to …

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SIBO and IBS: the hidden link keeping millions in pain

Conditions
December 12, 2024

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a little known gastrointestinal (GI) disorder with links to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Today, it takes an average of about six years for patients to receive a proper IBS diagnosis and begin a course of treatment, all the while experiencing debilitating symptoms from this disease.

Despite SIBO’s long documented medical history, it is poorly understood in comparison to similar chronic GI conditions. While there have …

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How Medicaid expansion could transform health care in Georgia [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 11, 2024
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Join us for an insightful conversation with Brendan Pulsifer, a medical student, as we explore the realities of practicing medicine in Georgia, recently ranked as one of the worst states for physicians. We’ll …

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Texas’ Medicaid expansion: a lifesaving solution ignored

Policy
December 11, 2024

Most Texas politicians balk at even discussing Medicaid expansion. They fear the wrath of state leadership and the threat of being primaried by someone further to the right.

The expansion of Medicaid to the full extent permitted by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is both an ethical and financial imperative. From a moral standpoint, expansion would provide health care coverage to a significant number of low-income individuals who are currently unable …

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America’s democracy is on the brink: Will leaders act before it’s too late?

Policy
December 11, 2024

At age 80, I’m an “old guy.” I’ve been an avid reader and writer on multiple subjects all of my life. Though I write primarily about U.S. health care, I maintain a lively interest in politics generally. Since election day, I’ve been hearing stories that express a profound sense of trauma in millions of us. Many feel themselves to be in mourning for their beloved country. Others feel vindicated and …

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The impact of digital health tools on preventing chronic disease: a public health revolution

Tech
December 11, 2024

Imagine a world where chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension—long-standing giants of global health care burden—are intercepted before they take root. A smartwatch buzzing with a warning of an irregular heartbeat. An app gently nudging someone to take a short walk after hours of inactivity. For millions, these digital whispers are not just reminders but lifelines. In an age where chronic illnesses claim over 41 million lives annually, …

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How emotional intelligence turns medical challenges into opportunities [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 10, 2024
YouTube video

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Join us for an insightful conversation with Ben Reinking, a board-certified pediatric cardiologist, medical educator, and certified physician development coach, as we explore the profound impact of emotional intelligence in health care. Ben …

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How physician burnout silently creeps in and takes over

Conditions
December 10, 2024

I don’t know when the word burnout came into my vocabulary, but I feel that we use it constantly in our health care world today. I always thought I was immune to this concept of burnout. My self-talk was that I was strong and nothing would ever happen to me. As a psychiatrist and a yoga practitioner, I thought I was better equipped to “handle my feelings” and be in …

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How to run a successful group therapy session

Conditions
December 10, 2024

Group therapy can be a powerful treatment modality when done right. Research affirms it as equally effective compared to individual therapy, and the relatively lower cost puts this service within reach of patients who struggle to access behavioral health care due to financial constraints.

Meeting the growing need for mental health support in the United States, recent research published by American Psychologist states that group therapy could save more than $5.6 …

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Why is no one listening? The urgent impact of marijuana on fertility

Conditions
December 10, 2024

The growing concern

In the age of marijuana legalization, a troubling health concern is emerging—its impact on fertility. While cannabis enjoys increased social acceptance, its unintended consequences on reproductive health are often overlooked. Daily marijuana use now surpasses high-frequency alcohol consumption, marking a cultural shift that demands urgent attention. Yet, despite accumulating evidence, why does it feel like no one is listening?

As fertility specialists, we are witnessing an alarming trend: couples …

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Doing residency interviews while tired on a Friday afternoon

Physician
December 10, 2024

“I want to use the art of medicine to meet the individual needs of my patients.” These words emanated from the computer as I stared at the Zoom screen. Two large, soft brown eyes, accompanied by a toothy smile, stared straight at me, all framed within a silk hijab, one which was ocean blue with a wisp of pink at the edge. My heart skipped a beat as the reflected …

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How technology can free up nurses for better care [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 9, 2024
YouTube video

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We explore the evolving landscape of health care data management with nurse executive Betsy Castillo. Drawing on her decades of experience, Betsy discusses the importance of timely registry data, the critical role of …

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Cannabis advertising takes a page from the tobacco playbook

Conditions
December 9, 2024

Imagine seeing a commercial featuring Ryder and Marshall from the popular kids’ cartoon Paw Patrol lighting up cigarettes and enjoying a smoke together. It’s hard to fathom that happening, but in 1961 beloved cartoon characters Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble happily smoked cigarettes in an ad for Winston. Most children of that era could easily recite the ad slogan: “Winston tastes good like a cigarette should.”

With that sort of youth …

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Overlooked problems in individuals with autism

Conditions
December 9, 2024

A series of behaviors in autistic children, not well addressed by medical providers today, include self-harming, hitting, biting, mouthing, licking objects, pickiness with food, clothing textures, and touching private areas – otherwise known as “sensory behaviors.” Some of these behaviors, often found to be embarrassing, can remain prevalent and persist into adulthood. Part of the problem is that medical providers typically are not educated regarding the nuances of these unique …

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Why medical training is pushing residents to their breaking point [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 8, 2024
YouTube video

 

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We sit down with medical student Medha Venigalla to explore the urgent issue of resident sleep deprivation and its impact on health care. We discuss the systemic challenges residents face, including long hours, …

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Resilience whispers: the silent triumph through a surgeon’s lens

Physician
December 8, 2024

In the silence of a rural village, where dreams were often tethered to survival, I first learned the language of resilience. Life’s trials were as persistent as the dusty winds, shaping every step of my journey from those humble beginnings to becoming a surgeon. My story, like that of many others in the medical field, is one of quiet perseverance—a journey marked not by loud victories but by the soft …

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Physical exams: the life-saving tool doctors must reclaim in modern medicine

Physician
December 8, 2024

As a pain management specialist, I have often found that the course of treatment for a patient requires a careful balance of many factors before making a recommendation. But sometimes, the best course seems obvious. That was the case with Mr. Bautista (name replaced to protect identity). He was an older gentleman, and his imaging scans showed spinal stenosis that was likely to lead to nerve pain. And what was …

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How a physician’s COVID-19 scare revealed a hidden health condition

Physician
December 8, 2024

“Just take a deep breath.”

It’s the first thing we say when we see someone upset or overwhelmed, and generally, it’s good advice. There is a wealth of evidence supporting the benefits of deep breathing, and it is not uncommon for me to pull out a handout during a patient visit to walk someone through a breathing technique. I’m a family physician—anxiety, asthma, COPD, cancer—it’s all relevant; it’s all primary care. …

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