Empathetic patient care: Addressing disability in education

Physician
October 30, 2023

The students entered, chattering among themselves about their recent break. This is their interviewing and communication class, and today’s guest lecturer is a bit different than the usual physician educator. Speaking today is Linda Long-Bellil, JD, PhD, an expert in educating medical professionals about disability. Dr. Long-Bellil is also a person with a disability herself. I am assisting as well, as a physician with a disability and a wheelchair user. …

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20 reasons every resident should form a micro-corporation

Physician
October 30, 2023

The majority are wrong.

Is it possible that the growing majority of doctors are mistaken in their decision to choose traditional employment? How is it that the most intelligent group of individuals on earth can be influenced to believe that being confined to traditional employment is in their best interest, especially when the burnout rate is approaching almost 60 percent?

Don’t follow the herd.

In a world where the “herd mentality” often prevails, …

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The power of listening in palliative care consultations

Conditions
October 30, 2023

Finishing up a consultation in the ICU, the nurses approached me to see how it went. “Did you get the DNR?” I explained that I enter these conversations without an agenda. My first goal is to develop rapport, reading the room to gauge how far I can take this conversation. What are they ready to hear? This phase of the consult is akin to preparing the soil for planting. The …

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Exploring promising breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s research [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 29, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Ken Blaker, a health care and technology consultant, and Cuong Do, a health care executive, as they shed light on the latest developments in combating these challenging conditions. From the recent FDA approval of Leqembi to …

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Are health care workers being gaslit about burnout?

Physician
October 29, 2023

When an animal is shot and bleeds to death, does it “suffer from a bleed out”? No, the hunter shot and killed it – that’s the truth, and that’s the main narrative. “Bleeding out” was a natural consequence. Yet in health care, it feels as though the narrative has been cleverly turned on its head and reflected back to health care workers as “suffering from burnout,” giving the culprit workplace …

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Coupling behavioral health prescriptions with measurement-based care

Conditions
October 29, 2023

It can be difficult for patients with substance use disorders, depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder to seek care and commit to a regular schedule of behavioral health care visits. However, telehealth and telepsychiatry have vastly enabled both access and compliance with care. That being said, medication should not be prescribed without proper oversight and care, regardless of whether the doctor is assessing the patient online or in person.

During the …

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Holocaust survivor’s hidden past: a doctor’s discovery

Physician
October 29, 2023

As a medical doctor, I have peered into the lives of many patients who have unique experiences.

When I started practice 40 years ago, some of my patients had parents who lived during the Civil War; a few fought in the Spanish-American War, and more recently, at the Millennium, several of my centenarians could say they lived in three centuries!

One of my first patients in Santa Clarita was a gentleman who …

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Balancing life and medicine [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 28, 2023
YouTube video

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Join us for an engaging podcast conversation with Kim Downey, a physical therapist, and Stephen Lewellis, a dermatologist. They share their unique professional journeys, discussing the challenges and insights they’ve gained in their respective fields. From navigating …

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Surgeon suicides: Unveiling a silent crisis

Physician
October 28, 2023

When I read The Guardian article, “US surgeons are killing themselves at an alarming rate. One decided to speak out,” I felt like throwing up.

I’m sickened so many surgeons are dying. I’m grateful Dr. Cunningham is speaking out. I’m relieved she is alive.

But I felt nauseated that Carrie Cunningham’s pain is being used to tout physician “health” programs (PHPs) as the solution to physician suicide while these programs have actually led …

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Reflections on human suffering

Physician
October 28, 2023

I was in my upstairs office when I heard the doorbell ring. I ran downstairs to open the door, unable to see through the opaque window who was on the other side. I opened the door, and there stood an elderly Black man and woman, well dressed, with leaflets and literature. I immediately recognized that this was an unsolicited proselytization.

“Can I help you,” I inquired. The woman handed me a …

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We got the new COVID vaccine. It was a whopping $191 per shot.

Conditions
October 28, 2023

As emergency physicians, my husband and I were determined to protect ourselves, our teenagers, and society at-large with the latest, monovalent COVID vaccine, which the CDC recently recommended for every American 6 months and older.

I realized, though, we were in for turbulence when my 78-year-old mother arrived for her appointment at a national pharmacy chain only to be told they did not yet have the vaccine. …

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Unlocking value-based care: challenges and incentives

Policy
October 28, 2023

Value-based care is everywhere. It is really having a moment right now. It has taken on many forms, from the Medicare Advantage home care models to the employer-based direct primary care, but certain aspects of it remain consistent across all delivery forms. Physicians or physician organizations are expected to meet certain expectations and patient outcomes in order to show the value of the care they provide.

In theory, pinning reimbursement rates …

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Empathy meets efficiency: a health care transformation [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 27, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Matthew Troup, a physician assistant and health care executive, as we explore the critical issue of balancing empathy and efficiency in modern medicine. Matthew shares his personal journey and the challenges he faced during his clinical …

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Clinicians unite for health care reform

Policy
October 27, 2023

One thing that contributes to burnout in medicine is the inefficient and cumbersome nature of the systems in which we practice. This is particularly true for compassionate, trauma-informed clinicians who must watch their patients suffer under a system that clearly has built-in historical and current harms. In 2008, when I started my nonprofit organization, the disparities had already cost this country millions of dollars and untold numbers of lives. We …

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Why emotional intelligence is critical for safe nurse staffing

Conditions
October 27, 2023

In Daniel Goleman’s model of emotional intelligence (EQ), there are two main competencies: Personal competency, which includes self-awareness, self-regulation, and motivation; and social competency, which includes social skills and empathy.

We can think of both competencies in terms of communication. Personal competency relates to our abilities to identify and value our needs, wants, limits, etc., and to express them respectfully, i.e., speaking up. Social competency refers to our ability to observe, …

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Decoding doctor designations: the crucial need to ditch the “provider” label

Education
October 27, 2023

Health care terminology has evolved significantly over the years, with the term “provider” becoming a standard reference for various health care professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. While the term includes many health care professionals in current medical practice, it’s important to discuss why “provider” was initially used and should not be used interchangeably with “physician.”

A brief history of the term “provider”

The term “provider” in health care began …

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Combating physician burnout: the case for subsidized vacations

Policy
October 27, 2023

Physician burnout is a pressing issue in the health care industry, with detrimental effects on both health care providers and the American public. Family physicians, in particular, play a crucial role in the well-being of individuals and communities. This essay explores the mental health benefits that family physicians derive from enjoying time away from the office and argues for government subsidization of their vacation time as a measure to mitigate …

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Revolutionizing health care ops: data connectivity and AI insights [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 26, 2023
YouTube video

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Join nurse executives Linda Knodel and Karlene Kerfoot as they share their 45 years of experience in health care administration. In this insightful podcast, they discuss the urgent challenges facing health care organizations, the power of data …

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The connection between organ systems and skin health in Chinese medicine

Conditions
October 26, 2023

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), health is perceived as a holistic concept that encompasses not only the physical aspects of our bodies but also the emotional and spiritual dimensions.

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have long held the belief that there is a deep connection between our organ systems and the appearance of our face.

This profound link sheds light on how our internal well-being and emotions can be reflected in our facial …

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Reevaluating beliefs: the role of real doctors

Physician
October 26, 2023

Real doctors see patients. For years, I have held this thought as a truth. But it’s not a fact; it’s a belief, and it is no longer serving me.

I’ve been questioning this belief for a while, but this weekend at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition, I gained some clarity. There, I met, heard from, and spoke with so many fascinating physicians—physicians who are doing all sorts …

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