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Why empathy is the missing piece in modern health care

Conditions

February 19, 2025

As I navigate this world, I often feel overwhelmed by its harshness, making peace and harmony seem elusive.

Today, the atmosphere feels particularly heavy with distrust and anger, leaving me caught in a constant “me” versus “you” mindset. At times, it feels as though a corrosive glue has enveloped the workings of my heart, preventing me from experiencing emotions and diminishing my willingness to seek the truth or ensure my story …

How medicine is evolving: Bridging generational divides in the profession

Nicole M. King, MD

Physician

February 19, 2025

I recently came across an ongoing “discussion,” or rather aggressive bantering, in an online physician platform regarding the old guard versus the alleged newer, more entitled, and lazy generation of doctors. Years ago, I would have more staunchly fallen on the side of the old guard. Though I am a solid elder millennial, my “bootstrap” upbringing and Navy career fully encouraged the concept of medicine as a calling vice a …

Balancing technology and personal care in modern health care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 18, 2025

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Emergency physician Drew Remignanti discusses his KevinMD article, “High tech should not replace high talk and high touch in health care.” In this episode, Drew examines the limitations of artificial intelligence and …

Helping your teenage patients with chronic headache move on to college

Vickie Karian, CPNP-PC

Conditions

February 18, 2025

It’s getting close to that time of the school year. Your teenage patient with chronic headache/migraine is finishing up their high school education, either through the traditional or non-traditional pathway. They have chosen their next step—going to college. As their provider, you are so proud of them. Perhaps high school has been really hard for them academically, socially, and/or emotionally. They needed and used accommodations around schoolwork and attendance. They …

What if insurance companies were held accountable for health outcomes?

Tomi Mitchell, MD

Physician

February 18, 2025

Picture this: You’re sitting in a courtroom, and the defendant in front of you is a major insurance company. The charge? Denying a life-saving claim that led to devastating consequences for someone’s health. The prosecutor stands up, looks toward the jury—a group of everyday people like you and me—and declares, “They prioritized profits over the lives of people.” Doesn’t that statement hit differently this morning, especially as you sip your …

Why does leaving medicine feel like escaping a cult?

Chelsea Turgeon, MD

Physician

February 18, 2025

“Shame on you for glorifying people leaving such a noble profession.”

That’s a little … intense.

I was jolted but, unfortunately, not surprised by this negative comment on my LinkedIn post—a post sharing my story of resigning from residency.

Backlash like this is not new to me. Anytime I speak publicly about leaving clinical medicine, I am met with an odd mix of “That’s so brave of you to share” and “How dare …

The truth about the orgasm gap and how to bridge it

Neil Baum, MD and David Mobley, MD

Conditions

February 18, 2025

If you have followed my blogs for the past few years, you know that I have focused on practice management, the business of a medical practice, and recently AI. This blog will depart from those topics and discuss a clinical topic, the orgasm gap, that I have written with a colleague, Dr. David Mobley, a urologist at Weill-Cornell Medicine.

Everyone, both men and women, deserves to experience an orgasm or the …

Managing litigation and medical malpractice stress [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 17, 2025

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Psychotherapist and litigation stress coach Gail Fiore discusses her KevinMD article, “Recognizing and addressing medical malpractice stress syndrome (MMSS).” In this episode, Gail explores the prevalence of MMSS among physicians, the common …

From surviving to thriving: a new era in breast cancer care

Allison A. DiPasquale, MD

Conditions

February 17, 2025

Breast cancer recovery is about more than survival—it’s about reclaiming a vibrant, fulfilling life. Instead of focusing solely on survivorship, we need to embrace what I call “livingship”: the journey of truly thriving after treatment. This approach focuses on ensuring patients not only survive but thrive in their cancer-free lives.

A personal journey in medicine

My path to becoming a breast cancer specialist was shaped by early aspirations and personal experiences with …

Are you protecting your career? 5 essential questions about your NP liability insurance

The Doctors Company

Policy

February 17, 2025

A nurse practitioner (NP) in urgent care saw a patient with a severe headache following a fall. Initial testing and symptoms suggested a concussion, leading to discharge. However, when the patient’s worsening condition later revealed an elevated white blood cell count, they were rushed for further evaluation—but it was too late. The patient succumbed to bacterial meningitis. …

Solving a hidden challenge: 10 tips to reduce diagnostic error in the emergency department

Susan L. Montminy, EdD, MPA, RN and Marlene Icenhower, JD, RN

Conditions

February 17, 2025

Diagnostic error is a difficult issue to track in the emergency department (ED). For a good reason, too: The patient population is so transient it’s difficult to detect a “missed” diagnosis. It’s less readily apparent than medication errors, falls, and other commonly reported incidents.

But that’s precisely what makes diagnostic error such an insidious problem.

Recent research into malpractice claims over a five-year period suggests that 28 percent of all diagnostic error …

Wisdom for new nurses: lessons from a 30-year ICU veteran

Debbie Moore-Black, RN

Conditions

February 17, 2025

Dear new nurse graduate,

Welcome to a world unlike any other—a world brimming with happiness, sadness, confusion, self-doubt, defeat, and heroism. You’ve just stepped onto the first rung of a ladder that reaches into the unknown. Nursing is not easy, and there will be countless moments when you ask yourself, “What was I thinking?” or “Why did I choose this path?”

But nursing isn’t just a job; it’s a lifelong journey, a …

Exploring the rapid impact of AI on modern medicine [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 16, 2025

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Internal medicine physician Melvin Speisman discusses his KevinMD article, “How AI is transforming medicine faster than ever before.” In this episode, Melvin explores the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence within health care, …

How society forgets the invisible elderly and why their stories matter

Nancie Wiseman Attwater

Conditions

February 16, 2025

Age should not define a person or diminish respect from others. There is a generation of people overlooked every day, and little attention is paid to this growing problem.

As people age, they may become less visible within their communities. It can seem like people who once smiled as they walked by begin passing without a glance. Seniors may feel like unwanted outsiders in society. Sadly, many participate in their own …

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How society forgets the invisible elderly and why their stories matter

The future of diversity in medical schools is under threat

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Education

February 16, 2025

The recent decision by the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from its website has sparked a significant debate within the academic community. This move, aimed at complying with an executive order from President Donald Trump, highlights the tension between institutional values and political mandates. This essay explores the implications of Penn’s actions, contrasting …

Communicating with your doctor online could cost you

Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD

Physician

February 16, 2025

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated medical communication as patients and doctors utilized computer technology to manage health care that was not available a decade ago.

Hospitals and doctors maintain online medical records that enable patients to access personal information about ongoing issues. “Portals” allow users to view lab tests, imaging results, pathology reports, and progress notes. The computer “message” system also enables patients to communicate with their physicians or other health care …

Understanding social credit scores in health care enforcement [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 15, 2025

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Internal medicine physician and psychiatrist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses the KevinMD article “The role of social credit scores in the enforcement of health care regulations.” They explore the expansion of predictive algorithms …

To boost primary care physician pay, Congress should change funding requirements for Medicaid state-directed payments

Alexander Gajewski, MD

Policy

February 15, 2025

Introduction

It is no secret that the U.S. medical system fails to treat all patients equally. Those with Medicaid often lack access to the same primary care and subspecialty clinics as those with Medicare or private insurance and face longer wait times. Medicaid is jointly funded by the states and federal government. The solution is to increase Medicaid reimbursement. Of course, in my home state, Texas, …

The Faustian bargain of modern medicine

Corinne Sundar Rao, MD

Physician

February 15, 2025

The concept of a “Faustian bargain” originates from the legend of Dr. Faustus, a figure from German folklore who trades his soul to the devil in exchange for worldly knowledge and power. Doctor Faustus is Christopher Marlowe’s most renowned and controversial work. The play depicts the sinister aftermath of Faustus’s decision to sell his soul to the devil’s henchmen in exchange for power and knowledge. It serves as a timeless …

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The Faustian bargain of modern medicine

Why I have mixed feelings about being inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society

Sakshi Dureja

Education

February 15, 2025

When I learned that I had been chosen for the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS), I was ecstatic. It felt like a profound recognition of my values and hard work—a celebration of compassion, empathy, and humanism, which have always been the cornerstone of my personal and professional life.

Throughout medical school, I spent considerable time addressing gaps in my medical school’s curriculum and community engagement, founding several initiatives and organizations to …

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