Codeine cough syrup: a controversial classification

Meds
October 13, 2023

Did you know that promethazine with codeine cough syrup had a high risk of diversion and high risk of addiction? I didn’t.

From my experience, this is the only effective prescription cough medicine available. Sure, you can prescribe what is essentially over-the-counter dextromethorphan. But be ready when the patient throws a fit because that’s what they’ve been using for the last several days or weeks, and it wasn’t effective. Tessalon Perles …

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Fruit and sugar: Debunking the myths

Conditions
October 13, 2023

On many occasions, patients have asked me whether it’s OK to eat fruit. They’re worried about whether they should be eating foods high in sugar. Is fruit in that category? No, it is not. Does anyone really believe that fruit is what’s causing the paired epidemics of diabetes and obesity? This scourge is not being caused by fruit.

Let’s think about this. As long as the sugar in the food you …

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Redefining postpartum support [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 12, 2023
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Join Theresa Mahon, an obstetrician-gynecologist, as she discusses her transformative journey in prioritizing postpartum care and the critical importance of the often-overlooked fourth trimester. Theresa shares her experiences and insights into improving the postpartum experience for new …

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COVID vaccines and weight loss medications: a tale of 2 needles

Conditions
October 12, 2023

I am perplexed by two different needles which, when viewed together, illustrate the irrational themes which dominate our shared humanity. They inform me that, despite being a doctor for more than twenty years, I honestly feel dumber each day about human behavior. If, unlike me, you have somehow figured out more along the way, good for you.

The first needle which vexes me was the one stuck in my arm on …

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ChatGPT: Charting the future of health care with visionary AI

Tech
October 12, 2023

 

As technology advances, the health care sector perennially seeks innovative solutions to enhance patient care, diagnostic capabilities, and accessibility. OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4, with its pioneering vision feature, has emerged as a potentially transformative tool, enabling myriad applications that traverse beyond textual interactions and delve deeply into the visual realm.

Elevating user interactivity in health care consultations. They were integrating visual capabilities in ChatGPT-4 ushers …

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Why aren’t more pediatricians leaning into rural health?

Policy
October 12, 2023

Rural health for children is in trouble. Don’t take my word for it, just ask the CDC.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just offered further evidence that American children — and rural children in particular — are in trouble. Previously, the CDC had noted that poor U.S. children 2 to 8 years of age have higher rates of parent-reported mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders (MBDDs) than their …

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How writing can elevate your health care career [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 11, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Harrison Reed, a physician assistant, as he shares his journey of discovering the superpower of writing. From defying childhood tasks to leveraging words to open doors to Yale and beyond, Harrison’s story demonstrates how writing can …

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I’m a neurosurgeon. Social media may change your kid’s brain.

Conditions
October 11, 2023

A 2023 study of middle school-aged children laid out some alarming findings. Scientists recruited more than one hundred and fifty children, all aged twelve, from rural North Carolina public schools. The children were surveyed regarding their social media usage, including Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Some of the kids rarely checked social media (one time or less per day), while others were glued to their screens, checking social media more than …

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Shifting social norms and their impact on emerging adulthood [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 10, 2023
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We sit down with Eleanor Menzin, a pediatrician, to explore the changing landscape of young adulthood. Join us as we delve into the shifting social norms, technology’s impact on parent-child relationships, and the evolving understanding of brain …

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September in medicine: scouting season for future doctors

Education
October 10, 2023

In medicine, September marks scouting season. Like professional baseball clubs, residency programs meticulously generate and analyze scouting reports for prospective interns, aimed toward building an ideal lineup of future doctors that functions seamlessly as a team while augmenting everyone’s individual strengths.

From an applicant’s perspective, the focus on experience, exam scores, and class rankings reflects the layout of a player’s statistics on the back of a baseball card. With more objective …

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A new approach to health care liability management

Physician
October 10, 2023

There is no shortage of the problems that plague health care. Even so, health law gurus make problems worse by creating the medical liability litigation industry. Gurus deny creating this industry. They create health reforms and tort reforms to solve problems. That explains the Affordable Care Act, 100 tort reforms, the medical liability litigation industry, and difficulties.

Have you …

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Unlocking the power of doctors in addiction treatment [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 9, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Jack McGeachy, an emergency physician and expert in addiction medicine. Discover how doctors possess a hidden superpower when it comes to addiction treatment and how they can effectively address the biological, psychological, and social aspects of …

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Rural health care advocacy: Inspiring communities

Physician
October 9, 2023

As a resident physician working in a rural state that recently underwent a legislative session characterized by an overwhelming anti-patient, anti-trans, anti-abortion, and anti-physician-patient relationship stance, I find myself invigorated by the commitment and action of community members who persistently call for change and advocate for their right to health. They remind me of the expansive diversity within rural communities.

Despite state legislators who may present a loud, anti-diversity voice, they …

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Will Kaiser Permanente see a spike in medical malpractice from the strike?

Conditions
October 9, 2023

The Kaiser Permanente strike, with over 75,000 impacted employees, is the largest health care strike in the history of the United States. CNN reported that the affected workers are represented by a coalition of unions across California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington and Oregon.

The strike, which is intended to last four days and involves 40 percent of Kaiser Permanente’s staff, could deeply impact patient care. The reality …

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Balancing medical ethics in opioid treatment

Physician
October 9, 2023

What is a legitimate medical reason to prescribe an opioid medication today? For pain or addiction? Who decides which patients are worthy of treatment? This question is not just of academic interest. Any prescribing medical provider today must constantly live in fear that a law enforcement agent somewhere will disagree with the prescriber’s answer to these questions. On its face, it seems simple. If a patient has severe pain, a …

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Navigating grief: a doctor’s personal journey [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 8, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Humeira Badsha, a rheumatologist, as she shares her recent, unexpected journey through grief, offering profound insights into the emotional challenges faced by medical professionals. From a tearful moment of vulnerability with a patient to the traumatic …

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Harnessing ignorance: quantum reality and medicine

Physician
October 8, 2023

Scientists refer to this seeming paradox as being derived from the nature of quantum reality and Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle. Ignorance can be a “strength.” For example, when we want to identify someone, the photons that arrive at our retinas will be different depending on the many other factors surrounding that person.

However, we tend to disregard most of the objects, colors, or obstacles in the way and conclude that it is …

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Expressive writing reduces caregiver stress

Physician
October 8, 2023

Today, more than one in five Americans are caregivers, providing care to an adult or child with special needs at some time in the past 12 months. Given this sobering statistic, I’m surprised we do not see as many health narratives written by caregivers as, say, doctors and patients, at least not in print.

Caregiving is emotionally draining. However, writing when you are in a caregiving role is one of a …

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