How society forgets the invisible elderly and why their stories matter

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

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 …

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The future of diversity in medical schools is under threat

Communicating with your doctor online could cost you

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 …

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Communicating with your doctor online could cost you

Understanding social credit scores in health care enforcement [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 15, 2025
YouTube video

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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 …

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Understanding social credit scores in health care enforcement [PODCAST]

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

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, …

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

The Faustian bargain of modern medicine

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

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

Strategies to reduce EHR burden for women in medicine [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 14, 2025
YouTube video

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Internal medicine physician and physician coach Diane W. Shannon discusses her KevinMD article, “Why women doctors spend more time on EHRs and what it means for patient care.” She explores key points …

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Strategies to reduce EHR burden for women in medicine [PODCAST]

Reviving the lost art of family history

Physician
February 14, 2025

In my medical career thus far, I’ll admit family history is something I routinely brush aside. It was never a focus in my medical school or residency training. In my primary care clinic, I spend a couple of minutes asking new patients about their parents’ medical conditions but rarely revisit the topic in future visits.

This approach made sense to me. We’re taught to treat each patient as an individual—to focus …

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Reviving the lost art of family history

A silent killer in our midst: Tackling hypertension in Ghana

Conditions
February 14, 2025

On a seemingly ordinary Sunday evening, a casual conversation with my mother took a terrifying turn. She mentioned a sudden, excruciating headache that had woken her from a nap. My medical training immediately raised red flags. Despite no prior history of such severe headaches, I recalled an isolated incident of elevated blood pressure. Instinctively, I insisted on checking her blood pressure again. Within 15 minutes, the readings soared from 182/120 …

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A silent killer in our midst: Tackling hypertension in Ghana

Supporting family caregivers: insights from a rare medical crisis [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 13, 2025
YouTube video

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Scott Bane, senior program officer, discusses his KevinMD article, “How a family caregiver saved my life during a rare medical crisis.” He explores the challenges and triumphs of family caregiving, and the …

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Supporting family caregivers: insights from a rare medical crisis [PODCAST]

Why AI scribes are changing medicine and the hidden risks you must know

Tech
February 13, 2025

Introduction: the AI scribe revolution

Let’s be real: AI scribes are incredible. I’ve personally used one for well over 3,000 clinical encounters. If you’ve been using one, you already know. If you haven’t, you’re probably considering it or you’ve heard the buzz and are cautiously curious.

Notes that used to take forever are now magically generated with near-perfect grammar, complete sentences, and even structured formatting. It’s borderline addictive. I’ve been using an …

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Why AI scribes are changing medicine and the hidden risks you must know

Navigating the uncertainty of food allergies in air travel: a call for compassion and change

Conditions
February 13, 2025

Food allergies are a serious, life-threatening medical condition that remains widely misunderstood. For millions of travelers with food allergies, navigating airline policies is an unpredictable challenge, where inconsistent accommodations and societal skepticism create unnecessary risks.

Those living with food allergies must often navigate a world that does not always recognize the severity of their condition. Although we teach those with food allergies how to live in a world with …

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Navigating the uncertainty of food allergies in air travel: a call for compassion and change

The role generative AI can play in cardiovascular education for patients

Conditions
February 13, 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic in health care, capturing headlines for its ability to solve diagnostic mysteries and even outperform trained physicians in specific tasks. While we are still far from going to your local AI “doctor” for diagnosis and treatment, generative AI is already capable of intervening in meaningful ways—particularly in cardiovascular education for patients. This potential remains underutilized despite the significant public health need for …

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The role generative AI can play in cardiovascular education for patients

Auto-brewery syndrome: Navigating diagnosis and advocacy [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 12, 2025
YouTube video

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Nurse researcher Barbara Cordell discusses her KevinMD article, “My husband’s rare drunken disease made me an international advocate.” She explores the complexities of auto-brewery syndrome, including diagnosis challenges, treatment options, and the …

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Auto-brewery syndrome: Navigating diagnosis and advocacy [PODCAST]

How operational inefficiencies are undermining patient trust and care

Physician
February 12, 2025

As I step into my fifth year of superspecialty surgical practice in corporate hospitals, I find myself reflecting on a recurring challenge that has profound implications for both patient care and professional satisfaction. Despite clinical expertise and the goodwill we work tirelessly to build, patient experiences in hospitals are often marred by factors beyond our control.

In my experience, negative feedback about hospital services is overwhelmingly linked to operational inefficiencies rather …

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How operational inefficiencies are undermining patient trust and care

Why patients choose the surgeon, not the hospital

Physician
February 12, 2025

It was a Sunday morning, a rare moment of leisure for a young surgeon stepping into the fifth year of his superspecialty practice. Sitting with his family, savoring the tranquility of a slow day, he felt grateful for the pause. But as the evening crept in, so did the familiar storm: Calls started pouring in—an OT staff member asking about requirements for the next day’s surgeries, a medical officer updating …

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Why patients choose the surgeon, not the hospital

Understanding the testosterone surge: risks, trends, and solutions in men’s health [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 11, 2025
YouTube video

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Internal medicine physician Scott Selinger discusses his KevinMD article, “The testosterone surge: Are men chasing solutions or creating new risks?“, delving into the rise of testosterone therapy, its trends, and associated risks. …

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Understanding the testosterone surge: risks, trends, and solutions in men’s health [PODCAST]

Innovation or exploitation: the ethical challenges of AI in speech therapy

Tech
February 11, 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere. It’s in our phones, our search engines, and increasingly, in our health care systems. For speech-language pathologists (SLPs), AI holds the potential to be a powerful ally—offering tools to enhance patient care, track progress, and even expand access to therapy for underserved populations. But with every innovation comes responsibility. The ethical concerns surrounding AI are not hypothetical—they are real, pressing, and demand our attention. This …

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Innovation or exploitation: the ethical challenges of AI in speech therapy

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