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What 10 minutes reveal about the broken health care system in rural America

Tracey Karcher

Conditions

December 20, 2024

A response to “The overwhelming reality of primary care: Why doctors still persevere.”

I am a primary care patient in a rural area of a western state, and I have not seen the same physician or other provider more than two or three times in the past 20 years.

I am a primary care patient, and I have 10 minutes to explain my entire medical history, including my neurologic, musculoskeletal, and …

They thought motherhood would break you, and you almost agreed

Tomi Mitchell, MD

Physician

December 20, 2024

Before children (B.C.), life was completely different. I had the kind of freedom I didn’t even realize I had. I could decide, on a whim, to go out for dinner, catch a late movie, or simply lie in bed doing absolutely nothing (well, that part rarely happened as I was too busy either in school or thinking about work). I could stay up late, not because I had to, but …

AI hype could undermine its real potential in health care

Austin A. Barr

Tech

December 20, 2024

Imagine if headlines proclaimed, “X-ray sees what doctors can’t” or “Lab test outperforms physicians’ clinical gestalt.” Absurd, right? You can recognize how such claims distort the role these tools play in health care. So why do current narratives surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) sound so similar?

We’ve all seen the sensational headlines: “AI chatbots defeated doctors at diagnosing illness” or “Using AI to detect breast cancer that doctors miss.” These …

How conflict in Sudan is impacting women and children [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 19, 2024

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

Join us as we talk with Gillian Burkhardt, an obstetrician-gynecology physician currently on assignment with Doctors Without Borders in South Darfur. We explore the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which …

The silent epidemic of low testosterone: Why men are suffering in silence and what doctors can do about it

Justin Houman, MD

Conditions

December 19, 2024

The hidden health crisis

Low testosterone (low T) is one of the most underdiagnosed and misunderstood health conditions facing men today. Studies show that nearly 40 percent of men over age 45 and 50 percent of men over 80 have low testosterone levels. However, what’s more troubling is that only 20 percent of these men are ever diagnosed or treated.

The symptoms are often subtle but profound, affecting physical health, mental well-being, …

How a psychiatrist rebuilt trust with a patient in crisis

Chika Oriuwa, MD

Physician

December 19, 2024

I was trained in my first month of residency, during onboarding, to always position myself closest to the door when interviewing a patient, as situations can escalate quickly and become potentially dangerous. “If a patient stands, you stand,” my preceptor said to me during safety training. Her words came back to …

Navigating sex and intimacy with ME/CFS and long COVID

Teacher Byrd

Conditions

December 19, 2024

Living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) or long COVID can transform every aspect of life, including one that often feels too delicate or taboo to address: sex and intimacy. These conditions introduce physical limitations, emotional strain, and communication challenges that can make intimacy feel out of reach. But here’s the truth: intimacy is possible—it just looks different, and that’s OK!

Understanding the impact of ME/CFS and long COVID on intimacy

Both …

How expert witness work can transform your career and life [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 18, 2024

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

We speak with Gretchen E. Green, a radiologist and expert witness, about her journey from full-time clinical practice to building a fulfilling career that balances work, life, and family. She shares insights on …

How the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan provides a practical solution to medication nonadherence

Brian Whorley, MBA

Policy

December 18, 2024

Starting January 1, 2025, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (MPPP) will give providers a powerful way to address one of the biggest barriers to effective care: cost-related medication nonadherence. With 54 million Medicare beneficiaries eligible, this program has the potential to improve adherence, reduce hospital readmissions, and ensure better health outcomes on a large scale. By helping patients access the program, providers can play a pivotal role in transforming patient …

Taking a break from medicine: a journey to rediscover joy and purpose

David Olson, PA-C

Conditions

December 18, 2024

Dear medicine,

We need to take a break. I’ve finally realized that this relationship isn’t healthy for me—in fact, it’s borderline abusive. For a long time, I didn’t realize I was in an abusive relationship. We’re taught that it’s OK when patients curse at us, threaten us, and even sometimes physically assault us. Unfortunately, for many of us, medicine checks many of the boxes of abusive relationships.

Not realizing we’re in an …

Biomarkers: How to manage your body’s KPIs for longevity

Dr. John Thomson Smith

Conditions

December 18, 2024

Longevity can be a polarizing topic. For some of us, it conjures images of a grandparent’s final years, filled with chronic diseases and prolonged suffering. Understandably, we would not want any part of that.

However, longevity science is not only about extending lifespan but also healthspan — the period of life spent in good health, free from debilitating conditions. While medicine has not yet eradicated such age-related diseases, research shows that …

Overcoming social anxiety: insights into trauma, perfectionism, and therapy [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 17, 2024

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

We explore the complexities of social anxiety with renowned psychotherapist Jonathan Berent. We delve into two contrasting cases: a high-achieving physician facing performance anxiety and a young adult paralyzed by avoidance. Jonathan shares …

Why the U.S. health care system is failing patients—what every American should know

Mark Goldfarb, MD

Physician

December 17, 2024

I’m a semi-retired cardiologist. I currently volunteer at a free community health clinic for individuals who do not have health insurance. Many of these individuals are undocumented foreign workers, yet we care for them seamlessly, without the restraints of our bureaucratic billing system and the burdens and restrictions promoted by the insurance industry.

As I age, to my chagrin and utter dismay, I have also unfortunately become a patient. I have …

Taglines, chief complaints, and the risk of losing the story

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Physician

December 17, 2024

A fellow writer and I were having an online exchange. She said her painting was being interrupted by bursts of writing. She texted, “I’m writing about how storytelling is liberating itself from commerce, politics, religion, and emerging as medicine and culture.”

I asked if I could use her quote as my biographical tagline. On my LinkedIn profile I could say: “I write about how storytelling liberates us from commerce, politics, and …

Why a visit to my old school brought tears of nostalgia and gratitude

Dr. Damane Zehra

Physician

December 17, 2024

I visited my school after many years. I enrolled in first grade in 1998 at age five and graduated from FSc Pre-Medical (12th grade) in 2011. After that, I started medical school in 2012, and since then, I haven’t returned to my school.

It was one of those schools where skipping classes was simply not an option. The teachers were professional, dedicated, and sincere. Although it was a government school with …

How objective pain management can save lives and prevent addiction

Myles Gart, MD

Conditions

December 17, 2024

The management of pain in clinical practice often involves navigating the critical tension between compassionate care and ensuring patient safety. While subjective self-reports of pain are essential for understanding a patient’s experience, relying solely on these assessments may risk overtreatment, leading to adverse outcomes. Incorporating objective measures can enhance safety and maintain clinical integrity without compromising compassion.

The role of objective measures in pain management

1. Promoting patient safety

Preventing overmedication: Objective …
Read more…

How objective pain management can save lives and prevent addiction

Strategies to reduce costly hospital readmissions and improve patient care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 16, 2024

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

We explore the pressing issue of hospital readmissions and their significant impact on health outcomes and financial strain within the health care system. Our guest, health care executive Ahzam Afzal, shares insights into …

The hidden cost of neglecting self-care: the autoimmune connection

Pamela Buchanan, MD

Physician

December 16, 2024

Imagine your immune system as a vigilant guardian suddenly turning against the body it’s meant to protect. This is the reality of autoimmune diseases—a group of complex conditions where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, leading to chronic illnesses like multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus.

A striking statistic reveals a sobering truth: 80 percent of autoimmune diseases occur in women, with an even more pronounced impact on Black women. …

Doctors must rethink “do no harm” to help children with long COVID

Elham Raker, MD

Conditions

December 16, 2024

As medical students, we all take the Hippocratic oath—a pledge to help patients and, of course, not to cause harm in any treatments we provide. It is a core element in the care of our patients. We would never want to do anything that could make things worse. But is it that simple?

As medical diseases have become more and more complex, can we ethically say we will not offer a …

High tech should not replace high talk and high touch in health care

Drew Remignanti, MD, MPH

Physician

December 16, 2024

Though many of the dollar-driven decision makers within health care would have us believe otherwise, we can’t AI, blood tests, or high-tech image our way out of our current U.S. health care mess. I learned this from having spent 40 years as a board-certified emergency physician and 50+ years as a chronic autoimmune disease patient. We must overtly acknowledge that all three of the above are simply supplemental tools. They …

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