Terminal illness: Navigating the struggles of acceptance
Reality knocked me for a loop one evening when my father-in-law called from his home in another state and asked for help. This kind of request was very uncharacteristic for him. We responded immediately and drove to his home. After much conversation and many questions from both sides, we eventually came to the hard truth. His cancer had progressed and, to my mind, was most likely terminal. I dug in …
Resisting burnout in health care: Empowering inner practices
Burnout isn’t our fault. However, since we can’t change the inner workings of large institutions all at once, if at all, how do we push through? How do we do more than just survive?
“More and more doctors are coming to believe that the pandemic merely worsened the strain on a health care system that was already failing because it prioritizes profits over patient care,” wrote Eyal Press in the New …
Curing ailing health care: Embracing ethical traditions and prioritizing patient care
The cure for ailing health care lies in returning to ethical traditions, prioritizing patient care over profits, holding physicians accountable, and reforming existing oversight bodies and professional organizations. The ailing health care is curable. To be made whole again, it requires obvious but drastic steps. The crux of the problem is that medicine largely abandoned its own traditions and time-tested modus operandi in favor of the seemingly efficient and shiny …
Battling COVID chaos and recruiting doctors
An excerpt from Our Hospital.
Kush Kare Hospital in Columbia, New York, was the flagship of Kush Kare Private Equity Inc., a for-profit chain of hospitals across America. A for-profit that was listed on a lot of lucrative trading routes. Clearly its workings were murky—maybe not equity at all. A clever …
In the trenches of health care: Facing unbearable strain
I’m so sorry, but the pain was too much, and I couldn’t continue. I have witnessed patients crying themselves to sleep while nurses held their hands, praying for their treatments to be approved, giving them one more chance at life. Nurses try to juggle 8, 9, 10, or more patients during their shifts, holding onto their compassion with the last thread of hope that things will improve. Yet, they’ve also …
Authenticity and bias in recommendation letters [PODCAST]
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Heather Furnas, an adjunct clinical associate professor at Stanford and an aesthetic surgeon, joins us as we delve into the intricate world of recommendation letters, biases in evaluations, and their impact on diverse fields. Heather lends her …
When death comes to your job: Grieving what was and moving on
It has been only two weeks since I realized the job I had was gone. As physicians, I think we have this idea of what our work will look like into the future. It is enshrined in pomp and circumstance from the start as we take an oath to “do no harm,” it’s encrusted with an unspoken culture of medicine that often asks us to give more than we thought …
Choosing financial advisors for physicians
Did you know that according to research, teachers are more likely than doctors to become millionaires? How is that possible? Well, some of it has to do with the social pressure we face. However, a lot has to do with many of us thinking that because we are highly educated, we can also be effective financial advisors for ourselves. The reality is that for most of us, this is …
DEA’s criteria for identifying pill mills: a physician’s analysis
Many physicians reading this forum treat pain and addiction and may wonder what criteria the DEA believes to be indicative of a pill mill. The following is from a motion filed in federal court regarding the prosecution of a physician:
The government claimed in the motion that pill mills, “have been found to have common characteristics, including some or all of the following”:
- Clinics are cash only and do not accept …
National Latino Physician Day: a crisis sparked the origin of a national day
National Latino Physician Day (NLPD) was established on October 1, 2022, as a day to celebrate Latino physicians in the United States, who represent 6% of the physician workforce. A strategic aim of NLPD is to simultaneously recognize the critical shortage of Latino physicians when compared to the U.S. population (19%), while sharing evidence-based data showcasing this disparity in Latino physician representation and its potential impact on worsening health care …
For orthopedic surgeons, an all-of-the-above approach lowers liability risks
During a total hip replacement, a patient experienced a brisk bleed and a drop in blood pressure that required intervention from the anesthesiologist. There was a discrepancy in the documented estimated blood loss, with the surgeon noting 30 0cc while the anesthesiologist recorded 1100 cc. The patient was hypotensive in the PACU and had a discolored leg with no …
A family physician’s burnout journey [PODCAST]
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Join Tomi Mitchell, a family physician, as we tackle the pressing issue of physician burnout. This episode delves into the stark disparity between perception and reality in medical careers, exploring strategies to combat burnout and prioritize well-being. …
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The high “cost” of waste in U.S. health care, and what we can do about it
A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.
The U.S. spends the largest amount of money on health care in the world – around $4.3 trillion annually. However, an estimated 20% to 30% of this is wasted, with no benefit reaching the populace. Culprits contributing to this waste include administrative …
How the 3 laws of thermodynamics illuminate the pathways of health care and AI
The principles governing the universe are not confined to physics and chemistry. In health care, a field that profoundly examines life’s intricacies, we find parallels with the three laws of thermodynamics. This article unveils these connections, offering a physician’s insights into the applications of these principles in patient care, medical innovation, and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care.
The First Law of Thermodynamics: energy conservation
Thermodynamic principle: Energy in …
Explore the rise in facelift options and embrace the trending popularity
The facelift procedure was first described in 1901 by Eugene Hollander and in 1916 by Erich Lexer. Over the last century, the facelift has become the gold standard for facial rejuvenation and continues to grow in popularity. One of the reasons we can attribute this growth spurt to is the options and advancements in how facelifts are handled. Let’s delve into the fascinating realm of modern facelifts, exploring the incredible …
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Pericardiocentesis saves a life
An excerpt from The Healing Connection: A Partnership for Your Health.
The blood spurt was alarming though because it therefore indicated that the pressure in the venous system had to be sky high in order to shoot a column of blood in such a continuous arc over my right shoulder.
So, I …
Exploring consequences of early physician departures [PODCAST]
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Join Dennis Hursh, an attorney with over 40 years of experience in health law. We explore the complex decisions physicians face when considering leaving a position without proper notice. Discover the legal, financial, and reputational consequences that …
A heartbreaking COVID-19 case: the importance of trust in medical care
An excerpt from One Hundred Prayers: God’s answer to prayer in a COVID ICU.
(August 30, 2021) Susan was 44 years old and previously healthy; an ardent anti-masker. When she caught delta COVID, she took ivermectin, zinc and vitamin C. She arrived at our ER about a week later, requiring immediate …
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Learn to be a Narcan hero: a comic tutorial
Discover the ins and outs of nasal Narcan alongside psychiatrist Emily Watters. In this comic tutorial, she’ll walk you through the steps in her signature straightforward style, helping you grasp the essentials and empowering you to be a Narcan hero. (Click to enlarge.)
Past Week
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What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
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A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how
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Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check
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The dreaded question: Do you have boys or girls?
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Past 6 Months
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What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
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Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting
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What happened to real care in health care?
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Why great patient outcomes don’t protect female doctors from burnout [PODCAST]
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Why ADHD in women is finally getting the attention it deserves
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Precision and personalization: Charting the future of cancer care [PODCAST]
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Past Week
-
What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
-
A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how
-
Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check
-
The dreaded question: Do you have boys or girls?
-
A world without antidepressants: What could possibly go wrong?
-
Rethinking patient payments: Why billing is the new frontline of patient care [PODCAST]
-
Past 6 Months
-
What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
-
The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors
-
Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting
-
What happened to real care in health care?
-
Are quotas a solution to physician shortages?
-
The hidden bias in how we treat chronic pain
-
Recent Posts
-
Why great patient outcomes don’t protect female doctors from burnout [PODCAST]
-
Why ADHD in women is finally getting the attention it deserves
-
How a $75 million jet brought down America’s boldest doctor
-
Why ruling out sepsis in emergency departments can be lifesaving
-
The hidden cost of delaying back surgery
-
Precision and personalization: Charting the future of cancer care [PODCAST]
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