KevinMD.com

June 10, 2011Jun 10, 20116

My family doctor recently announced he’s retiring from medicine after 37 years, and my husband and I were his patients for more than 18 of those years. We had a lot of one-offs before finding him, but he was worth…

He saved my husband’s mobility. A glass coffee pot separated from its handle and a shard went straight into …

Physician voices

Baby Boomers are driving the next wave of joint replacements in medicine

Eric Marcotte, MD

June 10, 2011Jun 10, 2011

by Eric Marcotte, MD Associated Press health writer Marilynn Marchione recently reported on the rapid growth of so-called "fix-me-it is" in orthopedic surgery. Healthier and younger than the typical patients undergoing joint replacement, Baby Boomers are driving the next big…

by Eric Marcotte, MD

Associated Press health writer Marilynn Marchione recently reported on the rapid growth of so-called “fix-me-it is” in orthopedic surgery. Healthier and younger than the typical patients undergoing joint replacement, Baby Boomers are driving the next big wave of joint replacements in medicine.

This is definitely welcome news for Zimmer, Biomet, and our other fine biomedical companies here in Indiana. Whether this …

Physician voices

Why private practice surgeons perform more open breast biopsies

Jeffrey Parks, MD

June 9, 2011Jun 9, 20119

A Florida study assessed the rate of needle versus surgical breast biopsies over a period of five years. What we're talking about here are non-palpable abnormalities that are identified on screening mammography. A mammogram report will come back that assesses…

A Florida study assessed the rate of needle versus surgical breast biopsies over a period of five years.

What we’re talking about here are non-palpable abnormalities that are identified on screening mammography. A mammogram report will come back that assesses the relative risk of an abnormal collection of calcifications harboring an invasive or pre-invasive cancer (staged on a scale from I-V). With such data, one is obligated, …

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Physician voices

Reasons behind the image mutation of physicians

Richard A. Foullon, MD

June 9, 2011Jun 9, 20118

As far back in history as in the day of Hippocrates of Cos, often referred to as the father of Western medicine, 460 BC - 370 BC, a physician was viewed in a paternalistic manner, one in which a physician's…

As far back in history as in the day of Hippocrates of Cos, often referred to as the father of Western medicine, 460 BC – 370 BC, a physician was viewed in a paternalistic manner, one in which a physician’s opinion(s) were simply just believed and their recommendation(s) were followed without question. The prevailing culture was definitely one of passive, submissive acceptance.

Although there will more likely than not always be …

Patient voices

Should doctors be blamed for bad decisions by patients?

Jaan Sidorov, MD

June 9, 2011Jun 9, 20119

The Disease Management Care Blog attended a professional hockey game recently and it must say it was quite the spectacle. While the athleticism on the ice was quite remarkable, the real wonderment involved the hometown fans. Questionable referee calls prompted…

The Disease Management Care Blog attended a professional hockey game recently and it must say it was quite the spectacle.

While the athleticism on the ice was quite remarkable, the real wonderment involved the hometown fans. Questionable referee calls prompted thousands of all ages to chant phrases that the DMCB has not recently read in any medical journals, while the willingness of grown men to display, in stereo fashion, obscene gestures …

Health policy

AMA: Revisions, clarity needed before physicians form Medicare ACOs

American Medical Association & Cecil B. Wilson, MD

June 9, 2011Jun 9, 2011

A guest column by the American Medical Association, exclusive to KevinMD.com. There is said to be an old Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times. As I wrap up my year traveling the country as President of the AMA,…

A guest column by the American Medical Association, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

There is said to be an old Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times. As I wrap up my year traveling the country as President of the AMA, I can without a doubt say physicians are living – and practicing medicine – in interesting times. This can be a challenge, but does not need to be a curse.

There are …

Physician voices

Baby monitors abuse the vulnerability of parents for profit

Claudia M. Gold, MD

June 9, 2011Jun 9, 20118

Recently I was interviewed by a reporter about the effects of the newest baby monitors on parent-child relationships. A teddy bear with a camera in its nose hooks up to a TV, allowing parents to watch their baby's every move.…

One product called an exmobaby is actually worn against the baby’s skin and measures heart rate and respirations. A CEO of …

Physician voices

Why families and advocacy groups accept the torture of dying patients

Aroop Mangalik, MD

June 9, 2011Jun 9, 201120

by Aroop Mangalik, MD A man has lung cancer that has spread to the brain. The cancer in the brain has been growing despite full dose radiation. His lungs have failed and he has been on a respirator for 10…

by Aroop Mangalik, MD

A man has lung cancer that has spread to the brain. The cancer in the brain has been growing despite full dose radiation. His lungs have failed and he has been on a respirator for 10 days with progressive worsening of lung function.

Despite multiple discussions between the doctors and the Intensive Care Unit’s team …

Physician voices

A doctor’s letter to a patient with newly diagnosed cancer

Dr. Martin Young

June 9, 2011Jun 9, 201133

Dear "Robin," Nothing in my career in medicine has prepared me for being a friend to someone with such a terrible disease. As a doctor I dispense advice on a daily basis, but those interactions remain strangely impersonal. With you,…

Dear “Robin,”

Nothing in my career in medicine has prepared me for being a friend to someone with such a terrible disease. As a doctor I dispense advice on a daily basis, but those interactions remain strangely impersonal. With you, cancer has invaded our inner circle, and we all share your shock and despair.

No one can know exactly what it feels like …

Physician voices

Prices should be readily available to save hospitals money

Happy Hospitalist, MD

June 9, 2011Jun 9, 20116

Hospital costs are out of control. We have an aging population living longer with more complicated presentation of disease. We have an insurance driven platform instead of a health driven accountability. The long term sustainability of that architecture is one…

One way or another hospitals are going to find their lifeline cut off. Medicaid is bankrupt. Hospital profit margins …

Physician voices

Budget cuts to NICU admissions will have a ripple effect

Linda Burke, MD

June 8, 2011Jun 8, 20115

What is wrong with the state of Texas? Have they no heart? Why is it that at the time of fiscal crisis, it’s always the “little” people whose services are eliminated first? The “little” people in this case would be…

What is wrong with the state of Texas? Have they no heart? Why is it that at the time of fiscal crisis, it’s always the “little” people whose services are eliminated first?

The “little” people in this case would be babies who are either born sick or premature. The New York Times article, In Search of Cuts, Health Officials Question NICU Overuse, was shocking. The Texas state officials …

Medical education

What it means to be sick as a medical student

Jessica Gold

June 8, 2011Jun 8, 20116

For the first time since I have been in medical training, I got sick. Not just the kind of sick where its a cold, or you know that its stress, but the kind of sick that does not go away…

For the first time since I have been in medical training, I got sick.

Not just the kind of sick where its a cold, or you know that its stress, but the kind of sick that does not go away and randomly comes up just to make you mad when you just want to have fun (like …

Physician voices

Market demands determine whether to add physicians to a medical practice

Michael D. Shapiro, MD, MBA

June 8, 2011Jun 8, 2011

Regardless of the method of reimbursement, the importance and relevance of increases in local market demand for health care services, such demand being the major economic factor that creates opportunities for business growth, is often under-appreciated by busy physician practices.…

The trigger for adding a physician to a practice is typically either a response to being unable to sustain the current workload with existing personnel or a desire to proactively add …

Conditions and diseases

Adult ADHD and academic performance in college

Emily Gibson, MD

June 8, 2011Jun 8, 201113

‘Twas the week before finals and all through the dorm, few students were sleeping, since Adderall is the norm … What is the state of academic performance and achievement in the age of adult ADHD? Recent media publications feature "neuro-enhancement"…

‘Twas the week before finals and all through the dorm, few students were sleeping, since Adderall is the norm …

What is the state of academic performance and achievement in the age of adult ADHD?

Recent media publications feature “neuro-enhancement” sought by college students and stressed professionals through the use of prescribed and non-prescribed medications, particularly stimulants, to guarantee focus, concentration …

Drugs and prescribing

Cultural attitudes influence the benefit from stem cell therapy

Stephen C. Schimpff, MD

June 8, 2011Jun 8, 20112

Embryonic stem cells are present after a fertilized egg divides for two or three days. They have the seemingly miraculous ability to turn into any of the tissue types in the body—whether brain neurons, beating heart cells, bone, or pancreatic…

Those used in science are …

Patient voices

The nightmare of medical research in the lay press

Doctor Grumpy, MD

June 8, 2011Jun 8, 20118

The World Health Organization recently announced that cell phones "may possibly" cause cancer. Now, I'm neither a researcher or statistician, and personally think the jury is still out on this one. I'm not going to take sides. But here is…

The World Health Organization recently announced that cell phones “may possibly” cause cancer.

Now, I’m neither a researcher or statistician, and personally think the jury is still out on this one. I’m not going to take sides.

But here is what I am pissed off about. Notice that the story said “may possibly” cause cancer. But the way we think, it somehow becomes “does cause cancer,” and so we panic, and hold …

Medical education

Tips for medical students entering intern year

Elizabeth Breuer, MD

June 8, 2011Jun 8, 20112

As intern year winds down and all of the giddy 4th year medical students are shelling out 200 dollars to rent that a robe for one day of pomp and circumstance, all of us interns are impatiently waiting for the…

Having just experienced every single emotion under the psychological rainbow this year, I am going to give a …

Medical education

Students interested in primary care must survive hazing

Anonymous

June 7, 2011Jun 7, 20119

Every one of us who practices family medicine has had to defend our chosen profession against a myriad of antagonists. As mentioned in the post, Family Medicine is a Waste of Your Talent, we are sometimes told that we are…

Every one of us who practices family medicine has had to defend our chosen profession against a myriad of antagonists.

As mentioned in the post, Family Medicine is a Waste of Your Talent, we are sometimes told that we are too smart to pursue family medicine. Other topics range from salary comparisons between specialties to scope of practice. I’ve been told on many occasions that I should …

Conditions and diseases

5 important cancer prevention updates

Therese B. Bevers, MD

June 7, 2011Jun 7, 20113

Most people agree — the best way to beat cancer is to prevent it. What can we do as a nation to help people live healthier lives today so they can avoid cancer tomorrow? Major research findings and policy changes…

Most people agree — the best way to beat cancer is to prevent it. What can we do as a nation to help people live healthier lives today so they can avoid cancer tomorrow?

Major research findings and policy changes are steps in the right direction. Here are some important cancer prevention milestones we’ve reached in the past year.

1. Lung cancer screening is now a reality for selected patients

Smoking causes …

Read more…

5 important cancer prevention updates

Real physician voices, twice a week

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