Medical marijuana has doctors asking questions

Medications
February 19, 2010

Originally published in HCPLive.com

In January, New Jersey became the 14th state in the nation to legalize marijuana use for certain chronic illnesses. Other states where the use of medical marijuana is permitted include Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington; around a dozen more states are weighing pending bills.

The New Jersey …

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Medical marijuana has doctors asking questions

Laparoscopic procedures injure the surgeons that perform them

Physician
February 19, 2010

Originally published in MedPage Today

by John Gever, MedPage Today Senior Editor

Four out of five surgeons agree: Laparoscopic procedures cause substantial discomfort and pain for the surgeons who perform them.

More than 80% of surgeons completing an online questionnaire reported pain or stiffness in the hands, neck, back, or legs after performing minimally invasive surgeries, according to Adrian Park, MD, of the …

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Laparoscopic procedures injure the surgeons that perform them

ACP: Resident work hours – Managing a precarious balance

Medical Education
February 18, 2010

The following is part of a series of original guest columns by the American College of Physicians.

by Steven Weinberger, MD, FACP

In December 2008 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its report entitled “Resident Duty Hours: Enhancing Sleep, Supervision, and Safety,” in which it proposed a number of changes to the current regulations developed and enforced by the …

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ACP: Resident work hours – Managing a precarious balance

Texting and cell phone use are becoming more common in hospitals

Physician
February 18, 2010

The cell-phone is a wonderful device. Even I, somewhat Luddite about certain technologies, find it delightfully useful for things like calling my wife when I lose the grocery list, calling my wife for directions and calling my wife to remind me of what I was supposed to be doing. I’m not really a fan of texting, though my wife and oldest son seem to communicate that way quite effectively. It’s …

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Texting and cell phone use are becoming more common in hospitals

Treating ADHD may not improve kids’ school grades

Conditions and Diseases
February 18, 2010

Originally published in MedPage Today

by Kristina Fiore, MedPage Today Staff Writer

Adhering to guidelines when treating children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) relieved symptoms but had no effect on kids’ performance in school or in their relationships with others, researchers found.

Although parents and teachers noted significant improvements in symptoms among ADHD kids (P<0.001) in a special treatment program, there …

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Treating ADHD may not improve kids’ school grades

HIMSS 2010 Better Health social media coverage

Potpourri
February 18, 2010

This year, the Better Health team will be offering live coverage of healthcare’s largest tech conference: HIMSS in Atlanta, March 1-4.

Three medical bloggers, Dr. Val Jones, Dr. Mike Sevilla, and Dr. Nick Genes will interview over 40 different exhibitors and stream their interviews live via UStream.

You can ask questions of the interviewees by submitting questions to @drval during …

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HIMSS 2010 Better Health social media coverage

Treating atrial fibrillation with catheter ablation on TV may not be ethical

Conditions and Diseases
February 17, 2010

Mauricio Arruda performed a live atrial fibrillation ablation at University Hospitals in Cleveland on the Today Show recently.

The 6-minute segment was relentlessly upbeat. The TV producers pulled every trick in the book to overcome the inherent difficulty of portraying a hard-to-explain disease like atrial fibrillation and an even harder-to-explain procedure like catheter ablation. Instead of making any effort to truly educate their viewers, the producers took the easy …

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Treating atrial fibrillation with catheter ablation on TV may not be ethical

Magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for persistent vegetative state

Conditions and Diseases
February 17, 2010

Originally published in MedPage Today

by Michael Smith, MedPage Today North American Correspondent

Researchers in England are reporting they have been able to establish limited communication with a man in a persistent vegetative state by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

The 34-year-old man was able to answer simple Yes or No questions by imagining different types of activity, which caused changes …

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Magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for persistent vegetative state

Don’t fall into the dementia trap when treating a developmental disability

Conditions and Diseases
February 16, 2010

by Lockup Doc

In addition to correctional psychiatry, I spend about half of my professional time treating patients with developmental and intellectual disabilities (mental retardation). The majority of my patients have severe or profound mental retardation and are completely nonverbal.

Over the years I have observed that when many of them are admitted to the hospital for acute medical or surgical problems, because they are severely cognitively and functionally impaired, they are …

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Don’t fall into the dementia trap when treating a developmental disability

How to better notify patients of their abnormal test results

Patient
February 16, 2010

I just returned from vacation to find email messages from three patients inquiring about their recent test results.

The first email was from a young man who had fainted and underwent Holter monitoring, a test that checks for abnormal heart rhythms. The second was from a woman I recently started on cholesterol-modifying therapy who wanted to know whether her recent blood work showed a satisfactory improvement in her cholesterol. The third …

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How to better notify patients of their abnormal test results

Why is President Obama ignoring the doctors when it comes to health reform?

Health Policy
February 15, 2010

by Ernesto Gutierrez, MD

There is a lot of discussion about what Obama did right and wrong in managing the politics of passing health insurance reform. What strikes me as the most obvious is the failure to engage physicians. Sure there was support from the AMA, ACP, and AAFP, but the support was lukewarm at best. The position letters sent out to society members outlining their support seemed forced …

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Why is President Obama ignoring the doctors when it comes to health reform?

Why The Biggest Loser uses CT scans to help contestants lose weight

Conditions and Diseases
February 15, 2010

Originally published in MedPage Today

by Cole Petrochko

The train wreck has become an integral part of reality TV programming, and that’s terrible. As much as I’ve learned on the internet about the “Snooki Punch” fiasco from MTV’s Jersey Shore, there’s little to watching a household of adults thrown together under a wacky premise turn into overgrown, throat-seeking children under lights and a camera, except on the one-season CBS show Kid …

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Why The Biggest Loser uses CT scans to help contestants lose weight

What should free health care to members of Congress be called?

Health Policy
February 14, 2010

Originally published in MedPage Today

by Charles Bankhead

Recently, I learned that members of Congress have their very own medical clinic. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised. Being a member of Congress is a tough job, filled with stress and posturing and righteous indignation. I know that if I had to decide whether to spend tax money on a Bridge to Nowhere or a pet airport that has flights to …

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What should free health care to members of Congress be called?

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How alternative and herbal medications can have dangerous side effects

Medications
February 13, 2010

Originally published in MedPage Today

by John Gever, MedPage Today Senior Editor

Herbal medicines are not always the harmless nostrums that many patients and even some physicians think, but may actually contribute to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, researchers warned in a review covering 44 years of research into the subject.

Many such products, including aloe vera, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, and green tea, can …

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How alternative and herbal medications can have dangerous side effects

Op-ed: Social media can enhance the doctor-patient relationship

Social Media in Medicine
February 13, 2010

A version of this op-ed was published on January 27th, 2010 in the USA Today.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever left a physician’s office without fully understanding what the doctor just told you.

Studies show that half of patients admit to not understanding what their doctor told them during an office visit; and more than 75% of emergency room patients acknowledge not fully grasping instructions given to them.

As a primary …

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Op-ed: Social media can enhance the doctor-patient relationship

How overly aggressive cancer awareness can backfire

Conditions and Diseases
February 12, 2010

The American Cancer Society has designated this weekend “Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend,” as part of the annual Coaches vs. Cancer program that will feature well-dressed basketball coaches wearing “sneakers instead of dress shoes with their usual game attire during weekend games to demonstrate their support for the Society and the fight against cancer.” The idea is to encourage people to exercise and eat a healthy diet to reduce their …

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How overly aggressive cancer awareness can backfire

Thoughts from a doctor attending a patient funeral

Patient
February 12, 2010

On the way to the funeral you wonder how you’ll be received by the grieving. Although you are confident that your care for the deceased was sincere, professional, and adept, you still question if others will so assume. There is silence in the car. This is a trip you make alone.

You manage a bitter smile as you recall stories the patient shared in unguarded moments, behind the door of a …

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Thoughts from a doctor attending a patient funeral

Neuroscience explains why changing addictive behavior is so difficult

Conditions and Diseases
February 12, 2010

Originally published in MedPage Today

by Kristina Fiore, MedPage Today Staff Writer

By the end of January, many New Year’s resolutions have been tossed out with the leftover holiday cookies. That’s because change is hard — and neuroscientists are learning why.

Advances in neuroimaging have enabled researchers to peer inside the brains of addicts and patients with addictive behaviors. They can see in …

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Neuroscience explains why changing addictive behavior is so difficult

Why Haiti disaster relief efforts cannot be applied domestically

Social Media in Medicine
February 11, 2010

Like most people, I’ve found the news and images coming from Haiti in the aftermath of the January’s earthquake appalling and upsetting.

The sheer amount of devastation and orders of magnitude loss of life make the story compelling by itself. Coupled on top of Haiti’s ignominious history, the situation touches us for its Job-like quality: ”How much misery can one people withstand?”

I’ve been pleased at the outpouring of support for Haiti. …

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Why Haiti disaster relief efforts cannot be applied domestically

AMA: Why patients should care about fixing the Medicare physician payment cut

Health Policy
February 11, 2010

The following is part of a series of original guest columns by the American Medical Association.

by J. James Rohack, MD

Prominently displayed at the top of the AMA’s Web site this week is a “countdown clock” to this year’s 21 percent Medicare physician payment cut, which will hurt physicians ability to care for all Medicare and …

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AMA: Why patients should care about fixing the Medicare physician payment cut

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