Ultrasound shows promise as new pain treatment, targeting a specific brain region

Conditions
March 6, 2024

A recent study published in PhysicsWorld documented a possible new treatment for pain. Something most physicians would be surprised to hear. Ultrasound. That’s right, low-frequency ultrasound waves, when directed to a specific area of the brain called the insula, have been shown to give some pain relief to persons who were being subjected to a standard contact heat evoked potential (CHEP). In this test, brief pulses of heat are …

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Reconsidering love: a multifaceted approach to marriage

Physician
March 6, 2024

Over the years, I’ve fervently professed my love to my wife of 18 years, believing her to be the most beautiful soul in my life and our bond unbreakable. While this holds true, recent experiences have prompted me to reconsider the notion that love alone sustains a marriage.

This reflection stemmed from a couple we encountered in Upstate New York years ago. Obi (not his real name) and his wife seemed …

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Inside the heart of a hospital: love, loss, and resilience

Physician
March 6, 2024

“Airports have seen more sincere kisses than wedding halls and the walls of hospitals have heard more prayers than the walls of churches.” – Anonymous

It’s 1 a.m. in the night. I am on call duty, which starts at 8:30 a.m. in the morning and ends at 10 a.m. the next day. I finished entering the labs and doing my final tasks at approximately 12:30 a.m. Then I ordered some food …

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Claiming and managing doctor listings: Avoid patient loss after job change [PODCAST]

Podcast
March 5, 2024
YouTube video

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We sit down with Marita McCahill, founder of a consulting firm specializing in health care growth strategy. We delve into the importance of managing your online presence as a health care provider, particularly …

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Why you (and your patients) should have a mindfulness practice

Conditions
March 5, 2024

Nobody can question the fact that the world has a mental health problem. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in the medical health profession. American Medical Association statistics show that in 2021, physician burnout rates were 63 percent, which was almost double the rates in 2020. The CDC reports that 1 out of every five adults suffer from a mental health disease. If medications and psychotherapy are standard treatments, we …

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Integrated coaching for medical residents

Physician
March 5, 2024

Residency program directors and preceptors are responsible for shaping the next wave of medical professionals. Beyond ensuring adequate clinical training, they must equip future doctors with the skills to navigate the complexities of modern medicine. Coaching has recently emerged as a prominent method of supporting trainees. As a physician interested in evidence-based leadership practices, my search brought me to integrated coaching as a noteworthy approach.

Integrated coaching is a comprehensive toolkit …

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2024 technology trends to revolutionize the field of oncology

Tech
March 5, 2024

Between interest rates reaching their highest levels in 15 years and the explosion of artificial intelligence (AI), 2023 was a year filled with both challenges and opportunities for those of us in the health care technology industry. For better or worse, many of those same trends are following us into 2024. Obstacles such as the worsening clinician shortage and innovations such as the adoption of AI will remain top-of-mind for …

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A Surgeon’s Knot: the realities of a surgical internship [PODCAST]

Podcast
March 4, 2024
YouTube video

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We sit down with William Lynes, a urologist and author of A Surgeon’s Knot, as we delve into the captivating narrative of the highs and lows of a surgical internship. Join us as …

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My journey through the parable of American health care

Physician
March 4, 2024

The parable of the Chinese farmer is a story with many versions. In shorthand, it goes something like this: a farmer’s horse escapes – the neighbors say, “How terrible!” The farmer says, “Maybe.” The horse returns, bringing some wild horses with it. The neighbors say, “How wonderful!” The farmer says, “Maybe.” The farmer’s son falls off one of the wild horses while trying to tame it and breaks his leg. …

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Honoring our trusted family physician

Physician
March 4, 2024

As a family doctor, I want to extend my gratitude to my colleague and friend who has transitioned from primary care to weight management as of January 1, 2024. This serves as a reminder that primary care thrives on heartfelt connections, which remain fundamental to our approach to health care.

Your consistent care is already missed in these first few months of 2024. I am so grateful for your years of …

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Did you know that colder weather can complicate blood pressure control rates and treatment?

Conditions
March 4, 2024

Next time you hear “cuffing season,” think of blood pressure cuffs. As winter has properly set in with shorter, darker, colder days, you might see the impact on blood pressure control rates.

A new study examined the health records of more than 68,000 adults being treated for hypertension and found that on a population level, BP control rates decreased by up to 5 percent during the winter months …

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Is there a place for audiovisual recording in medicine?

Physician
March 4, 2024

Some years ago, I came across a very useful little device – a thumb (flash) drive that also had the ability to record sound. It powered up simply by being slotted into a USB port. Inserting the drive did not raise any suspicion that I was recording.

Sometimes I used this overtly, such as when obtaining informed consent or giving instructions that were vital to be followed.

Rarely I would use it …

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From paralysis to possibility: an unexpected awakening [PODCAST]

Podcast
March 3, 2024
YouTube video

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

Join us as we sit down with Olivia Ong, a pain and rehabilitation medicine physician based in Australia, as she opens up about her incredible journey of resilience and self-discovery. In 2008, Olivia …

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Confronting the damaging hierarchy in graduate medical education

Education
March 3, 2024

Although I have a deep respect for everyone who contributes to the education of our next generation of physicians, I also feel that the current hierarchy in graduate medical education is damaging U.S. health care. That is, the best students go to the best residency programs and get the best jobs and subsequently teach the best students, and so on, creating highly respected centers of excellence. That’s wonderful, but how …

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Medical debt-driven homelessness

Physician
March 3, 2024

The fictional 2007 television story depicting the plight of a widow with two daughters who, as a family, became homeless due to medical debt incurred during her since-deceased husband’s health care, is an eye-opener and heartbreaking. However, nowadays, the fact is emulating that fiction when statistics of homelessness risk due to medical debt are bewildering and shocking.

As compared to credit card debt, where buyers can at least gauge the maximum …

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Physician-led health care transformation: Debunking myths

Physician
March 3, 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern health care, physicians often grapple with myths and misconceptions that can hinder our ability to provide the best possible care to our patients. As we stand at the precipice of change in 2023, it’s vital to confront these fallacies with courage, humility, and self-awareness. The path to a better health care system is paved with the stones of truth found in the counterpoints to …

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Tax tips for employed doctors [PODCAST]

Podcast
March 2, 2024
YouTube video

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

Join Tod Stillson, a family physician and entrepreneur, as he navigates the intricacies of tax planning and financial well-being for employed doctors. Tod provides valuable insights on transitioning from a traditional W-2 employee …

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Breaking free from sugar addiction: Why cold turkey doesn’t work

Conditions
March 2, 2024

We know how dangerous sugar can be to our health. Excess sugar intake has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even our immune system health. But giving it up is easier said than done. One question that people often have is, “Do I have to completely give up sugar, like, all of it? Cold turkey?” The answer is: nope! For most people, systematically identifying, replacing, and reducing sugar in …

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When this doctor gets a zero star rating

Physician
March 2, 2024

I can’t stop thinking about “customer satisfaction,” which is weird because I don’t actually have customers. I’m a primary care doctor for a group of patients in Martinsburg, WV, and have done so for almost twenty years. At its core, my job is the opposite of having it your way, like I’m told you can do at Burger King.

I don’t sell anything in my office except, perhaps, the benefits of …

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Telemedicine’s impact on lifespan and cancer eradication

Tech
March 2, 2024

Forty years ago when I first started in medicine, there were no CT scans or MRIs. In the next forty years, I foresee cancer as an illness of the past, and life expectancy will be over one hundred years old.

Scientific advancements will push medicine ahead, improving quality of life in increments, slowly taking two steps forward and one step back. The pandemic caused us to take one step back, but …

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