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The hidden pain behind a smile

Conditions

August 30, 2024

(Trigger warning: suicide attempt)

It was dinner time at this hospital’s psychiatric unit. They shuffled into the dining area—slippers, pajamas, disheveled, sad, lonely, depressed … and forgotten.

Head count. All were present except for one: Rita. Faithful Rita. Always at every therapy session, including poetry therapy, art therapy, and bingo night. Always smiling and laughing, cheering up the other patients. Rita was 54 years old and a mother of three. Her husband …

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The hidden pain behind a smile

Why doctors are afraid to take on insurance giants—and how it hurts patients

Steve Cohen, JD

Conditions

August 30, 2024

Half of my family and many of my friends are doctors. I admire them enormously: they are smarter, work harder, and are more compassionate than any group I know. Yet sadly, they are all wimps. Despite non-stop carping about the dangers and cost of health insurers’ prior authorization machinations, not a single one is willing to step up and take on an insurance company.

Of course, I understand why: doctors’ incomes …

Why every physician is a leader

Leon Moores, MD

Physician

August 30, 2024

An excerpt from All Physicians Lead: Redefining Physician Leadership for Better Patient Outcomes.

I Googled the term “physician leadership” and got 183,000,000 hits in 0.45 seconds. There are seemingly endless courses and programs devoted to developing physician leadership, and there’s no shortage of attention to the topic.

Almost uniformly, however, the books and courses approach the topic from a similar angle. Physician leadership is often viewed as something that occurs when …

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Why every physician is a leader

The unspoken emotional toll of trauma surgery: a medical student’s journey

Ariel B. Brown

Conditions

August 30, 2024

It’s one thing to choose a career dedicated to saving lives; it’s another altogether to confront the harsh reality of death. As a third-year medical student, my trauma surgery rotation highlighted that distinction. For all the patients we saved, there were also those who, despite the team’s best efforts, succumbed to their injuries amidst trauma activations. The protocol for a patient’s death in the trauma bay was always followed to …

From refusal to acceptance: a journey of trust in vaccination [PODCAST]

American College of Physicians & The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 29, 2024

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

Join us in this episode as we dive into the powerful story of “Max,” a patient who steadfastly refused all vaccines despite his well-controlled HIV infection. Through persistence, respect, and trust, our guest …

When corporate hospitals cause real harm

Laura Buchman, MBA

Conditions

August 29, 2024

When patients go to the hospital seeking help, they are vulnerable and fully trusting of the modern hospital system to do only what is needed and nothing more. And with good reason—patients are well aware of the incredible sacrifices doctors have made, including the oath to do no harm, and their passion to save lives. What is less known by patients is the fee-for-service model of health care that awaits …

How AI is reshaping the anesthesia workforce

Martin Nowak, MHA & Matthew Sherrer, MD

Tech

August 29, 2024

“Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature’s inexorable imperative.”
– H. G. Wells, 1945

Many anesthesia professionals will likely recall the rise and fall of the Sedasys platform. Touted as a revolutionary advancement that would one day put anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists “out of work,” the Sedasys computerized propofol-infusion platform predictably generated a fierce response from anesthesia professional societies who deemed it dangerous, off-label, and fraught with medicolegal liability. Sedasys …

The progression of women’s health issues in the workplace from menstruation to menopause

Stephanie Chan and Alopi Patel, MD

Physician

August 29, 2024

It was recently circulated on social media that flamingos are known to lose their bright pink hue in times of adversity, such as when raising their young. This is due to the tremendous energy it takes to nourish their young flaminglets, often at the sake of their own wellbeing. Similarly, women lose their metaphorical bright “pink” during …

A family medicine playbook to earn a million dollars [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 28, 2024

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

Join us on this episode as we talk with Tod Stillson, a family physician and entrepreneur, who has successfully transitioned from traditional employment to becoming a high-earning independent contractor. Tod shares his journey, …

Embracing data-driven solutions to prevent falls

Christine Gall, DrPH

Conditions

August 28, 2024

Released in 2000, the landmark report “To Err is Human” aimed to transform patient safety by highlighting the prevalence of medical errors and their devastating impact. The report underscored various issues, including medication errors, falls, and surgical complications, garnering widespread attention and spurring significant improvements in certain areas of patient safety. As a result of this increased focus, tools like the World Health Organization’s Surgical Safety …

The dark psychology of medical con-men

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Conditions

August 28, 2024

Paolo Macchiarini, MD, is a thoracic surgeon and regenerative medicine researcher who gained international fame for pioneering surgeries that involved implanting synthetic tracheas seeded with the patient’s own stem cells. However, Macchiarini’s career came to a halt when allegations of scientific misconduct, ethical breaches, and fraudulent practices surfaced. Several of his patients experienced severe complications, and some died as a result of his experimental surgeries. Investigations revealed that Macchiarini …

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The dark psychology of medical con-men

Why surgeons are superstitious [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 27, 2024

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

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of rituals and superstitions in surgery with Carmen Fong, a colorectal surgeon. Discover how these seemingly irrational practices impact surgeon performance, confidence, and patient …

Are e-cigarettes harming your reproductive health?

Oluyemisi Famuyiwa, MD

Conditions

August 27, 2024

In recent years, e-cigarettes have emerged as a popular alternative to traditional cigarettes, often marketed as a safer choice. However, accumulating evidence reveals that e-cigarettes pose significant risks, particularly to reproductive health. This concern is especially urgent given the ongoing decline in fertility rates across the United States, which have reached historic lows in recent years. As a reproductive specialist, I find it crucial to address these risks and emphasize …

How lifestyle medicine can change your life

Dr. Farees Ahmad Khan & Dr. Sarah Alnaher

Physician

August 27, 2024

You read many articles and watch countless videos online where life coaches offer advice on how to fix your life. This might seem like one of those boring articles. Well—I hope not! Maybe just a little … but stick with me.

Today, I want to discuss a relatively new branch of medicine called lifestyle medicine. Lifestyle medicine focuses on everyday practices that can both prevent and cure many chronic illnesses, sparing …

Why we need to stop blaming people for their diabetes

Sonia Yung

Conditions

August 27, 2024

“You brought this on yourself with poor eating habits and bad lifestyle choices.”

If you or someone you know has diabetes, you have likely heard this harmful misconception or even thought it yourself.

While the federal government’s proposed pharmacare legislation has spotlighted diabetes—with diabetes medications to be among the first prescriptions included in a new national pharmacare plan—erroneous assumptions and negative judgments about the condition persist.

It is time that we erased the …

A doctor’s guide to healing from within [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 26, 2024

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

We sit down with Scott Abramson, a retired neurologist with over 40 years of experience, to discuss the pervasive issue of physician burnout and moral injury. Scott shares his insights on the external …

Closing the colorectal cancer screening gap: the need for clear guidance on the use of new screening options

Dominique E. Howard, MD

Conditions

August 26, 2024

As a practicing gastroenterologist, I never want to say to a patient: “You have advanced colon cancer.” Just last week, I discovered an early colon cancer in an asymptomatic patient who was referred to me after a positive result on a non-invasive multi-target stool DNA test. The patient was grateful we caught it and recognized that if it was not for that positive test, she was hesitant to have a …

Is skin really the largest organ? The truth might surprise you.

Richard D. Sontheimer, MD

Conditions

August 26, 2024

While driving to work one morning, I heard a radio commercial for a men’s fragrance product. In that commercial, the male actor boldly stated that “the skin is the largest organ.” Additionally, I had heard or read this same statement several times earlier that same week.

Dictionaries define dictum (synonyms: saying, proverb, maxim, aphorism) as a formal pronouncement from an authoritative source or a short, pithy expression identified with a particular …

Latest advancements in inflatable penile implants: a men’s health urologist’s perspective

Justin Houman, MD

Conditions

August 26, 2024

As a man, the idea of worsening erectile function as we age is quite daunting. Although Viagra and Cialis provide relief for many, there are many more who do not respond well to these medications. In these situations, the inflatable penile implant is a valuable option for addressing erectile dysfunction.

As a urologist dedicated to improving the quality of life for men dealing with erectile dysfunction (ED), I have witnessed remarkable …

A medical student’s transformative encounter with end-of-life care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 25, 2024

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

We sit down with Ellie Qian, a medical student, to discuss the profound experiences that shape the journey of becoming a compassionate health care professional. Ellie shares a transformative encounter from her first …

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