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The rise of at-home medical tests: Can the hype meet our health care needs?

Aneesha Dhargalkar, MD and Deanna Lernihan, MPH

Physician

August 17, 2024

Recent news feeds are packed with consumer tips for navigating the abundance of at-home medical tests. Within the past month, Healthline, Fortune, Self Magazine, and the New York Times, to name a few, have published articles on “best of” medical tests for a range of health conditions, from herpes and HIV to COVID-19 and thyroid function.

At-home medical tests are a booming market, expected to reach …

The surprising secret to success in medical school

Madison Garlock

Education

August 17, 2024

I never thought I would make it to medical school. I stumbled upon pre-med while walking down the halls, late to my 8:00 a.m. art class because weightlifting went longer than expected. I was on the university soccer team, and my schedule already felt overwhelming. When I got the call, I was on a hike with my dad and husband. “Congratulations Madison, you have been accepted!” I couldn’t believe it. …

AI and empathy: Transforming cancer patient support [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 16, 2024

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

Join us in this insightful episode as we sit down with Isabelle Tran, a medical student and writer, to explore the intersection of technology and health. Inspired by her poem “AI Ally,” Isabelle …

Adopting technology to support the nurse workforce and provide smarter, safer care delivery

Ann-Louise Puopolo, BSN, RN

Tech

August 16, 2024

The U.S. health care industry is facing a nursing shortage crisis driven in part by burnout and technology burden, which was further emphasized by the COVID-19 pandemic. To improve working conditions for nurses and drive quality patient care, industry leaders must prioritize implementing technologies that support the nursing workforce and care delivery.

I practiced earlier in my career as a critical care nurse at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital. From this …

Unlock your child’s potential: the power of nurturing hidden talents

Dr. Farees Ahmad Khan

Conditions

August 16, 2024

What do you do to make your child confident? Do you tell them that they are amazing? Do you say that they are smart? Do they believe you?

Today, I am going to share the story of an autistic child who was brought to the doctor after a severe mental breakdown at school. His school had completely given up on him; they asked his parents to transfer him to another school …

The surprising truth about where intimacy really begins

Diana Londoño, MD

Conditions

August 16, 2024

Intimacy starts outside the bedroom. Most people think intimacy occurs inside, but it seems to me this could not be farther from the truth.

Intimacy is a taboo topic in our society. I am not referring to only physical intimacy but also emotional and spiritual. For some reason, it makes us uncomfortable; it rattles us.

Intimacy is about honesty, love, and connection. It starts with connection, but the other pillars are essential.

Our …

Why curing baldness remains as elusive as putting a man on the moon

John C. Hagan III, MD

Physician

August 16, 2024

If they can put a man on the moon, why can’t they cure male pattern baldness? It’s not easy being bald. In winter, you freeze; in summer, you burn. New follicles never “spring” up, and hair continues to “fall.” That pretty much describes the seasons of my discontent.

You would think that at age 80, I would have come to grips with my shiny dome. After all, I had the highest …

Compensation for mentoring residents [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 15, 2024

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Join us as we delve into the evolving landscape of physician employment agreements with Dennis Hursh, an attorney. Discover the significance of the new Individual Specialty Residency Program Agreements that compensate physicians for …

How physicians can learn to love their private medical practice

Curtis G. Graham, MD

Finance

August 15, 2024

Having an ambitious understanding that small private medical practice businesses are the “belt and suspenders” that enable your medical career to approach your elite expectations for your medical career success is only part of your drive toward an illustrious medical career.

Your medical training, knowledge, and skills are how you grow, expand, maintain, and earn income. Physicians have struggled for decades to weave these two pillars into a highly functional, well-oiled, …

Stop physician burnout: the hidden danger of AI note-writing software

Dike Drummond, MD

Tech

August 15, 2024

AI note-writing software will provide massive short-term relief to stressed-out physicians, effectively disconnecting the quality of notes from personal data entry skills. Unfortunately, after a brief respite from the stress of documentation, things could worsen.

The first EMR software was implemented in the early 2000s. The increased stress of digital documentation caused physician burnout rates to jump by 20 percent. Every study conducted since that time has identified documentation burden as …

From devotion to despair: a teacher’s fight against glioblastoma

Dr. Damane Zehra

Conditions

August 15, 2024

He was only 31 years old. He had a beard and was a very tall and incredibly handsome man. He was a teacher who used to teach the Holy Quran to young children in a faraway village in Punjab. He used to offer his prayers regularly. He did not go to school or college but was a productive member of society. He worked at a tailor shop and used to …

How to rewire your brain with positive language

Faust Ruggiero

Conditions

August 15, 2024

Language is a powerful internal influencer. You use language to communicate with yourself, just as you do with others. Language is the byproduct of what you think and helps create, define, and redefine the way you think. An angry person is more likely to have negative thoughts. If your internal language is negative about yourself, the people in your life, or your environment, you may come to believe what you …

Challenging the legal barriers of cross-state telemedicine [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 14, 2024

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Join radiation oncologists Shannon MacDonald and Sean McBride as they delve into the evolving landscape of telemedicine in oncology. They discuss the significant improvements telemedicine brought during the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges and …

Mediterranean diet boosts teen academic success

Marc Arginteanu, MD

Conditions

August 14, 2024

In 2024, Chilean scientists reported their findings on interesting research. They investigated the correlation between adolescent academic achievement and eating style. The researchers studied over a thousand kids between the ages of ten and fourteen.

A portion of the kids enjoyed a balanced and healthy Mediterranean diet. When they used oil, it was most likely extra-virgin olive oil. They packed their plates with boatloads of vegetables, fruits, cereals, nuts, and …

From conviction to appeal: a doctor’s opioid case sparks debate

L. Joseph Parker, MD

Meds

August 14, 2024

A doctor in Virginia named Joel Smithers was serving a 40-year sentence in an Atlanta prison when he won his appeal to the 4th Circuit. No, he didn’t shoot someone. That’s probably 25 years. He treated patients in pain. Now, he will get a new trial where he will be bludgeoned again with false metrics and innuendo. To ensure that the benefit of the doubt prevails, a Reuters article starts …

A night of stars: Finding solace in the vastness of the sea

Michael J. Collins, MD

Physician

August 14, 2024

An excerpt from The Shieling.

The sun had set an hour earlier, but the light in the western sky lingered, as if nature itself couldn’t bear the thought of ending such a beautiful day. David stood on the shore, waiting until the last bit of light had faded away leaving a dark, moonless night with not a breath of wind, not a ripple on the smooth surface of the silent …

Inside the hidden world of sham peer reviews in medicine [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 13, 2024

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

Join us for a conversation with Tracey O’Connell, a radiologist and physician coach, as we explore the hidden challenges within the medical profession. In this episode, we delve into the unsettling experience of …

Breaking barriers: the urgent need for disability inclusion in medicine

Dr. Dinesh B. Palipana

Physician

August 13, 2024

Diversity and inclusion—we talk about them. Some organizations have targets. Some even have communication campaigns on them. Yet, in medicine, like many other professions, we lag. According to American Medical Colleges (AAMC) data, “Only about 3 percent of doctors in the United States have a disability.” As an emergency department doctor with a spinal cord injury who uses a wheelchair, this data is thought-provoking.

Why are we not moving the …

Prevent youth suicide: essential steps for parents to secure their home

Shivana Naidoo, MD

Conditions

August 13, 2024

This blog contains information about youth suicide which may be triggering for some readers. If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal ideations, please seek attention from your own medical provider, call 988, or text 741741 for guidance and professional support.

As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, I spent a fair share of my day speaking to parents about suicide prevention. Oftentimes, when a parent is thinking about how to …

The heartbreaking decision that taught me the power of boundaries

Laura Suttin, MD, MBA

Physician

August 13, 2024

Many years ago, our family rescue dog’s health began to decline quickly. He was around thirteen years old at the time, so we knew the end was coming soon. If you’ve ever experienced an aging pet, you know how extremely difficult it is to make the decision to say goodbye. To add to the difficulty, I felt like I was making the decision alone since my divorce. I had a …

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