From ICU to kidney mass: a nurse’s journey of fear

Conditions
December 6, 2023

After 32 years working as an ICU nurse, I believed I had developed a strong capacity to confront death alongside my patients. I had become accustomed to the challenging scenarios: co-morbidities, multi-system organ failure, emergency intubations, ventilators, pressors, central lines, art lines, failure-to-thrive cases, code blues, and the grim sounds of ribs cracking during CPR.

It was not uncommon to witness families desperately shouting, “Do everything,” even when there was little …

Read more…

Physician well-being: Overcoming administrative hurdles

Policy
December 6, 2023

Representatives of a battered and stressed Canadian medical profession gathered in Montreal and virtually last week for the 7th annual Canadian Conference on Physician Health (CCPH) – the first such meeting in four years and the largest to date. One of the main pain points identified as facing individual physicians is the burden of administrative work, and this was the focus of a special cross-border plenary session featuring Canadian Medical …

Read more…

Depression treatment with ketamine and SSRIs [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 5, 2023
YouTube video

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

Join L. Joseph Parker, a research physician, as we explore the intricacies of depression treatment. We’ll delve into the prevailing theories about serotonin, the delayed effects of SSRIs and SNRIs, and the emerging neuroplastic theory of depression. …

Read more…

Escape diagnostic rabbit holes with Markov chains

Physician
December 5, 2023

If you find yourself heading down a rabbit hole pursuing a diagnosis, consider using a Markov chain to get back out. No, it’s not a physical chain. It’s a metaphorical chain.

In mathematics, statistics, and research, a Markov chain is a series of branching events where the options of what comes next at each branch point are not limited by what happened at a previous branch point. That is, each step …

Read more…

Health care’s hidden problem: hospital primary care losses

Policy
December 5, 2023

Health care is constantly evolving, and it’s no secret that many hospitals are bleeding money when it comes to their primary care practices. On the low end, a hospital loses $127,000 per year on a primary care physician. Anecdotally, a rural hospital in Indiana expressed that they lose nearly $500,000 per year!

Headlines are filled with stories about rural hospitals (& many others) struggling to keep their …

Read more…

Navigating physician shortages in rural communities

Physician
December 5, 2023

In the rural area where I practice, two general surgeons recently retired, a medical oncologist moved out of the community, and two urologists left over a year ago. My patients with cancer are left wondering who will care for them. And this small community is not alone. An aging physician population, burnout, and understaffing of other health care workers all contribute to rising rates of physicians moving and leaving communities.

One …

Read more…

Coping with grief in health care [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 4, 2023
YouTube video

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

Join Natalya Beneschott, a pediatric infectious disease fellow, as she shares her personal experience and insights on coping with the lasting impact of a patient’s death, the challenges medical professionals face in processing grief, and the importance …

Read more…

Kintsugi: Embracing brokenness and empathy

Physician
December 4, 2023

In the Japanese tradition of kintsugi, broken things are repaired with gold joinery. The repaired object is even lovelier than the original. The breakage and repair become an acknowledged part of the object’s history. The scars and wounds are cherished rather than disguised. What a beautiful reminder to harness the powers of darkness and light that exist within us and the world.

In the book, Born for Love: Why Empathy …

Read more…

The synergy of AI and human intelligence in transforming health care

Tech
December 4, 2023

The health care industry is witnessing a transformative phase with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data and provide predictive insights is revolutionizing medical diagnostics and patient care. AI’s precision is invaluable in diagnosing and managing kidney disease, offering both speed and accuracy in analyzing patient data.

Unleashing the power of data

A major challenge …

Read more…

Intravenous immunoglobulin for gastroparesis: What happened to me

Conditions
December 4, 2023

Six months after being diagnosed with gastroparesis, I underwent experimental intravenous immunoglobulin treatment. What is often considered a wonder drug, with the ability to treat hundreds of rare illnesses, resulted in the worst experience of my life. I suspect that I developed aseptic meningitis, feeling like I had brain-damaged myself.

What is intravenous immunoglobulin?

Immunoglobulin is found in plasma, which is a part of your blood. It contains antibodies that help you …

Read more…

Physicians turn feelings of frustration and powerlessness into purpose and hope

Physician
December 4, 2023

Every physician has a story to tell, about their medical training, about their clinical work. Every story is unique. Simultaneously, there are common shared themes about the joys and the difficulties. These experiences are universal, regardless of gender, specialty, or geographic location.

I asked two physicians, a female ER doctor on the East Coast in the U.S., and a male trauma-informed physician-coach in the U.K., to tell us how their experiences …

Read more…

AI and the patient-physician relationship [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 3, 2023
YouTube video

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

We sit down with guest Andrew Wilner, a neurologist, to explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on medicine. Join us as we discuss how AI is changing the role of health care professionals, the tasks it …

Read more…

ADVERTISEMENT

From fishing licenses to gun control

Policy
December 3, 2023

My son’s favorite thing to do is fish. I bought him a brand-new Mickey the Mouse fishing pole and a tackle box for his birthday. His favorite spot was on a small inland lake in a state park. On the bank of the lake, we would fish underneath a large cottonwood tree decorated with bobbers and lures that had become snagged in the branches.

The tree was tall and old and …

Read more…

3 key things to do before year end to reduce taxes

Finance
December 3, 2023

As the year draws to a close, it is important that we maximize our opportunities to reduce our taxes. Let’s explore three essential moves that doctors should consider before the tax year concludes to reduce their tax liabilities.

1. Contribute to tax-advantaged retirement accounts.

One of the most effective ways for doctors to reduce their taxable income is by contributing to tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Not only does this help build a secure …

Read more…

How the NFL offers a window into health care solutions for our country

Policy
December 3, 2023

The NFL season is now in full swing, with TV screens ablaze in households across the nation, eyes glued to an elliptically-shaped ball being thrown and kicked far distances. This reminds me of an incredibly rare case that happened to a male patient I saw in the ER many years ago, whose right testicle had jumped into his abdomen after he lost control of his motorcycle on the highway. My …

Read more…

How generative AI will upend the doctor-patient relationship

Tech
December 3, 2023

After decades of “doctor knows best,” the traditional physician-patient relationship is on the verge of a monumental shift. Generative AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Bard, and Microsoft’s Bing are poised to give people significantly more power and control—not just over their personal lives and professional tasks but over their own medical health, as well.

As these tools become exponentially smarter, safer, and more reliable (an estimated Read more…

Intensive caring in palliative care [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 2, 2023
YouTube video

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

Join guest Harvey Max Chochinov, a psychiatrist, as he delves into the profound concept of “intensive caring” in palliative care. Inspired by Dame Cicely Saunders’ powerful quote, “You matter because you are you,” Harvey discusses how this …

Read more…

Narcan: Widening access to overcome opioid overdoses

Meds
December 2, 2023

I often recommend books or podcasts for you when they address timely topics in mental health. The May 4, 2023, episode of The Daily podcast was one such episode that I think you should listen to. On that episode, Jan Hoffman, a health law and affairs reporter for The New York Times, was interviewed about Narcan, its history, current and future use, and how we might all take advantage of …

Read more…

Decoding AI hallucinations in health care: Embracing a new era of medical innovation

Tech
December 2, 2023

The health care landscape is rapidly evolving with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). While AI brings transformative power, it also demands great responsibility, especially in understanding and managing AI hallucinations—a new challenge in health care.

Understanding AI hallucinations

AI hallucinations occur when AI systems produce incorrect or misleading information. These errors can have dire consequences in health care. For instance, imagine an AI …

Read more…

612
pages