Improving health care access for autism and disabilities

Conditions
November 21, 2023

In September 2023, President Biden announced health care provider training, allocating over $8 million through 18 awards to train primary care medical students, physician assistant students, and medical residents in providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care for individuals with limited English proficiency, as well as those with physical or intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Individuals with severe and profound autism deserve special consideration when it comes to accommodating their health care needs, …

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The complexity of resilience and the role of medical improv

Conditions
November 21, 2023

High incidences of burnout, quiet quitting, suicide, workplace violence, excessive and relentless stress, and chronic staffing shortages reveal a huge need for resilience among health care workers. Resilience is a complex competency involving flexibility of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in response to adversity. Adversity, especially when it comes to working in health care, involves individuals and the cultures they work in. We must keep the culture in mind because, as …

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A scientific approach to malpractice defense

Physician
November 21, 2023

There has always been a “fight club” because there have always been medical malpractice lawsuits. They are predicated on complications, either errors of nature or medical errors, and no doctor is immune. In the United States, roughly 85,000 medical malpractice lawsuits are filed per year, and there are 1 million doctors. For any doctor, the background risk for a medical malpractice lawsuit is 8.5% per year.

Are these statistics acceptable to …

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Understanding the lives of women in medicine [PODCAST]

Podcast
November 20, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Angela Walker and Sylvia Morris, co-authors of the book, The Game Plan: A Woman’s Guide to Becoming a Doctor and Living a Life in Medicine. We delve into the complexities of relationships in the world of …

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The state of digital health and innovation Q3 2023

Tech
November 20, 2023

We witnessed a digital health explosion during the pandemic, marked by significant investments in telehealth and other sectors. However, the market could not maintain its pace in the post-pandemic era. However, the year 2023 is showing clear signs of market emergence.

Though the last two quarters have shown a reduction in funding and deal volume, the third quarter is satisfactory for investors and startups.

So, what is the state of digital …

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Let’s close the gap between physician writers and writers who are physicians

Physician
November 20, 2023

“Oh, I didn’t know you’re a writer,” my neighbor said as I handed her a complimentary copy of my recently published book.

“Not really,” I replied. “I’m just a physician who likes to write.”

The conversation ended, but later, I began to think: What’s the difference between a physician writer and a writer who is a physician? What should I say to somebody else who makes a comment like my neighbor? I …

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Ikigai in health care: Mastering work-life balance and purpose for medical professionals

Physician
November 20, 2023

In the high-pressure health care environment, finding purpose and fulfillment is a significant challenge. The Japanese concept of ikigai offers a unique perspective, helping health care professionals discover deeper meaning in their work and personal lives. This article explores ikigai’s essence, its benefits and challenges in health care, and practical steps for embarking on this transformative journey.

Understanding ikigai

Ikigai is a Japanese term …

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The shoulders of giants

Physician
November 20, 2023

I regretfully told my 65-year-old patient in the preoperative area, “I’m going to have to cancel your case.” We both knew this was coming. He suffered from a large inguinoscrotal hernia that was symptomatic but not dangerous, a condition that had threatened his welfare for the past several months. Given his education level and social issues, his career prospects were limited to manual labor. I sensed his desperation to return …

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Are clinicians complicit in the Fentanyl epidemic?

Meds
November 19, 2023

I have a friend. He is non-medical, just a person who knows a lot of people. He grew up on the rough side of town.

He has lost five friends or relatives this past year, he tells me. All to Fentanyl overdoses.

Most were young, in their twenties or thirties. Two were friends of his son, who is in his early thirties.

Most had been on prescribed opioids for a confirmed back injury—a …

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Advocating for health and humanity: a physician’s call to action amidst conflict

Physician
November 19, 2023

The unfolding events in Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank present a complex and deeply concerning situation. The entire area is smaller than the state of Vermont. My experiences in the West Bank, supported by a U.S. Scholar Fulbright award, have given me firsthand insight into the disruptions faced by individuals in these regions. The war may be focused in Gaza, but routine life is also disrupted in the West …

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Prayer in the COVID ICU [PODCAST]

Podcast
November 18, 2023
YouTube video

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We sit down with Robert Raschke, a critical care physician and the author of One Hundred Prayers: God’s Answer to Prayer in a COVID ICU. We explore the power of prayer in the midst of a health …

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The fine line between childhood illnesses and Munchausen syndrome by proxy

Conditions
November 18, 2023

“Fine lines” in medicine often refer to situations where decisions are not clear-cut and require careful judgment. Perhaps the most tenuous of lines is the one between “real” childhood illnesses and those caused by Munchausen syndrome by proxy.

Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP), also known as factitious disorder imposed on another (FDIA), refers to a specific form of child abuse in which a caregiver, typically a parent or guardian, fabricates, exaggerates, …

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Adolescent exposure to alcohol may predispose to addiction

Conditions
November 18, 2023

Have you ever wondered why some people always seem to be in pain? Or why someone can receive a prescription for a minor procedure and immediately feel drawn to drug use?

Scientists may have recently figured out one of the reasons for these behaviors, and they may start early in life. The developing neuron is remarkably similar to a tree. The branches are the dendrites that receive electrochemical signals from the …

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Why physicians need financial independence and how to achieve it

Finance
November 18, 2023

In the modern world, physicians are respected and highly regarded for their compassion, dedication, skill, and knowledge. People value the effort physicians put into taking care of others often before taking care of themselves. While this noble profession was once lucrative, many now find it challenging to make ends meet, given falling reimbursements, lack of independence, and exorbitant student loans. Achieving financial independence is not just a personal goal; it …

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Genetics, opioids, and addiction [PODCAST]

Podcast
November 17, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Amy Baxter, a clinical associate professor of emergency medicine and CEO of Pain Care Labs, to unravel the complexities of this critical topic. We’ll explore the interconnectedness of pain and reward areas in the brain, genetic …

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The crisis of physician burnout and the promise of technology

Physician
November 17, 2023

“I am no longer a physician. I have become the typist.”

This is a sentiment echoing in the hallways of medical practices across the nation. This transformation encapsulates the growing disillusionment among doctors, particularly those in primary care. As a resident physician in family medicine, I am acutely aware of the escalating rates of physician burnout, exacerbated by the expectation to see between 18 and 24 patients daily. One must …

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Volunteering near the Dead Sea: compassion amid refugees

Physician
November 17, 2023

A mere week following the events of October 7, I heeded the call to volunteer at a medical facility nestled on the shores of the Dead Sea. As a medical practitioner, my sense of duty compelled me to extend my expertise to those in need. What made this mission truly distinctive was the presence of my 15-year-old daughter, Hadar, who had taken on the role of clinic administrator. An exceptional …

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Meditation: the ancient practice with science-backed benefits

Physician
November 17, 2023

Meditation is a hot topic with deep roots, but sometimes it feels like it’s being pushed as a modern-day version of snake oil for what ails the spirit. Often touted as an antidote to burnout, many of us know that a meditation app won’t solve the systemic issues plaguing health care today, leading some physicians to be skeptical.

I was introduced to mindfulness meditation years ago while practicing yoga. Initially, making …

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Will GLP-1s allow our society to eschew its responsibility to create a healthy environment?

Meds
November 17, 2023

Since Ozempic entered the cultural zeitgeist, I have been overwhelmed with requests from my patients – both those who meet criteria to start the medication and those who do not – for this new class of “miracle” drug. While it does work like a miracle for some, there are also those for whom the promise rings hollow – those who are unable to tolerate the medications due to side effects, …

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