Are you taking advantage of all of your tax deferred investment options?

Finance
October 25, 2023

Given the tax bracket most doctors are in, reducing their tax burden is a key factor in their investment success and long-term retirement plan. At this time of year, many doctors may not have maximized all of their retirement tax-deferred options. Here is a summary of different options to consider.

Traditional 401(k) plans

Benefits

Tax deductions. Contributions to a Traditional 401(k) are tax-deductible, reducing an individual’s taxable income for the year in which …

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Nature’s role in relieving physician burnout

Conditions
October 25, 2023

In today’s corporate health care world, physicians are exposed to high levels of stress in the course of carrying out the duties of their profession, making them susceptible to experiencing burnout. Burnout has far-reaching implications not only for doctors but also for patients and the health care system that employs them. Burnout among doctors increases the risk of depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, fatigue, alcohol and drug misuse, premature retirement, and …

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Conquering fear: Embracing possibilities beyond the horizon

Physician
October 25, 2023

When you think about a beach vacation, what comes to mind? What do you picture?

Fish, seaweed, sharks, sea foam, water bugs, or clear sunny skies? The sound of surfing waves, the feeling of soft sand, or the desire for a perfect tan?

My daughter possesses a meticulous, organized, and clean nature. She finds solace in predictability and dislikes the uncertainty of nature. Consequently, she rarely enjoys hiking, dismissing it as “too …

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Metric shaming in medicine and 3 ways to overcome it

Physician
October 25, 2023

Looking back at my career as an emergency physician, I remember how my first year out of residency was a roller coaster ride with many ups and downs, practicing as an emergency physician in a semi-rural town in Illinois. But once I found my stride and confidence as an attending physician, I recall distinctly knowing to my core that I was a good doctor. I was strong in my clinical …

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AI in health care: possibilities and ethical questions [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 24, 2023
YouTube video

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We sit down with Farhan S. Imran, a hematology-oncology physician. Join us as we explore the evolving landscape of health care and technology, discussing the impact of computers on the doctor-patient relationship, the role of AI in …

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Are we missing the mark with generative AI?

Tech
October 24, 2023

The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) 25×5 Task Force was established in 2022 with the goal of reducing clinician documentation burden by 25 percent in 5 years. Recently, the task force found that “organizational efforts to address documentation burden … were all focused on documentation creation, not on information retrieval.” Similarly, much of the early hype surrounding large language models (LLMs) and generative …

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My breast cancer journey: Why mammograms matter

Conditions
October 24, 2023

25 years ago, at the age of 42, I had my first mammogram, which was part of my routine checkup. I had no symptoms at the time.

I was devastated when the radiologist discovered a shadow in my left breast. To confirm this, a biopsy was scheduled, and indeed, the biopsy confirmed that I had breast cancer.

I consider myself fortunate because we caught it early, and there was no involvement of …

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Insights into the gastroenterology workforce [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 23, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Brian Hudes, a gastroenterologist. We’ll delve into the evolving landscape of gastroenterology in the United States, exploring historical decisions, changing demographics, and the impact on physician salaries. Discover the challenges and potential solutions in this vital …

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Learning health equity from activists: a paradigm shift for physicians

Physician
October 23, 2023

The practice of evidence-based medicine and lifelong learning are core tenets of medicine. Through courses, conferences, and lectures, physicians have regularly turned to their colleagues for continuing education. For decades, this reliance on physician-to-physician teaching has been a fitting choice for the subjects at hand, which usually related to clinical practice. In recent years, there has been widespread development of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Holding to previous patterns, …

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Navigating subpoenas and EHR integration

Physician
October 23, 2023

What do you do if you get an administrative or court subpoena to produce “all” medical records on one or more patients? Are you sure that your electronic medical records can even create a true “legal” chart? With everything recorded chronologically? How would you know if something was left out?

And if you get an administrative or court subpoena for “all” medical records, what does that mean? What about access logs …

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Kick start your writing with a surprise

Physician
October 23, 2023

One of the most memorable scenes in Goodfellas occurs early on, when the audience is introduced to most of the crew at the Bamboo Lounge. Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) and Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) get into a tense exchange. Tommy seems to get offended after Henry calls him funny. “I’m funny how, Tommy wants to know?” “I mean, funny like a clown? I amuse you? I make you laugh?”

Unknown to …

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Private medical practice: thriving with business knowledge

Finance
October 23, 2023

Are you happy and satisfied with your private medical practice today? Over 65 percent of physicians admit they aren’t. Such a high percentage is indicative of serious problems within the medical profession that aren’t being resolved. These issues are increasing, not decreasing.

Some believe it’s the result of several stress factors among practicing physicians stemming from variable pressure-inciting sources inside and outside the medical practice business. Others sanctify their distress and …

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Turning adversity into hope: my path to a career in medicine

Conditions
October 23, 2023

I have wanted to work in medicine ever since my eleven-year-old cousin passed out during my uncle’s birthday party. He suddenly fainted when we were supposed to cut the cake. We rushed to the emergency room. Doctors diagnosed him with blood cancer after a couple of months, which was too late for him to survive. That incident sparked my interest in becoming a physician assistant. I put all my efforts …

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Unmasking medical gaslighting [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 22, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Tami Burdick, a patient advocate and author of Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis. Discover the ins and outs of medical gaslighting, learn to recognize the red flags, and explore how both patients and health care providers …

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The Spandex dilemma: Does size still matter?

Conditions
October 22, 2023

In today’s fashion landscape, one may wonder if size truly matters anymore. With the prevalence of spandex in clothing, determining one’s actual size has become a challenging feat. The question arises: what role does spandex play in the ongoing obesity crisis? Does it hinder our ability to make informed choices about our weight and health?

Consider this scenario: you weigh 130 lbs., but the pants you wear contain 2 percent spandex. …

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Love in a world full of hate: a beacon of hope

Physician
October 22, 2023

In a world often marred by division, conflict, and hatred, the concept of love may seem like a fragile flower struggling to bloom amidst a harsh and unforgiving landscape. However, it is precisely in such a world that the power of love shines most brilliantly. Let us explore the importance of love in a world full of hate and consider insights into how individuals and communities can foster love to …

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Hospital secrets that patients don’t know

Physician
October 22, 2023

“America’s health care system is neither healthy, caring, nor a system.”
– Walter Cronkite

Hospitals, revered as places of healing and recovery, hold secrets and harbor mistakes that can take a heavy toll on patients. These hidden truths, often concealed behind the walls of health care institutions, come with dire consequences. Supported by alarming statistics and credible sources, this exploration unveils some of the most unsettling aspects of the health care system.

As …

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What you need to know about ragweed allergies [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 21, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Kara Wada, a board-certified academic adult and pediatric allergy, immunology, and lifestyle medicine physician. We’ll delve into the world of ragweed allergies, exploring their prevalence, causes, and practical tips for managing symptoms. Discover how factors like …

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When a breast lump is as scary as Halloween

Conditions
October 21, 2023

October is an important month for many, but I’m not actually talking about Halloween. However, for many, it can be a reminder of something very scary that happened in their lifetime. For me, it isn’t October, a month dedicated to breast cancer awareness.

March was when breast pain and a self-detected lump would lead me on an exhaustive journey for answers. Something evil had definitely been brewing, like a witch’s pot, …

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