New employment contracts: What physicians need to know about compensation and benefits

Physician
January 16, 2023

Physicians receiving a new employment contract need to be aware of issues that can arise related to their compensation and benefits. These are some of the things that should be carefully reviewed before signing the agreement.

Compensation

The agreement should clearly provide what productivity is expected. You can frequently gauge expected productivity by the salary level. If one employer is paying significantly more than another, it is a safe bet that the …

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The endless race: How to find peace in a world obsessed with productivity

Physician
January 16, 2023

I live in a state of chronic dissatisfaction and disillusionment, particularly when it comes to time. Is it the curse of the modern age to try to do too much? Is it just my location or life path? Have people always struggled with this?

If this constant struggle with time was a crime against anything else, I might be seen as an oddity or someone who doesn’t learn from their experiences. …

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Lean on me: the power of human connection and the support of a caring doctor

Conditions
January 16, 2023

Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain, and we all have sorrow.

But if we are wise, we know that there’s always a tomorrow.

Lean on me when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend; I’ll help you carry on,

for it won’t be long ’till I’m going to need somebody to lean on.

Some might recall these lyrics from the song Lean on Me, written in 1972 by American singer-songwriter Bill …

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How people of faith can respond to our broken health system [PODCAST]

Podcast
January 15, 2023
YouTube video

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In this episode, we speak with G. Scott Morris, a physician and ordained minister who has dedicated his career to treating patients with chronic conditions at Church Health. He shares his experiences working with individuals to improve …

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Balancing motherhood and medical school: tips from those who’ve done it

Physician
January 15, 2023

I was in my first year of medical school when I discovered I was pregnant. This was not a planned pregnancy, as no one would intentionally plan to have a baby during medical school, as it is extremely difficult to manage both. However, there I was, and to my surprise, I was happy about it. I had previously thought that I was infertile after trying to get pregnant for five …

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Protecting reproductive rights: the importance of abortion training for medical trainees

Education
January 15, 2023

As I was walking between classes as a pre-medical undergraduate student in 2018, I saw that the Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment was distributing hats that read “PROTECT ROE v. WADE.” I picked one up and stepped into my classroom, only to be greeted by a classmate who said, “Protect Roe v. Wade? Why would it need protection?”

Fast-forward four years, I sat in my bedroom, selfishly thankful that I had …

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Breast cancer surgery: Liking my doctor mitigates the feeling of violation

Conditions
January 15, 2023

On waking up from anesthesia-induced unconsciousness, I was dressed in an unfamiliar pink surgical bra with multiple Velcro straps. As if I were a doll, someone had clothed my limp body without my knowledge, and I had no idea who. Even then, I had a vague sense, groggy and feeling an odd lack of sensation on the right side of my chest that I had been violated.

“Violation” is an …

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A physician shows incredible strength and resilience in an emotional moment [PODCAST]

Podcast
January 14, 2023
YouTube video

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In this episode, we follow Houda Bouhmam, a radiology resident, as she struggles to deliver the devastating news to a patient that there is no cure for their disease. Despite the emotional toll it takes on her, …

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Maximize your practice’s revenue: Follow these 5 billing metrics

Finance
January 14, 2023

Healthcare Business & Technology states that “doctors in the U.S. leave approximately $125 billion on the table each year due to poor billing and coding practices.”

As your private practice grows, don’t leave money on the table!

This article reviews the top 5 billing metrics and benchmarks you should be aware of to track your performance and set key performance indicators (KPIs) when running a private practice. Practices that make the recommended …

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Emotional seasons: 3 vignettes of love, loss, and connection

Physician
January 14, 2023

At the end of a year and the beginning of another, emotions tend to run high.

Whether it be the loss of a loved one or the tangled web of interactions with relatives, an unexpected illness or travel plan glitches, wonderful moments to cherish, or joyful connections – all are wrapped up like presents topped with emotional bows.

The opening and unraveling part often takes courage and creativity.

This is a series of …

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The power of communication in palliative care: How words can heal and instill hope

Physician
January 14, 2023

Effective communication has the potential to promote understanding, safety, and connection. It is the foundation of high-quality health care. Our use of language to heal is important in all facets of medicine, but words may be even more powerful when patients face a terminal diagnosis. When medications and life-saving interventions are less of a priority, language can instill hope and honor the human behind the illness. As such, I believe …

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Why body type standards are misleading in assessing health [PODCAST]

Podcast
January 13, 2023
YouTube video

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In this episode, we explore the concept of normal weight obesity and skinny fat with scientific researcher Marc Nelson. Marc discusses how genetics, diet, exercise, and lifestyle all play a role in determining our body type, and …

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How were we duped and what can we do about the opioid overdose crisis?

Meds
January 13, 2023

Who among us as physicians and prescribers, not to mention the millions of families who have been affected and suffered deep personal loss due to the current crisis and record overdose deaths, regardless of whether the opioid was legally written or illicit.

Let’s take a step back in time and review. As physicians, how have we been duped? Now the CDC has come up with recent new guidelines on opioid prescribing …

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The slippery slope of legal assisted suicide and euthanasia

Policy
January 13, 2023

We began with terminally ill patients, but the slippery slope is alive and well, smothered in oil. The Western world is increasingly advocating for the advancement of legal euthanasia, and this is a huge mistake. In their quest, advocates for legally assisted suicide by way of a physician are redefining the definition of “immense suffering.” For example, Canada is considering including mental health disorders as eligible for legally assisted euthanasia. …

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Don’t lose yourself: a warning from a divorced physician

Physician
January 13, 2023

I was going through drawers, finishing unpacking as best I could, when I stumbled upon one of those moments that feels like a puzzle piece sliding into place. I recently divorced, moved across the country, took a leave of absence from work, and changed my job. It’s been tumultuous, but grounding. I’m back in my home state, near good friends and family, and in therapy. I’m sleeping 8 hours a …

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Physician speaks out about being threatened by a patient and betrayed by an organization

Physician
January 13, 2023

I’ve been practicing internal medicine for over a decade now. I was drawn to this field because of my admiration for Dr. William Osler and the superb physicians I have met who embody his qualities. As an internal medicine physician, I am expected to be a critical thinker and a “doctor’s doctor,” specializing in complexity and solving problems with multiple layers, like peeling an onion. However, I never imagined that …

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Physicians’ real problem isn’t burnout [PODCAST]

Podcast
January 12, 2023
YouTube video

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“Let’s ask which elements of our system support this and promote and enhance those elements. If anything takes time or focus away from the main principle, let’s remove or replace it. Whether it’s the EMR, payment models, …

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Caught in the middle: How health insurance companies influence cancer drug selection

Meds
January 12, 2023

Patients may find themselves caught in the middle between their health insurance company and their oncologist when it comes to selecting the drugs used to treat their cancer. Why is this?

The American Cancer Society explains biologic drugs (derived from living organisms such as yeast, bacteria, or animal cells) and biosimilar drugs, which behave similarly to the original, patented (i.e., brand) drug. It is important to note that biosimilar drugs are …

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Revolutionizing medicine: How ChatGPT is changing the way we think about health care

Tech
January 12, 2023

GPT, or Generative Pre-trained Transformer, is a type of artificial intelligence that has the unremarkable ability to generate human-like text. The program is free to use during the “research preview” time. GPT gained 1 million users in under a week of being released. Keep in mind that this technology is currently in the beta testing phase.

It is important to note the limitations. The quality of the responses depends on the …

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The incessant hounding of doctors: A look at the lengthy professional disclosures required of physicians

Physician
January 12, 2023

Can you absolutely and unequivocally answer “no” to all of the following questions:

Has your license to practice in any jurisdiction ever been limited, restricted, reduced, suspended, voluntarily surrendered, revoked, denied, or not renewed?

Have you ever been reprimanded by a state licensing agency, or are any of these actions pending with respect to your license; are you under investigation by any licensing or regulatory agency?

Has your professional employment or membership in …

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