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“System-ness”: the key to successful health care transformation

Policy

September 4, 2023

Value-based health care, the holy grail of American medicine, has three parts: excellent clinical quality, convenient access, and affordability for all.

And as with the holy grail of medieval legend, the quest for value-based care has been filled with failure.

In the 20th century, U.S. medical groups and hospital systems could — at best — achieve two elements of value-based care, but always at the sacrifice of the third. …

Surgical decision-making: Navigating catastrophic scenarios

Sid Schwab, MD

Conditions

September 4, 2023

Let me describe what it’s like to operate in a potentially disastrous situation. Notwithstanding having one’s faculties and wits gathered and finely honed, being as in command of yourself as you can possibly be, it may test and demand everything you can bring to bear. I’ve been in war, where I feared daily for my life. It’s not pleasant, but in some way you can get used to it. In …

Medical traumatic stress in caregivers [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 3, 2023

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

Join Kody Sexton, a graduate student, as he sheds light on the often overlooked challenges these caregivers face. Discover how trauma-informed care, systemic changes, and social justice initiatives can better support these unsung heroes. Tune in to …

Business education’s role in preventing physician practice decline

Curtis G. Graham, MD

Education

September 3, 2023

Physicians, particularly those who haven’t received business education, must address the frequently circulated question among their ranks: “Can you practice medicine without money?” Medical history unveils an era when most physicians were compensated through non-monetary means for their medical services and often went unpaid.

During that time, the choice to pursue a medical career was grounded in the personal belief that treating patients was the foremost aspiration for most physicians. Few …

Discovering self through creative writing and medicine

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Physician

September 3, 2023

“The balance to fact and analysis is feeling,” our narrative medicine writing instructor informs us. “You’ll find that each poem and essay and story that you write reflects a new aspect of yourself. Be curious about what’s going on. Allow new poems onto the page. Allow free writing in prose and poetry. You have worlds inside you.”

And then, predictably, the homework assignment for next week: “Create and post your ‘800 …

Navigating recession with cash flow: a vital lesson for savvy investors

Pranay Parikh, MD

Finance

September 3, 2023

In times of economic uncertainty and recessionary storms, the significance of cash flow becomes an indispensable lesson for experienced investors. While market turbulence may seem daunting, focusing on cash flow can act as a robust financial lifeline, providing stability, resilience, and unparalleled opportunities to weather the storm and emerge stronger on the other side.

Cash flow, simply put, is the lifeblood of any investment. It represents the net income generated from …

Misunderstandings about opioid use disorder

Amy Baxter, MD

Conditions

September 3, 2023

At a recent scientific conference on narcotics, a researcher mused, “Honestly, opioids make me feel gross. I don’t see how anyone could get addicted.” This is a little like a doctor in the delivery end of a needle saying, “Honestly, you’re a wimp. This doesn’t hurt.” Both examples reveal a lack of empathy and a fundamental misunderstanding of current neuroscience.

The contributions or fear, reward, fight, and flight are a complicated …

Continuous work coverage in health care: challenges and solutions

Deepak Gupta, MD

Physician

September 3, 2023

Two scourges of 24 x 7 x 365 coverage may be lost on-the-job sleep and soured on-the-job peace for workers, especially for health care workers.

Traditionally, attending physicians have had the privilege of call rooms while providing coverage for overnight health care services. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education expanded that privilege to resident physicians and fellow physicians. Now, it may be time to extend that privilege to advanced practitioners …

Navigating post-COVID IT challenges [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 2, 2023

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

Join Mike Hines, an evangelist at Resolute Software, to explore the transformative impact of COVID-19 on the IT landscape. We discuss the rapid shifts in remote interactions, the emergence of technical debt, and the challenges faced by …

Harnessing the power of gamification in mental health apps

Carter Do and Thomas Pak, MD, PhD

Tech

September 2, 2023

From stomping on koopas and collecting coins as Mario to “catching ’em all” in Pokemon, video games have enthralled both our childhood, and countless other childhoods. It was our guilty pleasure, much to the chagrin of our parents. Media portrayed video games as bad for your mental health, with the message that video games rot your brain. While the effects of videos on mental …

Physicians divided: SCOTUS affirmative action ban sparks debate

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Policy

September 2, 2023

The fallout from the recent decision of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to ban racially conscious admissions at Harvard and The University of North Carolina has had major repercussions throughout the medical profession. I would say that physicians are highly divided on the issue of affirmative action, with many believing that meritorious performance should determine admission to medical school rather than race and ethnicity. In fact, a Read more…

Physicians divided: SCOTUS affirmative action ban sparks debate

The impact of assumptions on patient communication in medical training

Esther Covington

Education

September 2, 2023

At one of the medical schools where I am a standardized patient (SP), a student recently failed a portion of the exam because he did not ask his SP questions that were integral to her medical care. When asked by his faculty preceptors why he didn’t ask the SP key questions about her background (she was a Hasidic Jew who couldn’t take her medication on the Sabbath), the student, who …

Ragweed allergy peaks during college football season

Kara Wada, MD

Conditions

September 2, 2023

Not only is it kickoff time for college football season, but it’s also prime time for fall allergies. For the 50 million Americans who suffer from ragweed allergy, the late summer and early fall signal the onset of runny noses, sneezing, congestion, cough, itchy watery eyes, and in more severe cases, sinus infections and asthma exacerbations.

Seasonal allergies are a huge source of frustration and fatigue for many of us, causing …

5 things that are helping us through a miscarriage

Maria Petty, NP

Conditions

September 2, 2023

In March 2023, I had a miscarriage when I was 10.5 weeks pregnant. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband and loving family, two healthy sons, and supportive friends, though I still grieve at times. I share what is helping us below, in the hope of helping others:

1. Early pregnancy assessment clinic (EPAC) and caring providers at my OB office. My obstetric office has an EPAC (also called Pregnancy …

Pediatric mental health care access [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 1, 2023

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

Join J. Wesley Boyd, a psychiatrist, to dive into the critical issue of child and adolescent mental health care accessibility. Drawing insights from a recent study, we’ll explore how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated challenges in obtaining …

The top 5 reasons to attend live, virtual CME/CE

Pri-Med

Hospital as a river: Navigating uncertainty and empathy

Daniel Song, MD

Physician

September 1, 2023

The hospital is like a river. Patients float downstream into our care, stay in sight for a moment, and leave after we have done everything we can to help them. Regardless of why they arrive or how long they stay, every person in the hospital will always leave, whether for recovery, rehabilitation, transfer, or death. Meanwhile, the hospital staff guard the river banks, keeping watch over the steady flow of …

Reactions to eliminating race conscious admissions from medical schools

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Education

September 1, 2023

The medical community was rocked by the United States Supreme Court’s (SCOTUS) decision in Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and SFFA v. University of North Carolina, et al. The ruling essentially banned race in consideration for admitting students to colleges and universities. Several medical schools and professional organizations retaliated by vowing to continue affirmative action practices, or at least figure …

Biological weapons: a history and emerging risks

Ketan Desai, MD, PhD

Conditions

September 1, 2023

Biological weapons are not new. Their use by armies has taken place for centuries. Take the Plague, for example. The pandemic was reportedly first introduced to Europe during the siege of the Genoese trading port of Kaffa in Crimea by the Golden Horde army of Jani Beg in 1347. It decimated 30 percent of the European population. Paradoxically, the resultant labor shortage and lack of faith in the prevailing order …

Leveraging ChatGPT’s high IQ to assist doctors

Harvey Castro, MD, MBA

Tech

September 1, 2023

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about significant advancements in various fields, including health care. ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is one such AI that has shown great promise in assisting professionals, particularly doctors, in their daily tasks. This article will discuss the average human IQ, the estimated IQs of notable individuals, the average IQ of doctors, the IQ of ChatGPT, its strengths and limitations, and how it can …

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