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A resident’s critical discovery: Advanced cancer unveiled

Conditions

November 22, 2023

It was my first week in the radiation oncology department as a resident. The day had been busy, and most of the consultants and staff had already left the outpatient department (OPD). I was exhausted and famished, with thoughts of dinner dominating my mind.

Just as I was beginning to wind down, the physician assistant (PA) rushed in and informed my consultant that a patient from a local hospital required immediate …

Don’t lose your end bonus to the tax-man

Amarish Dave, DO

Finance

November 22, 2023

As the year draws to a close, many doctors receive year-end bonuses. However, with these bonuses come potential tax implications that can impact the overall financial picture.

Understanding the tax landscape

Before diving into strategies, it’s essential to grasp the tax landscape. Different types of income, including bonuses, may be taxed at varying rates. Knowing the tax implications helps doctors make informed decisions. Seek a financial advisor who understands your situation if …

Doctors and disabled patients [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 21, 2023

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

Join Heather Finlay-Morreale, a pediatrician. We’ll delve into the uncomfortable reality of doctors’ attitudes towards disabled patients, drawing from her personal experiences and the broader efforts to create positive change in medical education and practice. Discover how …

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Doctors and disabled patients [PODCAST]

Improving health care access for autism and disabilities

Irene Tanzman

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, …

The complexity of resilience and the role of medical improv

Beth Boynton, RN, MS, CP

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 …

A scientific approach to malpractice defense

Howard Smith, MD

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 …

Understanding the lives of women in medicine [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 20, 2023

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

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 …

The state of digital health and innovation Q3 2023

Jorge Sanchez, MD and Nirav Shah, MD

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 …

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

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

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 …

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

Harvey Castro, MD, MBA

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 …

The shoulders of giants

Farah Karipineni, MD, MPH

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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The shoulders of giants

Are clinicians complicit in the Fentanyl epidemic?

Janet Tamaren, MD

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 …

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

Therese Zink, MD, MPH

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 …

From mental illness to maximum sentence

Lloyd Flatt, MD

Conditions

November 19, 2023

An excerpt from Mars Hospital: A Doctor’s Novel.

“Patient’s ready. This one will be interesting,” Sally said with a smirk. “Mom brought her nineteen-year-old son in, and she says he’s the devil.” I rolled my eyes.

Terrific. I entered the room with trepidation and saw the patient sitting quietly on the exam …

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From mental illness to maximum sentence

Prayer in the COVID ICU [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 18, 2023

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

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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Prayer in the COVID ICU [PODCAST]

The fine line between childhood illnesses and Munchausen syndrome by proxy

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

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, …

Adolescent exposure to alcohol may predispose to addiction

L. Joseph Parker, MD

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 …

Why physicians need financial independence and how to achieve it

Brian Hudes, MD

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 …

Genetics, opioids, and addiction [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 17, 2023

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

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 …

The crisis of physician burnout and the promise of technology

Yimdriuska Magan Mendoza, MD, MPH

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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