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Revamping health care: Tackling outdated systems and shifting mindsets

Physician

August 28, 2023

Where do you start to update a system so deeply mired in antiquated technology and a culture so resistant to change?

Here’s where:

Health records requests. Why should I have to request my own medical records? When I do make a request, why does it take days to get them? Why do I have to physically pick them up? Why do I get a stack of papers, or, if I’m lucky, a CD? …

Caring for the cognitively declined individual

Nancie Wiseman Attwater

Conditions

August 28, 2023

An excerpt from A Caregiver’s Love Story.

My husband was diagnosed with cognitive decline in the last three years of his life. I was desperate for understanding and help and referred to the following source.

Here are ten tips for communicating with the cognitively declined individual from the Caregiver.org website …

Post-surgery opioid risks [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 27, 2023

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

Join Amy Baxter, a clinical associate professor of emergency medicine, as we explore the intricate balance between physicians’ roles in perpetuating the crisis, addressing systemic factors, and the influence of pharmaceutical industry-sponsored education. Discover the brain’s response …

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Post-surgery opioid risks [PODCAST]

The fusion of fMRI and polygraph tech

Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD

Physician

August 27, 2023

Science fiction writer Ray Bradbury and I attended Los Angeles High School, separated by 15 years. He once spoke there and quelled the rumor that he failed English: “I got a C!”

His writings extend beyond the realm of reality into a dimension of creativity and hope. Oftentimes, we think mankind has reached the limits of understanding, but in reality, there are things we don’t know regarding the eternity of outer …

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The fusion of fMRI and polygraph tech

Is it really necessary to always stay invested in the stock market?

Amarish Dave, DO

Finance

August 27, 2023

When it comes to personal finance and wealth-building, the phrase “time in the market beats timing the market” is often touted as an unshakable truth. The concept suggests that consistently staying invested in the stock market, regardless of market fluctuations, is the surest path to long-term financial success. However, as with any financial advice, it’s essential to critically examine its validity and consider the nuances involved. Let’s delve into the …

The silent threat of doctors relying on one income

Jeff Anzalone, DDS

Finance

August 27, 2023

Are you solely relying on your income as a doctor? You might feel safe operating like this, but what if there’s a way to make your financial future even brighter?

In this fast-paced financial age, having more than one income stream is no longer just a smart move—it’s crucial to securing your financial future.

In this article, I’ll uncover the exciting potential of diversifying your income in today’s medical landscape from a …

A physician’s letter: Safeguarding patient well-being by opposing off-site infusions

Banu Symington, MD

Physician

August 27, 2023

I am writing to vehemently argue against out-of-office infusions for my patients. There are many general reasons for this, which I will enumerate. There are also often patient-specific reasons, such as frailty, chronic noncompliance with recommendations (which do not reach the level of a psychiatric issue but which make offsite infusions less safe), and patient-perceived intolerance of infusions (even if we see no objective signs of a reaction). While these …

Solutions for physician burnout [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 26, 2023

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

Join William Lynes, a urologist, as he shares his remarkable journey from a successful medical career to battling mental illness and physician burnout. With over three decades of experience, he delves into the root causes of burnout …

Leaving hospital employment: a physician’s pursuit of independence

Jacqui O'Kane, DO

Physician

August 26, 2023

After nearly a year of planning my exit strategy, my final day as a hospital-employed physician was June 30th, 2023. How surreal to finally be independent! In a recent phone call, a dear friend and fellow physician asked what drove me to my decision.

“Because I felt like a failure every day,” I disclosed to my normally sympathetic colleague. To my dismay, he responded with a chuckle. I asked why he …

Confronting stereotypes: reflections of an Asian medical student

Yuna Han

Education

August 26, 2023

“Are you sure you’re supposed to be here?”

It was the first day of my subspecialty rotation. I’d left my husband, friends, and my home to spend the next six weeks some 2500 miles away. Like most third-year medical students on the first day of a new rotation, I felt a mixture of anxiety and anticipation for the challenge ahead.

Arriving on the twelfth floor before dawn, my badge did not work. …

Primary care challenges: AI and virtual clinics

Nick Jenkins, MD

Physician

August 26, 2023

As I clicked onto the homepage of Amazon Clinic, I got a little bit nervous. Low up-front costs, straight-forward medical decision-making, bread and butter medicine at the patient’s fingertips. Have a UTI? As long as it is simple, no problem, here’s your antibiotic. Just a few clicks. Male pattern baldness? Click. Erectile dysfunction? Click.

Just barebones medicine without the pesky face-to-face human interaction. And with easy-to-follow “guidelines,” we don’t even need …

Navigating medical student loan repayment choices [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 25, 2023

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

Meet Altelisha Taylor, a family medicine physician, and get clear insights into student loan repayment options. We discuss the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program and discuss options to address medical school debt as a new attending.

Navigating the broken medical system: challenges faced by foreign medical graduates

Anonymous

Physician

August 25, 2023

As I sit here contemplating the beginning of this unsent letter, I find myself questioning its intended recipient and purpose. The truth is, I don’t have the answers just yet. Perhaps, by the end of these few paragraphs, some clarity will emerge.

When I left my home country to come to the United States, I envisioned hospitals here as being on par with what we would consider “first-world country” institutions. I …

Navigating patient requests: Balancing care and communication

Jennifer Shaer, MD

Physician

August 25, 2023

If you are a practicing physician, then you have definitely come across patients who want something that you feel is unnecessary. Sometimes those conversations escalate and become contentious, and sometimes you reluctantly give the patient what they request even though you know it’s not “best practice.” These demands and interactions can weigh on us and leave us emotionally drained.

In the pediatrics office, that can look like this:

A parent wants …
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Navigating patient requests: Balancing care and communication

Why embracing money conversations is good for your health

Pranay Parikh, MD

Finance

August 25, 2023

Money, a topic often shrouded in secrecy and discomfort, has the power to shape our lives and influence our opportunities. Whether we like it or not, finances play a pivotal role in our personal and professional endeavors. However, our fear of talking about money can become a significant hindrance, limiting our potential for growth and success.

In many ways, discussing finances has become a social taboo. We avoid it at family …

Ensuring compensation during absences

Deepak Gupta, MD and Sarwan Kumar, MD

Physician

August 25, 2023

As human needs continue to evolve, it is essential for our systems to adapt accordingly. One perplexing question is who bears the cost of human work. Do the systems pay for human labor, or do humans contribute to the systems, which, in turn, pay for their work? From an economic perspective, it boils down to humans paying for humans to work through human-devised systems. We won’t delve into the idea …

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Ensuring compensation during absences

Exploring how thoughts shape emotions and perception [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 24, 2023

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

Join Miguel Villagra, a hospitalist, as we explore how our thoughts shape emotions, dissecting cognitive distortions like all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralization, and more. Discover strategies to break free from negative loops, challenge assumptions, and cultivate a balanced perspective. …

The cost of skipping business education for doctors

Curtis G. Graham, MD

Finance

August 24, 2023

Every business, regardless of type, size, or structure, has one primary reason: to make profits. In economic theory, every business is successful exactly to the extent that it does something others cannot. Business profitability rises to the extent that universal business principles are adopted and integrated into the medical practice business.

Business growth, endurance, and increasing profits over time are possible only when business management principles and marketing strategies are embedded …

Essential postpartum care: lessons from 30 years in OB/GYN

Theresa Mahon, MD

Conditions

August 24, 2023

Almost 30 years ago, as an OB/GYN intern at a large urban medical center, I was privileged to learn from exemplary doctors and midwives. After 4:30 a.m. postpartum rounds one day, a midwife said, “I saw your note. You listened for bowel sounds and examined her abdomen.” I replied, “I did.” She asked, “Did you also check her bottom?” I responded, “No. Why?” She explained, “She delivered the baby through …

Navigating the rising challenges of dermatology residency applications

Hannah Kopelman, DO, MBA

Physician

August 24, 2023

The path to becoming a dermatologist has become increasingly challenging in recent years. This is due, in part, to the competitive environment of residency applications, as well as the increasing emphasis on research output. In their publication, “Research Fever—An Ever More Prominent Trend in the Residency Match,” Dr. Ahmed and Dr. Adashi note that the number of research publications on residency applications has increased significantly over the past decade. This …

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