The unjust reality of racial disparities in pediatric kidney transplants

Conditions
May 31, 2023

I noticed a troublesome trend during my three weeks working in the pediatric dialysis unit and the post-kidney transplant unit. The whiter and younger pediatric patients were resting comfortably in the post-transplant unit with their new surgically placed kidneys being meticulously taken care of. The darker and older pediatric patients spent countless, mindless hours attached to a dialysis machine with little hope for a new kidney after years of being …

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A family physician’s journey on the OIG list and the struggle to return to practice [PODCAST]

Podcast
May 30, 2023
YouTube video

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Join us for a thought-provoking discussion with Jeffrey L. Fraser, a family physician who shares his experience of addiction and felony conviction, which led to his placement on the Office of the Inspector General exclusion list. We’ll …

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Heartwarming stories of cancer patients teaching us about life and the human spirit

Physician
May 30, 2023

I felt uneasy starting my oncology and leukemia rotations. These patients were so sick, and many of them had incurable cancer, often just weeks or days away from death. I wondered how I could help them, what we could do if we couldn’t treat their cancer. I’m grateful that these patients taught me not just much about how we can always help our patients and support them but also much …

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We need a new Hippocratic Oath that puts patient autonomy first

Physician
May 30, 2023

May is the month most American medical students finally see four years of grueling work bear fruit. Most U.S. medical schools hold commencement exercises in May, conferring “doctor of medicine” degrees in elaborate ceremonies. During these ceremonies, graduates recite oaths inspired by the 5th-century B.C. oath of Hippocrates of Kos, the “father of medicine.”

In the mid-20th century, medical schools began administering modernized …

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The meaning of death in medicine: the role of compassionate care in end-of-life patient care

Physician
May 30, 2023

Death is an inevitable part of life, and in medicine, it is a topic that is frequently encountered. As medical professionals, we see patients who are faced with terminal illnesses and inevitably nearing the end of their lives. Dealing with death can be a daunting task, and it’s a topic that requires sensitivity, empathy, and compassion.

At the forefront of end-of-life care are the principles of compassionate care. It is about …

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From skydiving to saving lives: a surgeon’s journey on adversity, passion, and perseverance [PODCAST]

Podcast
May 29, 2023
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Join us on this episode as we speak with Alexandra Kharazi, a cardiothoracic surgeon and author of The Heart of Fear: A Surgeon’s Collection of Stories on Adversity, Passion, and Perseverance. Alexandra shares her unique perspective on …

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How can there be joy in medicine if there is no joy in Mudville?

Physician
May 29, 2023

The following article is part satire and part imagination.

The classic poem “Casey at the Bat” delves into the dashed dreams of 5,000 frenzied fans who gathered to watch the “Mudville Nine” play baseball, pinning their hopes on their star player, Casey. Do they have unrealistic expectations of Casey, or is his prowess over-hyped? And what implications does this time-honored poem have for medical practice?

Parables – short stories that teach a …

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Unveiling the intricate link between housing costs and health care

Policy
May 29, 2023

While housing costs have escalated, health care costs have not been left behind. According to the National Health Expenditure Account (NHEA), health care spending grew 4.6 percent in 2019, reaching $3.8 trillion or $11,582 per person. The correlation between these two factors is multifaceted.

When housing is unaffordable, it consumes a large chunk of a household’s budget, leaving little for health care. This can lead to skipped doctor appointments, unfilled prescriptions, …

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Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

Physician
May 29, 2023

As I leave a conference organized for a group of physician entrepreneurs, I have so many thoughts running through my head. Some of these thoughts revolve around making my small, fledgling medical practice run more smoothly, reaching more people (and serving them better), and always remembering my why. These are the “business mastermind” skills I signed up to learn at the conference. But I may have come out of this …

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Uncovering the truth about racial health inequities in America: a book review

Policy
May 29, 2023

When I started my intern year, that is my first year of training in medical residency, I noticed something peculiar about the epidemiology of disease in our hospital. The Black patients on the medical wards would often present with the morbidity of their diseases almost ten to twenty years earlier than their white counterparts. A Black person with leg swelling and shortness of breath who presented with advanced heart failure …

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Why electronic health records are failing patients: the dark side of copy and paste [PODCAST]

Podcast
May 28, 2023
YouTube video

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Join us for an insightful conversation with Erica E. Remer, a physician and clinical documentation specialist, as we explore the challenges and pitfalls of electronic medical records (EHRs). Erica delves into the impact of copy and paste …

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The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

Physician
May 28, 2023

Anyone who practiced medicine in the past decade will be well acquainted with the myriad discussions about epidemic of burnout and the eroding of well-being among health care providers that has accelerated with the pandemic. With 63 percent of physicians having at least one symptom of burnout and professional fulfillment dropping from 40 to 20 percent in 2021, there are no shortage of culprits. Increased workload, documentation, and administrative …

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The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

Conditions
May 28, 2023

Upon reading numerous articles referencing physician coaching, most have been written by physicians who were transformed by coaching and then became coaches themselves. (Thank you.  Your work is so needed in this area!) At least once or twice, I’ve seen coaching referenced in a derogatory manner or deemed unnecessary. In those instances, the premise was that “the system” is the problem and coaching is not the answer. In reality, this …

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Raw humanity on night float: inspiring patient encounters and overcoming challenges

Physician
May 27, 2023

Night float had always been this mythical monster to me, an intimidating prospect that conjured up some of my greatest fears about a residency rotation – jetlag, nocturnal clock, lack of continuity with patients or a day team, multiple pagers and multiple admissions every night. Maybe it was the uncertainty of the unknown that had seemed so daunting.

Somehow, after three admissions on my first night, I found myself still awake …

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Is AI the solution for the shortage of nephrologists? ChatGPT weighs in.

Tech
May 27, 2023

As I’m sure you know, nephrology is the branch of internal medicine that deals with the kidneys. And in the U.S., young doctors are quite unlikely to choose this path.

Why? The combination of long hours, chronic illness, and (relatively) unimpressive pay has proven deadly to the field. In fact, around 30 percent of training (fellowship) positions go unfilled each year.

To stay afloat, the nephrology community has turned to …

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Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

Conditions
May 27, 2023

“One should . . . be able to see things as hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.”
– F. Scott Fitzgerald

I’m in a massive ballroom with numerous tables and promotional placards lining the walls and center. In attendance are every pharmaceutical manufacturer and their sales reps. All the biggies are here; Pfizer, Merck, Novartis, and AstraZeneca, to name a few. Their drugs are household names because they advertise …

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Why HIPAA is failing and what you need to know to protect your data [PODCAST]

Podcast
May 26, 2023
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Join us in this episode as we discuss the limitations of HIPAA and U.S. law in protecting health information privacy with our guest, Brian R. Jackson. As a pathologist, Brian provides a unique perspective on the challenges …

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