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Why emotional intelligence is critical for safe nurse staffing

Conditions

October 27, 2023

In Daniel Goleman’s model of emotional intelligence (EQ), there are two main competencies: Personal competency, which includes self-awareness, self-regulation, and motivation; and social competency, which includes social skills and empathy.

We can think of both competencies in terms of communication. Personal competency relates to our abilities to identify and value our needs, wants, limits, etc., and to express them respectfully, i.e., speaking up. Social competency refers to our ability to observe, …

Decoding doctor designations: the crucial need to ditch the “provider” label

Austin Miller

Education

October 27, 2023

Health care terminology has evolved significantly over the years, with the term “provider” becoming a standard reference for various health care professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. While the term includes many health care professionals in current medical practice, it’s important to discuss why “provider” was initially used and should not be used interchangeably with “physician.”

A brief history of the term “provider”

The term “provider” in health care began …

Combating physician burnout: the case for subsidized vacations

Angel Garcia Otano, MD

Policy

October 27, 2023

Physician burnout is a pressing issue in the health care industry, with detrimental effects on both health care providers and the American public. Family physicians, in particular, play a crucial role in the well-being of individuals and communities. This essay explores the mental health benefits that family physicians derive from enjoying time away from the office and argues for government subsidization of their vacation time as a measure to mitigate …

Revolutionizing health care ops: data connectivity and AI insights [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 26, 2023

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Join nurse executives Linda Knodel and Karlene Kerfoot as they share their 45 years of experience in health care administration. In this insightful podcast, they discuss the urgent challenges facing health care organizations, the power of data …

The connection between organ systems and skin health in Chinese medicine

Jinguan Yang, MD

Conditions

October 26, 2023

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), health is perceived as a holistic concept that encompasses not only the physical aspects of our bodies but also the emotional and spiritual dimensions.

Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have long held the belief that there is a deep connection between our organ systems and the appearance of our face.

This profound link sheds light on how our internal well-being and emotions can be reflected in our facial …

Reevaluating beliefs: the role of real doctors

Jennifer Shaer, MD

Physician

October 26, 2023

Real doctors see patients. For years, I have held this thought as a truth. But it’s not a fact; it’s a belief, and it is no longer serving me.

I’ve been questioning this belief for a while, but this weekend at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition, I gained some clarity. There, I met, heard from, and spoke with so many fascinating physicians—physicians who are doing all sorts …

Tomb of the unknown emergency physician

Yogin Patel, MD, MBA

Physician

October 26, 2023

An overly familiar alarm buzzes at 4:20 a.m. My first thought was, “I should have slept more.” I lazily brush my teeth with the combination of spearmint and reflux mixing in the back of my throat. With heavy arms and legs, I wearily climb into scrubs in the dark and carefully exit the house – a thief in my own night. The pitch-black drive is less interesting this morning. News …

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Tomb of the unknown emergency physician

Life-changing surgery: Embracing my true self

Miles Borrero

Conditions

October 26, 2023

An excerpt from Beautiful Monster: A Becoming.

The day of the surgery we show up early to the small clinic. After a brief wait we are taken into the back, where the doctor draws a map of my body-to-be on my now-body, detailing the road to my new life. The anesthesiologist …

Opioid regulations: a patient advocate’s insights [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 25, 2023

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Join Richard A. Lawhern, a patient advocate. We delve into the critical issues surrounding U.S. policy for the regulation of prescription opioid pain relievers and the challenges faced by clinicians managing chronic pain patients. Explore the controversial …

The Djokovic saga: Vaccination policies revisited

Dinesh Arab, MD

Conditions

October 25, 2023

No matter your politics or judgment on the COVID-19 vaccine, we can agree that the visuals of the world’s number one tennis player being detained and treated like a criminal when he went to the Australian Open last year were unsettling, and the Australian government should have better handled his case. To recap, Mr. Djokovic flew to Australia in January 2022 on a vaccine exemption as he had a COVID-19 …

Are you taking advantage of all of your tax deferred investment options?

Amarish Dave, DO

Finance

October 25, 2023

Given the tax bracket most doctors are in, reducing their tax burden is a key factor in their investment success and long-term retirement plan. At this time of year, many doctors may not have maximized all of their retirement tax-deferred options. Here is a summary of different options to consider.

Traditional 401(k) plans

Benefits

Tax deductions. Contributions to a Traditional 401(k) are tax-deductible, reducing an individual’s taxable income for the year in which …

Nature’s role in relieving physician burnout

Michele Luckenbaugh

Conditions

October 25, 2023

In today’s corporate health care world, physicians are exposed to high levels of stress in the course of carrying out the duties of their profession, making them susceptible to experiencing burnout. Burnout has far-reaching implications not only for doctors but also for patients and the health care system that employs them. Burnout among doctors increases the risk of depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, fatigue, alcohol and drug misuse, premature retirement, and …

Conquering fear: Embracing possibilities beyond the horizon

Sogol Pahlavan, MD

Physician

October 25, 2023

When you think about a beach vacation, what comes to mind? What do you picture?

Fish, seaweed, sharks, sea foam, water bugs, or clear sunny skies? The sound of surfing waves, the feeling of soft sand, or the desire for a perfect tan?

My daughter possesses a meticulous, organized, and clean nature. She finds solace in predictability and dislikes the uncertainty of nature. Consequently, she rarely enjoys hiking, dismissing it as “too …

Metric shaming in medicine and 3 ways to overcome it

Archana Reddy Shrestha, MD

Physician

October 25, 2023

Looking back at my career as an emergency physician, I remember how my first year out of residency was a roller coaster ride with many ups and downs, practicing as an emergency physician in a semi-rural town in Illinois. But once I found my stride and confidence as an attending physician, I recall distinctly knowing to my core that I was a good doctor. I was strong in my clinical …

AI in health care: possibilities and ethical questions [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 24, 2023

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We sit down with Farhan S. Imran, a hematology-oncology physician. Join us as we explore the evolving landscape of health care and technology, discussing the impact of computers on the doctor-patient relationship, the role of AI in …

Are we missing the mark with generative AI?

Matthew Allen

Tech

October 24, 2023

The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) 25×5 Task Force was established in 2022 with the goal of reducing clinician documentation burden by 25 percent in 5 years. Recently, the task force found that “organizational efforts to address documentation burden … were all focused on documentation creation, not on information retrieval.” Similarly, much of the early hype surrounding large language models (LLMs) and generative …

Rethinking U.S. opioid policy

Richard A. Lawhern, PhD

Conditions

October 24, 2023

I write widely as a subject matter expert on U.S. policy for the regulation of prescription opioid pain relievers and of clinicians who employ them in managing their patients’ chronic pain. Because I am a patient advocate and the spouse of a chronic pain patient, I hear from a lot of suffering people. In one form or another, many of their pleas amount to, “My doctor has deserted me, …

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Rethinking U.S. opioid policy

My breast cancer journey: Why mammograms matter

Debbie Moore-Black, RN

Conditions

October 24, 2023

25 years ago, at the age of 42, I had my first mammogram, which was part of my routine checkup. I had no symptoms at the time.

I was devastated when the radiologist discovered a shadow in my left breast. To confirm this, a biopsy was scheduled, and indeed, the biopsy confirmed that I had breast cancer.

I consider myself fortunate because we caught it early, and there was no involvement of …

Insights into the gastroenterology workforce [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 23, 2023

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

Join Brian Hudes, a gastroenterologist. We’ll delve into the evolving landscape of gastroenterology in the United States, exploring historical decisions, changing demographics, and the impact on physician salaries. Discover the challenges and potential solutions in this vital …

Learning health equity from activists: a paradigm shift for physicians

Betty Yibrehu, MD

Physician

October 23, 2023

The practice of evidence-based medicine and lifelong learning are core tenets of medicine. Through courses, conferences, and lectures, physicians have regularly turned to their colleagues for continuing education. For decades, this reliance on physician-to-physician teaching has been a fitting choice for the subjects at hand, which usually related to clinical practice. In recent years, there has been widespread development of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Holding to previous patterns, …

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