I stood outside in my yard, which had been dormant during the winter season and was now awakening to the spring. Yard work was a familiar and enjoyable activity for me, one that I had been doing for years. But as I walked across the yard, I found myself out of breath and fatigued, to the point of needing to see if taking a nap would help. It did not. …
In the health care business, as in other industries, there are marginalized and privileged payers. The number of patients covered determines which health care payers can sell at wholesale pricing, benefiting themselves while expecting providers and institutions to make up for lower reimbursements with patient volume. Uninsured patients typically pay retail prices unless they can secure rare waivers from providers or institutions. These waivers are uncommon due to the complex …
“Money makes the world go ’round.”
Whether you believe this this figurative adage or not, it is a hard truth. Money is ubiquitous; it pervades everyday life. And money is the cornerstone of business. So I’m shocked to hear “pretty much nothing” when I ask residents what they’re taught about business and money these days.
Not to insult anyone’s intelligence, but I’ll venture an assumption. If you are a medical student, resident, …
For years, I have tried to interest journalists in the machinations of state medical boards, but all we ever see in the media are notices of doctors sanctioned by state boards. Unfortunately, when journalists report only on sanctioned physicians, the public has little understanding of how medical boards really function.
So, I am delighted to see Scott Jensen go after the Minnesota Board of Medicine (MNBOMP) for singling him out time …
As a new parent you look at your baby with a bright full future ahead of them. So much potential there swaddled in your arms. You look at parents of troubled teenagers and secretly look down on them; your perfect baby will never do anything like that. They must be poor parents. Too easy on their teenager. Not enough structure in the house, no rules or oversight. There is no …
The regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) has become a hot topic in recent years, especially as AI systems like ChatGPT continue to grow in prominence. OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, recently testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, emphasizing the need for collaboration between the government and private companies to create appropriate regulations. This article explores the pros and cons of AI …
An excerpt from Standing Up & Speaking Out for Patients & Doctors: First Steps Toward Focused Healthcare Solutions.
The casual observer, the season ticket holder, the player, and the coach have very different levels of knowledge, skill, and passion for a professional sport. The casual observer may be confused, not even understanding the fundamentals of the game. The season ticket holder …
Medical professionals have consistently demonstrated high levels of burnout and job dissatisfaction in recent times. This has become a significant concern for the health care sector and the general population since it affects the quality of health care services provided to patients. The stigma surrounding burnout and increasing awareness has made it easier to discuss openly among medical communities. The problem seems rooted in how doctors view themselves as medical …
“Ever since I had COVID, it always smells like something’s burning,” explained a patient suffering from symptoms of long COVID. This burning smell has plagued her for more than three months and is coupled with fatigue, difficulty breathing, and a persistent cough. Long COVID recently joined other diagnoses, such as diabetes and Crohn’s, as one of the most common chronic conditions Americans are facing today. Treatment for chronic conditions requires …
Medical school can be a challenging and demanding experience, and it’s no secret that many medical students struggle with mental health challenges as a result. In fact, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA, the prevalence of depression, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation among medical students is higher than in the general population. Despite this concerning trend, mental health support for medical students has often been lacking …
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In this episode, we explore the pros and cons of integrating ChatGPT, an advanced AI technology, into our health care system. Our guest, Liudmila Schafer, a board-certified medical oncologist, guides us through the potential benefits, such as …
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One of the not often discussed challenges of our EHRs may be getting patients to the right medical resource at a time most suitable for their medical condition. Our electronic systems, whether automated by algorithm or assigned to a person given a protocol have become too separated from medical care itself. Our schedulers are no longer ourselves or our secretaries trained in the variability of patient needs, which can then …
If you want to know whether a standard-of-care medication will work to treat your depression, flip a coin.
More than half of all patients treated for major depressive disorder (MDD), the clinical name for what is typically thought of as depression, don’t respond to the first treatment option prescribed to them. Even those who do respond often won’t see the full clinical benefit for up to 12 weeks. And yet, prescribing …
One of the more-anticipated movie releases in my household this spring was Air, which tells the story of Nike’s now-famous partnership with Michael Jordan. Their landmark shoe deal redefined what it meant to be a professional athlete: players evolved beyond serving as brand ambassadors to become brands unto themselves.
Jordan’s partnership with Nike marked a true industry paradigm shift. I can’t help but feel that health care is also at an …
One thing that has changed in medicine over my career is the emphasis on patient reviews. As time has passed, more of what we do as physicians has been attached to various metrics, and our identities and success or lack thereof have been defined by these metrics. A huge part of these metrics is patient reviews. In speaking with many of my fellow physicians and seeing numerous comments on physician …
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Join us as we chat with Stephanie Pearson, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and the CEO of PearsonRavitz, an insurance advisory firm. Stephanie shares her personal journey of resilience and reinvention after a career-ending injury, and how she found …
I was driving in the rain, taking in all the abundant Carolina greenery around me, reflecting on how wonderful it was to be out of the hospital and experience this current moment. I started to wonder when was the first time I ever felt burned out in my journey as a physician, and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Like a scarring memory deeply suppressed, rising to …
Like Seattle rain, the tears were persistent and recurrent for months. Hearing the words, “Your prenatal screening shows a high probability of Down syndrome,” followed two days thereafter by an ultrasound and the doctor’s words, “Well, you saw the ultrasound. This looks like Down syndrome and a cystic hygroma. You’ll need to come back for another ultrasound in a few weeks.” It was the first and last time we ever …
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