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Dealing with medical abandonment, neglect, and errors

Conditions

October 15, 2023

How should a patient deal with medical patient abandonment? A Japanese saying is, “It is better to fix the problem than to blame.” This invites a learning and growth opportunity for those with less knowledge and experience. Based on this, let us look at problem-solving for medical abandonment, neglect, and errors. The principle behind this philosophy follows the desire to allow an adversary to maintain face. If they take the …

Secrets to reviving physician autonomy [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 14, 2023

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

Join Diane Shannon, an internal medicine physician and physician coach. Explore the evolving landscape of physician autonomy and discover actionable insights on how health care professionals can regain agency and empower themselves for a more fulfilling career …

Why I left medicine – and why AI might convince me to return

Matthew Troup, PA-C

Tech

October 14, 2023

My first job as a physician assistant was in a neuro-oncology department. I was young, newly certified, and eager to interact with patients. The physician who mentored me there made sure I had the opportunity to counsel patients, and provide guidance and comfort after a new diagnosis. These are situations where a clinician needs time and space to be empathetic.

On one occasion, I spent nearly 45 minutes in the exam …

Achieving happiness: practical strategies for physicians

Tomi Mitchell, MD

Physician

October 14, 2023

Happiness is a widely discussed and sought-after topic. This dream, or the ideal world of happiness, is something many people claim they want but struggle to find. So, what exactly is happiness? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, happiness is a state of well-being and contentment.

Do you remember your happiest moments? As I write this, I reflect on my happiest moments—such as the birth of my first child. Then, as I …

A patient’s resilience and the challenge of dialysis

Anonymous

Conditions

October 14, 2023

After she developed a serious complication, she wanted to know the facts plainly stated. I told her the treatment would change her quality of life; it would be hard but doable. To this, she replied, “Now, don’t bullsh*t me, I don’t like bullsh*tters.”

These words were uttered by my resilient, 75-year-old patient undergoing peritoneal dialysis. She had recently developed one of the most dreaded complications of this treatment: calciphylaxis.

Her strong will …

Navigating the demands of emergency medicine [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 13, 2023

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Join Rida Jawed, an emergency medicine resident in Pakistan. Rida shares her invaluable insights and experiences from her journey in the emergency department. We delve into essential rules for thriving in this demanding field, from self-care to …

Essential caregiver roles and self-care tips

Nancie Wiseman Attwater

Conditions

October 13, 2023

An excerpt from A Caregiver’s Love Story.

Many people will become caregivers in their lifetime, or on the other hand, may need one. A “caregiver” is anyone who gives basic assistance and cares for someone who might be ill, disabled, or frail. There are a wide variety of tasks …

Codeine cough syrup: a controversial classification

L. Joseph Parker, MD

Meds

October 13, 2023

Did you know that promethazine with codeine cough syrup had a high risk of diversion and high risk of addiction? I didn’t.

From my experience, this is the only effective prescription cough medicine available. Sure, you can prescribe what is essentially over-the-counter dextromethorphan. But be ready when the patient throws a fit because that’s what they’ve been using for the last several days or weeks, and it wasn’t effective. Tessalon Perles …

Fruit and sugar: Debunking the myths

Roxanne B. Sukol, MD

Conditions

October 13, 2023

On many occasions, patients have asked me whether it’s OK to eat fruit. They’re worried about whether they should be eating foods high in sugar. Is fruit in that category? No, it is not. Does anyone really believe that fruit is what’s causing the paired epidemics of diabetes and obesity? This scourge is not being caused by fruit.

Let’s think about this. As long as the sugar in the food you …

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Fruit and sugar: Debunking the myths

Redefining postpartum support [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 12, 2023

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Join Theresa Mahon, an obstetrician-gynecologist, as she discusses her transformative journey in prioritizing postpartum care and the critical importance of the often-overlooked fourth trimester. Theresa shares her experiences and insights into improving the postpartum experience for new …

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Redefining postpartum support [PODCAST]

COVID vaccines and weight loss medications: a tale of 2 needles

Ryan McCarthy, MD

Conditions

October 12, 2023

I am perplexed by two different needles which, when viewed together, illustrate the irrational themes which dominate our shared humanity. They inform me that, despite being a doctor for more than twenty years, I honestly feel dumber each day about human behavior. If, unlike me, you have somehow figured out more along the way, good for you.

The first needle which vexes me was the one stuck in my arm on …

ChatGPT: Charting the future of health care with visionary AI

Harvey Castro, MD, MBA

Tech

October 12, 2023

As technology advances, the health care sector perennially seeks innovative solutions to enhance patient care, diagnostic capabilities, and accessibility. OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4, with its pioneering vision feature, has emerged as a potentially transformative tool, enabling myriad applications that traverse beyond textual interactions and delve deeply into the visual realm.

Elevating user interactivity in health care consultations. They were integrating visual capabilities in ChatGPT-4 ushers …

Why aren’t more pediatricians leaning into rural health?

Mick Connors, MD

Policy

October 12, 2023

Rural health for children is in trouble. Don’t take my word for it, just ask the CDC.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just offered further evidence that American children — and rural children in particular — are in trouble. Previously, the CDC had noted that poor U.S. children 2 to 8 years of age have higher rates of parent-reported mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders (MBDDs) than their …

How writing can elevate your health care career [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 11, 2023

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Join Harrison Reed, a physician assistant, as he shares his journey of discovering the superpower of writing. From defying childhood tasks to leveraging words to open doors to Yale and beyond, Harrison’s story demonstrates how writing can …

I’m a neurosurgeon. Social media may change your kid’s brain.

Marc Arginteanu, MD

Conditions

October 11, 2023

A 2023 study of middle school-aged children laid out some alarming findings. Scientists recruited more than one hundred and fifty children, all aged twelve, from rural North Carolina public schools. The children were surveyed regarding their social media usage, including Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Some of the kids rarely checked social media (one time or less per day), while others were glued to their screens, checking social media more than …

Open conversations about end-of-life care

Anonymous

Physician

October 11, 2023

An excerpt from The Adventures of Dr. Anonymous.

During the COVID pandemic, I wished I could put out a public service announcement for physicians, patients, and families about end-of-life care. Palliative care is critical to hospitalist practice and one of the least discussed fields of medicine. It also is a major …

Shifting social norms and their impact on emerging adulthood [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 10, 2023

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We sit down with Eleanor Menzin, a pediatrician, to explore the changing landscape of young adulthood. Join us as we delve into the shifting social norms, technology’s impact on parent-child relationships, and the evolving understanding of brain …

September in medicine: scouting season for future doctors

Stephen J. Foley

Education

October 10, 2023

In medicine, September marks scouting season. Like professional baseball clubs, residency programs meticulously generate and analyze scouting reports for prospective interns, aimed toward building an ideal lineup of future doctors that functions seamlessly as a team while augmenting everyone’s individual strengths.

From an applicant’s perspective, the focus on experience, exam scores, and class rankings reflects the layout of a player’s statistics on the back of a baseball card. With more objective …

A new approach to health care liability management

Howard Smith, MD

Physician

October 10, 2023

There is no shortage of the problems that plague health care. Even so, health law gurus make problems worse by creating the medical liability litigation industry. Gurus deny creating this industry. They create health reforms and tort reforms to solve problems. That explains the Affordable Care Act, 100 tort reforms, the medical liability litigation industry, and difficulties.

Have you …

Unlocking the power of doctors in addiction treatment [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 9, 2023

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

Join Jack McGeachy, an emergency physician and expert in addiction medicine. Discover how doctors possess a hidden superpower when it comes to addiction treatment and how they can effectively address the biological, psychological, and social aspects of …

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