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COVID-19 unleashed an ongoing crisis of delirium in hospitals

Christina Reppas-Rindlisbacher, MD, Nathan Stall, MD, and Paula Rochon, MD

Conditions

September 27, 2023

Older adults have borne the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. While Canadians aged 60 years and older make up only 20 percent of the population, they account for 69.5 percent of all COVID-19 hospitalizations, and most — 91.7 percent — of all COVID-19 deaths.

One aspect of health care during the pandemic that has received considerably less attention is the failure of effective delirium care.

Delirium is a …

Doctors and disability insurance: Protecting your income

Amarish Dave, DO

Finance

September 27, 2023

What is disability insurance?

Disability insurance, sometimes referred to as income protection or disability income insurance, is a financial safety net designed to replace a portion of your income if you become unable to work due to illness or injury. It ensures that you can continue to meet your financial obligations, even when your medical practice is put on hold.

Why do doctors need disability insurance?

Doctors, like any other professionals, are susceptible …

Emergency care nightmare: the urgent need for experienced nurses

Rachel Basham, RN, CCRN

Conditions

September 27, 2023

Imagine you are in a bad car accident. You are in and out of consciousness. There are lights and sirens and the smell of gasoline. Everything hurts more than you can bear. Hands pull you from the car and place you on a hard backboard with a rigid cervical collar around your neck. You bump down the road in the back of an ambulance as you start feeling like you …

Physicians have no autonomy. Here’s how to change that.

Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH

Physician

September 27, 2023

“Physicians have no autonomy.” I read and hear versions of this every day, expressed with anger, resignation, or both. It’s also called agency, control, and power (as in feeling empowered).

I’m the first one to admit that physicians have way less autonomy than in the ten decades that preceded this one. Moving from private practice to employed models, heightened focus on productivity, compensation via RVUs, and mergers have shifted the power …

Understanding intersex health care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 26, 2023

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Join Rosemary Eseh-Logue, an internal medicine physician, as we delve into the often-overlooked topic of intersex variations in sexual development. We explore the importance of understanding intersex identities, breaking down misconceptions, and improving health care experiences for …

The erosion of patient care

Laura de la Torre, MD

Physician

September 26, 2023

The Black Eyed Peas asked, “Where is the love?” and that’s what I wonder, too. As medicine – oops, I’m supposed to say “health care” – has become more and more corporate, what has been slipping away is the love. What do I mean by that? There were specific ways we old docs were trained to care for patients.

Let’s start with bedside manner. We were trained to sit with the …

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The erosion of patient care

Debating the role of psychiatric assessments in medical decisions

Christian Youssef & Francisco M. Torres, MD

Conditions

September 26, 2023

I recently had an incident involving a long-time patient. This particular encounter proved to be challenging. The patient had chronic pain for years and had already exhausted all conventional treatment options. Ironically, he was otherwise healthy and fit. His recalcitrant condition made him a prime candidate to be treated with a spinal sord stimulator (SCS).

An SCS is an implantable device with two electrode leads connected to a battery-powered pulse generator. …

Navigating adulthood in the digital age

Eleanor Menzin, MD

Physician

September 26, 2023

When my parents were 22, they were two years out of college. My mother was married and commuting from Dallas to graduate school in Houston, on the verge of another cross-country move and a metaphorical world away from her New York City upbringing. My father was the officer running the kitchen on a United States Navy frigate somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea, a literal world away from his Brooklyn childhood.

When …

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Navigating adulthood in the digital age

5 things to know about weight from a bariatric surgeon

Maria Iliakova, MD

Conditions

September 26, 2023

You’ve probably had friends and family corner you to look at a rash or talk about medications. With social media exploding about Ozempic, these questions and even curbsides from physicians have boomed. We all want to know more about weight.

As a bariatric surgeon, here are five things every physician should know about weight:

How to start a conversation with a patient about weight
When to refer a patient to a …
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5 things to know about weight from a bariatric surgeon

Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 25, 2023

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Join Banu Symington, a hematology-oncology physician, as she shares her expertise and insights on the topic of out-of-office infusions, discussing patient safety, experience, and the potential impact on cancer care.

Banu …

The power of business knowledge for medical professionals

Curtis G. Graham, MD

Physician

September 25, 2023

My own hundreds of medical articles floating around in the media today about business education being the rigorous standard for profitable and successful businesses, such as private medical practice business, seem to be unworthy for consideration by the dominant leadership in medical school education.

But when I find myself being sucked into reading deep thoughts uttered by world-renowned business experts such as Dan S. Kennedy, Peter Drucker, Maxwell Maltz, MD, Michael …

Using the language of art to create work-life balance

Sarah Samaan, MD

Physician

September 25, 2023

Most physicians cite work-life balance as a top priority. Yet there is little clarity on what exactly work-life balance means.

Some prefer the term work-life integration, suggesting that work and personal life should be intertwined. Work-life integration is a common buzzword in managerial circles. However, for most physicians, this way of life is already a reality. Taking calls, working late, and keeping up with CME and recertification already mean that much …

Levamisole is good for your dog, but bad for your cocaine

Robert Killeen, MD

Meds

September 25, 2023

In recent years, public attention has been focused on the presence of Fentanyl-laced cocaine. It has overshadowed another new threat just as heinous yet relatively unknown – that of levamisole. Since the turn of the century, the use of levamisole has grown as a “filler” to cut or increase the amount of cocaine sold. Other than for veterinary use, this compound has been largely abandoned by human medicine due to …

Physician autonomy and patient interactions in corporate health care

Michele Luckenbaugh

Conditions

September 25, 2023

Have you noticed that when you try to make an appointment with your primary care physician, you have to wait much longer these days to be seen? And when you do finally walk into the exam room for the appointment, it seems the countdown clock is already in motion. Have you also noticed that the face you last saw opposite you for your previous check-up is not necessarily the same …

PSA screening: What you need to know [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 24, 2023

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Join Stephen Lieberman, a urologist, as we navigate the nuances of prostate care, discussing the evolution of PSA screening, the controversies it has sparked, and the crucial insights that can empower individuals to make informed decisions about …

Vague criteria can lead to misdiagnosis and prison

L. Joseph Parker, MD

Conditions

September 24, 2023

The definition of addiction, now called substance use disorder, has varied greatly over time. The first edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, from 1952, didn’t include specific diagnostic criteria for this condition. Over the next sixty years, the DSM went through six revisions, with a slow evolution of the terms “substance abuse” and “dependence.” The first was limited to substance use causing social and occupational problems, while the last …

U.S. maternal mortality crisis: a deep dive

Alan Lindemann, MD

Conditions

September 24, 2023

Our increasing maternal mortality rate is gathering attention both nationally and internationally. The U.S. is 33rd among developed nations, and the rate is increasing. Indeed, as Neel Shah notes:

Americans today are 50 percent more likely to die in the period surrounding childbirth than their own mothers.

In 1974, the U.S. maternal mortality rate was 9 per 100,000 live births. By 1980, the rate was 8 maternal deaths per 100,000 births. …

Lively communication in the service industry

Deepak Gupta, MD

Physician

September 24, 2023

Gaining insight into the customer’s perspective often occurs when one steps into the customer’s shoes, even if it’s in a different service industry. However, it’s crucial to remember that employees are individuals with their own needs. This brings us to a significant question: Should employees engage in lively and perhaps even boisterous conversations while confined to their workplace, where they might be the only sources of human interaction in an …

Contemporary weight loss: Unveiling the quest for elusive elixir

Osmund Agbo, MD

Conditions

September 24, 2023

Recently, I received a call from an old friend. We had drifted apart over the years, but his purpose in calling wasn’t rooted in a desire to rekindle the embers of yesteryears. No. Rather, it was an explicit inquiry into whether I could assist him in obtaining the elusive elixir of contemporary weight loss. In revealing tones, he shared that the specter of obesity loomed heavily in his family lineage, …

Balancing efficiency and compassion [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 23, 2023

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

Join Scott Abramson, a neurologist, as he explores the delicate balance between medical efficiency and genuine compassion in the fast-paced world of health care. Discover practical insights and strategies to nurture empathy, enhance patient care, and find …

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