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Why patients write: stress relief, self-care, and sharing experiences

Conditions

September 23, 2023

To compliment and complement the KevinMD article “Why physicians need to write,” by Dr. Louise Aronson, I’ll share why patients, at least this patient, write. I wrote What Patients Want: Anecdotes and Advice because I had been “adrift in a draft, if you get my drift,” in doctors’ offices, and I thought I could share the perspective of the patient in the white paper sack, with health care …

Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

Randall S. Fong, MD

Physician

September 23, 2023

One day, you find yourself on the edge, peering into the abyss. Then someone pushes you in. Welcome to the first day as a surgery intern. Few folks outside of medicine fully fathom the rigors a doctor must endure during post-graduate training. From the get-go, we were thrown into the fire, responsible for complicated, sick hospital patients, in what felt like a prolonged boot camp, where ridiculously long hours, horrid …

Misinformed claims and the offensiveness of discrediting COVID-19 vaccine development

Angel Garcia Otano, MD

Conditions

September 23, 2023

The development of COVID-19 vaccines has been an extraordinary scientific achievement in the face of a global health crisis. However, an unfortunate consequence has been the emergence of misinformed claims by non-medical individuals who assert that these vaccines were not appropriately vetted for human use. This essay aims to highlight the fatigue and offensiveness caused by such assertions, considering the extensive research, rigorous testing, and regulatory oversight involved in the …

Bitcoin’s role in diversified portfolios [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 22, 2023

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Join us as we delve into the world of Bitcoin investment with Noah Kaufman, an emergency physician and financial planner. Discover the potential benefits and risks of adding Bitcoin to your portfolio, the significance of the upcoming …

1 in 5 doctors will become disabled. Are you prepared?

Amarish Dave, DO

Finance

September 22, 2023

Doctors, like all professionals, are not immune to accidents, illnesses, or injuries. While you dedicate your life to improving the health of others, it’s equally important to safeguard your own financial well-being. Disability insurance acts as a financial lifeline, offering income replacement when you can’t work due to a disability.

1. Protecting your income. Your income is a significant asset; it supports your lifestyle, family, and financial commitments. Disability insurance ensures that …

The pros and cons of whole life insurance for high-income earners

Shane Tenny, CFP

Finance

September 22, 2023

According to the American Council of Life Insurers, permanent insurance is the most common type of life insurance purchased in the U.S. today. There are various types of permanent life insurance available, but traditional whole life insurance is the most popular. Whole life insurance has pros and cons for high-income earners like physicians.

What is whole life insurance?

Life insurance policies come in two main types: permanent life and term life. Whole …

Family support is pivotal in the treatment of schizophrenia

Frank Chen, MD

Conditions

September 22, 2023

Research reveals that most caregivers of people living with schizophrenia are family members (94 percent), and oftentimes, the journey of the caregiver can be just as challenging as that of the patient, whether they’re newly diagnosed or have been managing the condition for years.

As they navigate the journey together, it’s important that patients have a support system and that caregivers are educated on the disease and treatment options, and …

Is emergency medicine your calling? [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 21, 2023

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Join Yang Wang, an emergency physician. Explore the unique challenges and rewards of emergency medicine, the evolving landscape of the field, and the qualities that make someone an ideal fit for this demanding profession. Discover insights into …

Exploring disfigurement and self-worth

Kathleen Watt

Conditions

September 21, 2023

An excerpt from Rearranged: An Opera Singer’s Facial Cancer And Life Transposed.

In the usual post-op haze after reconstructive surgery, in a wide-open, multi-bed recovery room partitioned by wavy muslin walls, I heard one strangled sentence rise above the racket of skittering curtain hooks.

“Honey, I’m a monster!”

My gaze swiveled toward a …

Read more…

Exploring disfigurement and self-worth

AI is living up to its promise as a tool for radiology

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian

Tech

September 21, 2023

For the last few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has been proving itself as an effective tool in breast cancer screening. An ever-growing list of research studies has shown that using AI in mammography can safely and efficiently reduce patient wait times while reducing the pressure on in-demand radiologists.

This is significant, as early detection greatly improves patient outcomes and long-term survival. Imagine how much more significant it would be if AI …

The shifting landscape of gastroenterology manpower and compensation

Brian Hudes, MD

Physician

September 21, 2023

The field of gastroenterology in the United States has undergone a significant transformation over the past 5 to 10 years, driven by a confluence of historical changes in training programs, changing demographics among GI doctors due to the relatively new specialty of GI endoscopy, and a dwindling supply of gastroenterologists. These factors have culminated in a notable impact on gastroenterology physician salaries and have raised important questions about the future …

I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

Shiv Rao, MD

Tech

September 21, 2023

As I pull into clinic, my intention is always the same: be fully present with each patient. By the time I’m two patients in, the reality is always different.

We’ve all read the mindfulness quotes about the virtues of being “in the moment,” but somewhere after the first couple visits of the day we face a decision—to shift our attention away from patients and toward the computer screen with the aspiration …

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I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

Diverse paths to financial freedom for doctors [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 20, 2023

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Join Cobin Soelberg, an anesthesiologist and financial planner. Discover the secrets to achieving financial independence as a physician, the importance of consistency in wealth-building, and the myriad paths to financial freedom. Gain valuable insights into managing your …

AI-driven diagnostics and beyond

Michael Kirsch, MD

Tech

September 20, 2023

Years from now, the notion of simple telemedicine will seem quaint. Keep in mind that as recently as a decade ago, most physicians would have denied that telemedicine could ever play a role in the medical profession. Physicians would have argued that this would dismantle the fundamental unit of medical care – the in-person office visit.

Physicians would have rigidly maintained that they had to be face-to-face with their patients. Doctors …

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AI-driven diagnostics and beyond

Applying the differential diagnosis method to investing

Amarish Dave, DO

Finance

September 20, 2023

For those of us in the field of medicine, the differential diagnosis method is second nature. It involves considering a list of potential causes (differential diagnoses) for a patient’s symptoms and systematically narrowing down the possibilities through evaluation, testing, and clinical judgment. This method helps us arrive at the most likely diagnosis and, subsequently, the most appropriate treatment plan.

Now, let’s apply this concept to investing.

Symptom recognition in investing

In medicine, patients …

Pediatricians grapple with guns in America, from Band-Aids to bullets

Tasia Isbell, MD, MPH

Policy

September 20, 2023

“My best friend was murdered while we were walking home from school.”

The once lively thirteen-year-old boy now slumped in the chair across from me, his words spilling out with newfound heaviness. As I looked at him during what was supposed to be a routine well-child check, I couldn’t shake the air of depression that suddenly choked the room. In the months that followed, I received a call from his school: …

13.1 million missing Americans since 1980. Where’s the outrage?

Steve Burgess, MD

Meds

September 20, 2023

Americans die younger than people living in other wealthy nations. A lot younger. That’s been the case since the early 1980s, and it’s getting worse. A lot worse. Since 1980, 13.1 million American lives have been lost relative to other wealthy nations.

Did we even see this in the news? The entire population of the Los Angeles metropolitan statistical area lost in a little over 40 years. Over 2 million were …

Surgical procedures for inpatients: Addressing socioeconomic urgencies

Deepak Gupta, MD

Physician

September 20, 2023

Inpatients require surgical procedures, raising the question of whether these procedures should be scheduled as elective or emergent. Traditionally, surgeries were deemed emergencies solely when there were physical, psychological, or rarely, spiritual imperatives, necessitating immediate action to avert irrevocable harm to patients’ bodies, minds, and souls. Now, the debate centers on whether surgical procedures can be considered emergencies to mitigate socioeconomic risks. These risks could lead to profound and lasting …

Balancing motherhood and medicine [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 19, 2023

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Join Eleanor Menzin, a pediatrician, to explore the intricate dance of motherhood and medicine. In this heartfelt discussion, we delve into her personal journey, navigating the dual roles of a working parent and health care professional. From …

Are we doing enough to help chronic pain sufferers?

Adam Strohl, MD

Conditions

September 19, 2023

One in five adults in the U.S. suffers from chronic pain. We see these patients every day—but do we really hear them when they confide in us about their pain?

As health care providers, no matter our discipline, we can do more to truly listen and consider the best referral pathway for pain sufferers. We should never assume they’re making it up, that it’s in their heads, or that nothing …

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