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

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

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

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 …

Unlocking your full earning potential: a physician’s journey to a $70,000 salary boost

Contract Diagnostics

Finance

September 19, 2023

In the demanding world of health care, physicians often dedicate their lives to patient care and burdensome administrative work, leaving little time to navigate the intricacies of their compensation and how it has stayed the same over the years. Many physicians unknowingly leave significant sums of money on the table, uncertain about how to maximize their earnings.

A goal for all physicians should be to understand their true market value. You …

Health care wins, losses, and lessons

Robert Pearl, MD

Policy

September 19, 2023

Albert Einstein determined that time is relative. And when it comes to health care, five years can be both a long and a short amount of time.

In August 2018, I launched the Fixing Healthcare podcast. At the time, the medium felt like the perfect auditory companion to the books and articles I’d been writing. By bringing on world-renowned guests and engaging in difficult but meaningful discussions, I hoped the show would have …

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Health care wins, losses, and lessons

I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD

Physician

September 19, 2023

There is an alarming health crisis happening in the U.S.–– Black women are dying at a disproportionate rate during pregnancy and childbirth.

According to the CDC, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women. Though childbirth complications are not exclusive to Black women, these shocking statistics underscore systemic challenges and distinct issues that other racial groups may not encounter. These …

Lessons taught by Bell’s palsy

Alexander Rakowsky, MD

Conditions

September 19, 2023

Recently, after a week of a viral illness that I most likely picked up from one of my patients as a pediatrician, I noticed that one side of my tongue felt as though I had dental anesthesia. During the day, this slowly progressed, but as night came, the progression rapidly intensified with my lips and eyelids on this same side now drooping. While I suspected Bell’s palsy, considering that I’m …

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Lessons taught by Bell’s palsy

Samuel Shem on 50 years of American medicine [PODCAST]

Samuel Shem, MD, PhD & The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 18, 2023

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

Join Samuel Shem, a renowned novelist, playwright, activist, Rhodes Scholar, and professor in medical humanities at NYU School of Medicine. We’ll dive into his latest novel, Our Hospital, which marks the culmination of The Healing Quartet, spanning …

The role of income in medical school acceptance

Carter Do

Education

September 18, 2023

It was during my general surgery rotation that I had an encounter with a urologist attending while waiting for pending surgery to occur. As we made small talk about the medical field, our conversation gravitated toward the topic of medical school admissions. The attending shared their opinion on the pressing issue of diversity among medical students, specifically in terms of socioeconomic status (SES). They discussed how the lack of representation …

Ketamine for mental health conditions: What every primary care physician needs to know

Carlene MacMillan, MD & L. Alison McInnes, MD

Meds

September 18, 2023

Wait times to find high-quality mental health support continue to be an issue, lagging from weeks to months in, leading to primary care physicians (PCPs) assuming a large role in addressing the pressing shortage of mental health services. Acting as the point of entry into the mental health care system, PCPs are encountering patients with complex mental health challenges who are often unable to secure appointments with specialists for …

Maximizing care amidst provider shortages: the power of measurement-based care

Tom Zaubler, MD

Policy

September 18, 2023

Since the pandemic, the shortage of behavioral health professionals has become more dire as the need for more comprehensive mental health care has increased. As of March 2023, 160 million Americans lived in areas with mental health professional shortages. 55% of counties in the U.S. have no psychiatrists, and 77% report a severe shortage.

In some states, such as Maine, there was a 50% drop in the number of …

Unthinkable choices in childbirth emergencies

Kim M. Puterbaugh, MD

Conditions

September 18, 2023

Firefighters and doctors stand beside you on your worst days. On our best days, we help you sidestep disaster. On our worst days, we make gruesome decisions, so you don’t have to.

Andrea’s family barely survived the pandemic. Her husband lost his job and her beloved grandmother lost her life. But after years of setbacks, today was move-in day.

The seaside bungalow was not as big as she’d hoped, but still perfect. …

How compassionate leadership saved this physician [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 17, 2023

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

Join Anjani Mahabashya, a physician advisor, as she shares her remarkable journey from hospitalist to her current role. Discover how hope, networking, and empathy played pivotal roles in her transformation. Explore the power of compassionate leadership in …

The link between orofacial myofunctional disorders and dental health

Stephanie Jeret

Conditions

September 17, 2023

How many rabbits have you seen with crooked teeth? How about bears or dogs? Why are humans the only mammals with crooked teeth?

An orofacial myofunctional disorder, or OMD, describes abnormal lip, jaw, or tongue positions during rest, swallowing, or speech. There are many distinct points at which a child or adult’s system may experience a breakdown, leading to subsequent events known as craniofacial sequences. Allowing these events to persist without …

A message of hope for physicians

Kim Downey, PT

Physician

September 17, 2023

Physicians are struggling with challenges navigating the health care system while trying to provide the best possible care for their patients. Sometimes, struggles at work are compounded by struggles at home as we all face stressors during our travel through life; doctors are no exception.

Many physicians who went through a period of burnout have sought and are seeking help. They are feeling hope for the future. I asked three physicians …

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A message of hope for physicians

Motorcycle helmet laws: Balancing freedom and financial impact

Stephen Cohn, MD

Conditions

September 17, 2023

Several years ago, I cared for a young man who crashed his motorcycle at highway speeds. He arrived, slightly dazed, with a few broken bones. Because he was wearing a full-face helmet, he had sustained only a concussion. The paramedics brought in his helmet as they often do, this one with the metal side buffed down to the inner plastic cushion from the grinding contact with the asphalt. Had he …

Crying to be heard: women in emotional pain

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Conditions

September 17, 2023

I am struck by how often crying is overlooked or trivialized by doctors despite its therapeutic value and need for recognition. Crying can play a significant role in healing and overall well-being. Research has shown that crying serves as an emotional release, provides pain relief, reduces stress, improves mood, and enhances communication. Encouraging a culture of acceptance and understanding around crying in medical settings can contribute to holistic and empathetic …

From aversion to office politics to embracing independence

Osmund Agbo, MD

Physician

September 17, 2023

Though often described as friendly and a great team player, I sometimes find myself harboring strong opinions. When pushed, my personality occasionally veers towards the rebellious. I disdain formal meetings, struggle with office politics, and lack the art of flattery. These qualities collectively render me less than an ideal candidate for any conventional employment, or so I surmise.

Antecedent to the culmination of my residency and fellowship, a pivotal decision crystallized …