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The complexities of healing and faith

Conditions

September 10, 2023

As a physician, there are moments during the day when you must deliver a disheartening diagnosis to your patient: pancreatic cancer, ALS, leukemia, and unfortunately, the list goes on. The patient must face the harsh realities that are now placed before him/her. Those realities, at times, leave him with a very small window of hope for improvement. Sometimes, solutions cannot be found with the use of a scalpel, chemotherapy, or …

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The complexities of healing and faith

Perseverance in medical school [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 9, 2023

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Join Marthena Phan, a medical student who shares her story of perseverance, setbacks, and ultimate triumph. From struggling with academics to facing the daunting prospect of starting over, Marthena’s story is a testament to resilience, the power of support, and the importance of embracing challenges.

A season of emotions: spring, trauma, and healing

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Physician

September 9, 2023

Spring is an interesting time of the year for me. April 15 may actually be my favorite day, but certainly not because income taxes are due. My dad was born on April 15, but that’s not the reason either.

Let me set the scene. I lived in a beautiful home in a wooded area outside Philadelphia for ten years. The area is known as the Brandywine Valley. It’s the site of the …

The impact of certificate of need laws on rural health care

Jaimie Cavanaugh, JD and Daryl James

Policy

September 9, 2023

Rural communities have a problem. Their health care options continue to shrink, as medical facilities close or consolidate. The trend has accelerated in recent years, but Westfield Memorial Hospital in Western New York wants to expand.

The tiny facility on the shores of Lake Erie has four inpatient beds, and has plans to double its capacity to eight. The $700,000 project would not require an additional wing or any new floor …

Don’t disrupt success in Medicare

Theresa Forster and Logan Hoover

Policy

September 9, 2023

Each year, Congress goes through its annual budget process to determine how to spend more than $6 trillion on America’s priorities. This year, as part of the discussions on how to spend Medicare’s $900 billion budget, we are being told the Medicare Trust Fund, which is projected to spend $415 billion in 2023 for Part A expenditures, which cover inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, nursing home, home health, and hospice care, …

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Don’t disrupt success in Medicare

Part-time opportunities for modern physicians [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 8, 2023

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

Join Corinne Sundar Rao, an internal medicine physician, and Aaron Morgenstein, an orthopedic surgeon, to explore the evolving landscape of medical practice. We discuss the challenges health care facilities face in recruiting and retaining physicians, the shifting …

Unveiling the inner dynamics behind high achievers’ success

Michaela Weaver

Conditions

September 8, 2023

In the realm of leadership development, an array of groundbreaking initiatives is surfacing, igniting profound transformations on multiple fronts. Resilience programs, in particular, are equipping leaders with the agility to navigate our fast-paced world and fostering the internal adaptability essential for constant change. Yet, despite these promising strides, a disconcerting surge in anxiety, stress, and burnout among executives has emerged.

Startling statistics underscore this disconcerting trend. In 2022, a staggering 31% …

Support your local plasmapheresis center

Martin C. Young, MD

Conditions

September 8, 2023

Every day, thousands of people lie on a couch and have their arm stabbed with a large needle. Blood from the venipuncture snakes down into a container. In some individuals, this continues until the volume is about a pint – 500 mL; for this, they get a cookie and a glass of juice. In others, the collection is larger – around 2,500 mL; for this, they get between $50 to …

Diversified treatments are needed to fight the increasing threat of liver cancer

Eugene Chan, MD

Conditions

September 8, 2023

Since the mid-1970s, rates for liver cancer have been on the rise. A 2017 study found that liver cancer increased by 75 percent worldwide between 1990 and 2015, with the highest rate increases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Worldwide, hepatitis B—a virus that damages the liver and is spread through contact with infected blood and other body fluids—is the most common cause of liver cancer; however, in …

Coaching for medical students [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 7, 2023

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

We’re joined by Amruti Borad, a family physician, to explore the transformative power of coaching in medical education. From the highs and challenges of medical school to self-doubt and purpose-seeking, we discuss how coaching can enhance resilience …

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Coaching for medical students [PODCAST]

Transparency, not charity: a real solution to America’s medical debt crisis

Sami Alahmadi and Fadi D. Masoud

Policy

September 7, 2023

A recent act of kindness from Trinity Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has gone viral for its creative method of tackling medical debt. It involves the church paying off $3.3 million in medical debt belonging to 3,355 local families – complete with a cathartic video of the oppressive debt being burned to ashes – by purchasing it for pennies on the dollar from debt collectors. Though heartwarming at first …

Artificial intelligence in mental health care shows how lonely we really are

Weisheng Mao, MD

Physician

September 7, 2023

Like many psychiatrists, I have scoffed every time I’ve heard about artificial intelligence providing psychotherapy or other mental health care. How could patients not notice the difference between me and a bot, or how could they not care? Yet this is a direction that is being actively explored in mental health care as a way of increasing access and reducing stigma, with multiple AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants on the …

Holistic physician contract reviews [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 6, 2023

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Join Jonathan Appino, founder of Contract Diagnostics. He discusses a unique approach that provides comprehensive contract reviews, custom-built solutions, and vital educational resources to empower physicians. We delve into the intricacies of complex compensation models, staying updated …

The essence of medicine: genuine connections in practice

Jennifer Tillman, MD

Physician

September 6, 2023

Remember organic chemistry?

I have a distinct memory of a rainy December day many years ago. I am standing in the hallway of the chemistry building at UC Davis, looking at a list taped to the wall of social security numbers and corresponding grades. I have just found my grade in organic chemistry, which is a C minus. For a visual person like myself, OChem (as we called it then) was …

Year-end tax strategies: How to lower your tax bill

Amarish Dave, DO

Finance

September 6, 2023

I can’t believe it is the last quarter of 2023 already.

As the end of the year approaches, many doctors are busy with patients trying to get in for procedures as deductibles get met. It’s also a crucial time to consider what’s going to happen when you file your taxes in 2024.

Making strategic investments before the year’s end can significantly reduce your tax liability and potentially increase your wealth in the …

The Kumbh Mela festival in India and the social psychological implications of crowds

Glenn Mark Losack, MD

Physician

September 6, 2023

An excerpt from The Bonds We Share: Images of Humanity, 40 Years Around the Globe.

Once every 12 years, …

A doctor’s genuine approach to medication-assisted therapy patients

Jill Becker, MD

Conditions

September 6, 2023

This past week, I was speaking with a patient; let’s call her Marcy, during her regular appointment. “You’re just not like other doctors,” she said. “How is that?” I asked.

This seems like a good place to discuss the reason Marcy comes to see me. Marcy has a history of opioid use disorder. She has been on medication-assisted therapy (MAT) for many years. For those unaware, opioid use can alter people’s …

Balancing medical guidelines and personalized care [PODCAST]

Alan Lindemann, MD & The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 5, 2023

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Join Alan Lindemann, an obstetrics-gynecology physician, as we explore the fascinating interplay between evidence-based medicine and the invaluable insights gained from individual patient stories. Alan shares his insights on navigating rigid medical guidelines, the art of personalized …

Diabetes and liver disease: urgent screening needs highlighted by personal tragedy

Sarah Bauer, MD

Conditions

September 5, 2023

The American Diabetes Association recently released screening guidelines for liver disease in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Notably, 70 percent of people with type 2 diabetes have liver disease, and the most common form is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Ultimately, this can lead to cirrhosis and cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, the rates of liver cancer have tripled since 1980. Currently, one in 10 Americans has diabetes, …

Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

Tami Burdick

Conditions

September 5, 2023

Chances are, you or someone you know has fallen victim to medical gaslighting at some point, especially as we see an increase in this unfortunate practice in today’s modern health care system. Maybe you have experienced medical gaslighting without even realizing it. What exactly is medical gaslighting? It’s a term given to a practice stemming from our medical community where doctors and specialists alike make patients feel a multitude of …

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