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From Moscow Mule to the opioid crisis: Unveiling the tragic legacy and urgent solutions

Meds

June 6, 2023

The Moscow mule, a mix of ginger beer, an ounce of vodka, and a squeeze of lemon, has become one of the favorites among cocktail aficionados across the United States. It delivers on all that it promises, namely, an easy-to-make tasty drink, except it has nothing to do with the Russian capital whose name it bears. The birthplace was New York’s Chatham Hotel in Lower Manhattan, and the year was …

From journalism to medicine: Unveiling the untold stories of patients’ medical conditions

Veronica Bonales, MD

Physician

June 6, 2023

Doctors come from different backgrounds, and we all start medical school with various life experiences. Few people know that I actually started off life as a journalism major. I wanted to write about other people and their life stories. I wanted to travel and photograph what the world had to offer. Then, having lost my journalism job and getting hired at a nursing home as a receptionist, I ended up …

Unlocking resilience: a powerful journey from trauma to transformation [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 5, 2023

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Join us for an inspiring podcast episode as we delve into the world of trauma, resilience, and personal transformation. Our guest, Rebecca Fogg, consultant and author of Beautiful Trauma: An Explosion, an Obsession, and a New Lease …

Overcoming the lies of depression: Senator John Fetterman’s struggle with mental health

Harvey Max Chochinov, MD, PhD

Conditions

June 5, 2023

In February, just a few months after being elected to the United States Senate, Pennsylvania politician John Fetterman entered into a treatment program for depression. In an interview with CBS News show Sunday Morning last month, he recounted suffering a stroke in May 2022, then fighting through a grueling Senate race that severely impacted his mental health. “You may have won,” he recalled thinking, “but depression can absolutely convince you …

Master the ABIM Certification exam with effective strategies: insider tips for success

Farzana Hoque, MD

Education

June 5, 2023

The ABIM (American Board of Internal Medicine) Certification exam is not always about the assessment of your knowledge but also about knowing the right strategies, which are keys to success. I passed the ABIM Board Certification Exam without any review course. I had to sign up to work as an attending physician on July 1st due to my financial and visa limitations.

In this article, I will discuss effective preparation methods …

A mentor’s legacy in medicine, leadership, and embracing evidence-based care

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Physician

June 5, 2023

As a graduate of Temple University’s medical school and psychiatric residency program, and as a current faculty member, I had the good fortune of studying under highly respected physicians who served not only as chairpersons, but also as presidents, CEOs, and chief medical officers. Anthony (Tony) F. Panzetta, MD, was one of them. Panzetta passed away in 2021 at age 87. As with all great mentors, he had multifaceted talents …

Breaking free from restrictive covenants to combat burnout

Raya E. Kheirbek, MD

Physician

June 5, 2023

Hospitals have the duty to ensure that their physicians are professionally content, both physically and mentally to provide the highest quality of care. But they also have a responsibility to prevent physicians from leaving work for competing institutions. The paradox between the use of restrictive covenants in physicians’ contracts and hospitals’ concerns about physician wellness arises from a tension between two important objectives.

Restrictive covenants, which are clauses in contracts that …

Fixing the system and prioritizing patient care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 4, 2023

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Join us for a thought-provoking episode as we sit down with Cindy Rubin, a pediatrician and breastfeeding medicine specialist. Cindy opens up about the challenges faced by physicians in the current health care system, particularly the constraints …

From medical student to intern: Discovering a deeper connection with patients

Johnathan Yao, MD, MPH

Physician

June 4, 2023

As a medical student with a limited knowledge base and limited exposure to taking care of a high volume of patients, my idea of being the physician I hoped to be involved in spending time at the bedside and really getting to know my patients as people and hearing their stories. As I was learning my way around how the medical world worked as clerkship student, this was perhaps the …

A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

Jennifer Lycette, MD

Physician

June 4, 2023

My alarm goes off at 3:30 a.m. for some early charting. I love these pre-work hours, even though it’s my own unpaid time. I went into debt for hundreds of thousands of dollars to have the need for sleep trained out of me. A neat side effect of this is that it also wiped away my will to resist inane admin tasks.

While I’m pre-charting, my family wakes up, or at …

Unveiling the global pandemic threat: insights into risk factors and urgent measures for prevention

Ton La, Jr., MD, JD

Policy

June 4, 2023

As the current COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage across the globe, many are left wondering when the next pandemic will occur. The reality is that pandemics are not a new phenomenon, and throughout history, we have seen numerous instances of infectious diseases causing widespread devastation.

While we cannot predict with certainty when the next pandemic will occur, there are certain circumstances under which they are more likely to occur.

One such circumstance …

Decoding name displays in health care: Privacy, identification, and compliance unveiled

Deepak Gupta, MD

Physician

June 4, 2023

There are three versions of name displays in health care institutions, each tailored to different groups of individuals. For physician staff, full names are typically shown, including both first and middle names, along with their highest educational level. This helps establish their presence and expertise within the health care institution.

On the other hand, non-physician staff usually have only their given names displayed in full, followed by the rest of their …

Empowering Black nurses for lasting change [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 3, 2023

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

Join us for an enlightening episode as we sit down with Kashica J. Webber-Ritchey, an assistant professor of nursing, to discuss the pressing issue of equity in health care, particularly for Black nurses. Kashica shares her first-hand …

Master time management with 7 productivity strategies for optimal results

Farzana Hoque, MD

Physician

June 3, 2023

Do you know what one thing is common among all of us, regardless of our wealth or age?

Time.

Every human being in this world has 1,440 minutes every day. However, while we all have the same amount of time, some people are more productive than others. Time management is a skill that doesn’t come naturally and requires effort and planning. Below is a list of seven important strategies that will help …

Proposed USPSTF guideline update: Advocating for earlier breast cancer screening at age 40

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian

Conditions

June 3, 2023

Pop Quiz: At what age do medical experts recommend women of average risk for breast cancer begin receiving screening mammograms?

40
45
50
All of the above.

If you answered “D,” you are correct. Confused? I don’t blame you. Medical societies and independent task forces do not agree on when to begin or end screening mammograms for women at average risk of developing breast cancer. This has led to confusion and …

The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

Alice S. Y. Lee, MD

Conditions

June 3, 2023

“It’s adenocarcinoma,” said the voice on the other end of the phone.

I couldn’t believe it.

“Lung cancer? Me? How could that be? I’ve never smoked!” Shock, disbelief, and disappointment filled all the nooks and crannies of my mind and heart.

In January 2021, I went to my PCP after developing a nagging dry cough after starting lisinopril eight months prior, during the first months of COVID. I concluded that it was just …

The tragic story of Mr. G: a painful journey towards understanding suicide

William Lynes, MD

Physician

June 3, 2023

A most memorable message awaited me on my desk one morning: a brief note from Mrs. G asking, “Why did my husband take his own life today?”

Startled, I reflected on Mr. G’s history as I had been treating him in my urology clinic for the past few months. It had recently come to my attention that his complaints were related to painful recurrent renal colic.

Anticipating a distressing phone call, I …

Healing trauma and reconnecting: Unmasking the impact of dissociation [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 2, 2023

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

Join us as we dive into a conversation with Christine Gibson, a family physician and trauma specialist. Christine shares her expertise on dissociation, trauma, and the profound impact they have on health care. Discover the importance of …

Why the WHO’s pandemic accord is critical for global health care

Elizabeth Métraux

Policy

June 2, 2023

In a recent article in Health Affairs, U.N. Foundation vice president Peter Yeo and former Director of The Global Fund Mark Dybul, MD, broke down the elements and imperatives of a process underway to develop a better approach to pandemic preparedness. Currently in draft form, the “Pandemic Accord” is being shepherded by the World Health Organization at the behest of its 194 Member States after the global COVID-19 response called …

The revolutionary Kaiser-Geisinger deal: How health care giants are reshaping the industry and empowering patients

Robert Pearl, MD

Policy

June 2, 2023

Health care’s most recent billion-dollar deal took the industry by surprise, leaving medical experts and hospital leaders grappling to comprehend its implications.

In case you missed it, California-based Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, which make up the insurance and facilities half of Kaiser Permanente, announced the acquisition of Geisinger, a Pennsylvania-based health system once acknowledged by President Obama for delivering “high-quality care.”

Upon regulatory approval, Geisinger will become the first …

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