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How unproven orthopedic treatments impact health care costs

Physician

July 31, 2023

I am a clinically retired orthopedist who completed my residency training in the mid-80s. I trained at a university residency program with faculty who were both forward-thinking and innovative, yet always grounded in evidence-based medicine. It was understood that many traditional concepts in orthopedic surgical care had not been challenged and lacked convincing clinical data to justify their continued advocacy. Examples included post-operative immobilization, avoidance of internal fixation in the …

Adolescent medicine at risk [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

July 30, 2023

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Join Meredithe McNamara, a pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist, in discussing the challenges adolescent medicine physicians face due to the current political climate. We explore the impact of unfilled pediatrics residency spots and the importance of their …

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Adolescent medicine at risk [PODCAST]

Ensuring fair reimbursement for emergency procedures

Deepak Gupta, MD and Shushovan Chakrabortty, MD

Physician

July 30, 2023

The applicability of add-on payment/reimbursement qualifiers/modifiers for emergency procedures should not be limited to patients’ emergency conditions alone. They should also be applicable to situations where arrangements are made for procedures outside regular office hours or on weekends. This includes cases where proceduralists choose to schedule procedures during after-hours or patients choose to have procedures during these times. Additionally, these qualifiers/modifiers should apply to proceduralists who work during after-hours or …

Is it time to shorten medical education in the U.S.?

Amol Saxena, DPM, MPH

Education

July 30, 2023

Shortening U.S. medical education can significantly improve U.S. population health. As patients and stakeholders of U.S. health care, we are at crisis levels. There are not enough primary care doctors for the U.S. population — a basic human need for health and safety — which creates inequities. Peer-reviewed medical literature and mainstream media both document the highest burnout rates are in primary care and ER doctors, especially since the pandemic, …

Inside the world of family medicine: a patient’s eye-opening account

Michele Luckenbaugh

Conditions

July 30, 2023

Today’s health care system is in a state of drastic flux. Gone are the days of private practice family doctors, the “Marcus Welby, MDs,” who stood ever-ready to heal the sick and comfort the disillusioned. They were the sole decision-makers in the care of their patients and had the welfare of their patients at the forefront. Now, the corporate blanket has fallen upon the field of medicine, oftentimes blurring the …

How to protect your epithelial barriers and improve your health [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

July 29, 2023

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Join Kara Wada, an adult and pediatric allergy, immunology, and lifestyle medicine physician, as we discuss the epithelial barrier hypothesis. What is the epithelial barrier hypothesis? What are some of the diseases that have been linked to …

Health misinformation’s deadly impact

Neha Gour

Policy

July 29, 2023

Turning into vegetarians can cure COVID-19, birth control pills cause abortions, or eating ginger is 10,000 times more effective than chemotherapy at curing cancer were some casually trending health misinformation in the past year. But what is health misinformation, and why is it a serious public health concern?

Health misinformation refers to health-related information that is false, unverified, and lacking scientific evidence. It poses a significant threat to public health as …

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Health misinformation’s deadly impact

How a teenager with seizures became the face of trauma-informed care

Wendy L. Hunter, MD

Conditions

July 29, 2023

A teenage girl was found alone, having a seizure on a bench outside our clinic’s front door. She had never been inside our clinic, but it was our fault she was seizing.

The office manager from the dentist’s office upstairs found the girl as she returned from lunch. Not knowing what to do, she opened our clinic door and called for help. Our front office staff summoned the doctors from our …

Ensuring accurate blood pressure measurement [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

July 28, 2023

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We talk with Jordana Cohen, an internal medicine physician, about the importance of accurate blood pressure measurement. With the rise of telehealth and at-home monitoring, ensuring reliable readings is crucial. Jordana discusses concerns regarding device accuracy and …

Youth vs. experience: Who wins in medicine?

Paul Pender, MD

Physician

July 28, 2023

Harvard researchers who recently wrote an essay analyzed data from Medicare to draw conclusions about hospitalists and surgeons who treat hospital in-patients for non-elective admissions. The researchers grouped the physicians by age to determine which groups performed better. The yardstick by which they were measured was mortality within 30 days of admission. The sample size was significant—over 700,000 Medicare patients, all over 65 years of age. What they found were …

The transitional year: a must-have preliminary for GME

Deepak Gupta, MD and Sarwan Kumar, MD

Physician

July 28, 2023

The debate surrounding graduate medical education (GME) revolves around whether one should dedicate themselves to their current residency or focus on future fellowship opportunities. This confusion becomes more pronounced after completing fellowship programs, especially in inpatient settings, where specialists consult with generalists who have completed residency programs and obtained board certification without pursuing further specialization.

The fundamental question is whether generalists should be regarded and treated as specialists. Looking towards the …

The wisdom of words: Thank God it’s Friday!

Diana Londoño, MD

Physician

July 28, 2023

“Thank God it’s Friday.”

So many of us say it often. This resonates with many, as there is even a restaurant franchise with that name that has $2.5 billion in sales. Clearly, they are tapping into something that echoes what many think (even if they have what feels like a 73-page menu which, on Fridays when you are especially tired, can seem overwhelming, but I digress).

However, if we dig a little …

When work becomes an escape for physicians [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

July 27, 2023

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Join Scott Abramson, a neurologist, as we delve into the complex interplay between work and home life for physicians. Scott shares his personal experiences and reflections on how challenging periods in his family and personal life led …

Transgender health risks in hormone therapy

Robert Killeen, MD

Conditions

July 27, 2023

Reportedly, there are at least 1.6 million people who identify as transgendered in the United States. Approximately one-third of them are transgendered male-to-females, referred to as “T-girls.” These individuals have a strong desire to be passable without undergoing surgery, relying instead on hormone therapy. However, hormonal therapy is not without risks. Testosterone, used in protocols for transgendered males, can increase the chances of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Similarly, estrogen, used by …

A comic reveals the terrifying truth about fentanyl

Emily Watters, MD

Meds

July 27, 2023

The fentanyl crisis represents a grave and lethal epidemic, marked by the illicit consumption of powerful synthetic opioids, resulting in a staggering increase in fatal overdose cases. Physician Emily Watters offers her unique insights on this critical issue through a captivating comic format. (Click to enlarge.)

How AI will protect everyday Americans from overwhelming medical debt

Braden Pan

Finance

July 27, 2023

America’s medical debt problem is out of control, with collection agencies holding around $140 billion in unpaid medical bills.

Some experts think the amount of medical debt may actually reach $1 trillion and affect nearly 1 in 3 Americans. That’s because not all medical debt appears on credit reports. Moreover, many people pay their medical bills with their credit card and then are forced to have those unpaid …

Medical school applicants do not need to “check” a box to succeed

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Policy

July 27, 2023

Medical pundits are predicting that the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down race-conscious admissions will have dire consequences for medical schools and the composition of the physician workforce.

The concern is that the high court’s decision to restrict public and private higher education institutions from considering an applicant’s race or ethnicity in admission decisions will negatively impact medical schools’ diversity and the nature of future physicians.

The fear …

Unmasking the threat of greed in health care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

July 26, 2023

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Join Don Gaede, an internal medicine and vascular medicine physician, to discuss the “existential threat of greed in U.S. health care” highlighted in a JAMA editorial. Don shares his firsthand encounters with unethical practices within his specialty …

Female physician burnout and its impact on patient care

Raya Iqbal

Education

July 26, 2023

Although many systemic factors universally contribute to both burnout in both male and female physicians, female physicians also tend to experience burnout at disproportionately high rates versus their male counterparts. Burnout, also known as a state of as a “state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion,” continues to grow despite being a recognized problem for decades. Burnout is a critical public health risk which not only affects …

Harnessing light field technology for enhanced navigation and imaging

Samuel Browd, MD, PhD

Tech

July 26, 2023

Imagine being able to cross a chasm between a digital world and a physical world in an operative environment. The medical technology sector has only begun to tap into the vast possibilities presented by light field technology, particularly in surgery, where it offers significant advantages, including computational imaging, improved data quality, and the elimination of harmful radiation. The application of light field technology holds the potential to revolutionize the operative …

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