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From four clicks to burnout: How tiny stressors pushed me to the edge

Physician

June 29, 2023

Four clicks. That’s all it took. Four additional clicks were added to the process of putting in a post-op order after surgery, arriving without any warning or explanation. Eleven seconds of additional work on top of the tripling of the time taken to complete paperwork my way out of the operating room, necessitated by the advent of EMR. That’s all it took. Why? Why did we have to add this …

Burnout and compassion fatigue: chronic workplace stress and emotional withdrawal

Sarah Samaan, MD

Physician

June 29, 2023

Over the past five years, the term “burnout” has become closely associated with the health care field. It has reached the point where more than 60 percent of surveyed physicians reported experiencing burnout in 2021, indicating that it has become an epidemic within our profession.

It’s important to understand that burnout is not a personal flaw or a psychological disorder; rather, it is a response to chronic stress in the workplace. …

Unveiling the profound lessons: Remarkable stories of life’s fragility and resilience

Osmund Agbo, MD

Physician

June 29, 2023

Allow me to share with you two remarkable stories that unfolded before my very eyes in the course of this past week. The lessons learned resonate deeply within my soul, and it is my hope that they will awaken your true essence.

It was June 3rd, a busy Saturday prior to Memorial Day. The atmosphere at home brimmed with excitement as we celebrated my wife’s birthday. After a nice family dinner, …

Unraveling the mysteries of granulomatous mastitis: a patient’s inspiring journey [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 28, 2023

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Join us in this episode as we hear the remarkable story of Tami Burdick, a patient advocate and author of the book Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis. Tami takes us on her journey of being diagnosed with …

The heartbreaking reality of a nurse’s struggle: a father’s tale

Anonymous

Physician

June 28, 2023

I love two nurses. One of them is my son, and the other is someone very close to me. She’ll have her own article.

My son has just finished his seventh 12-hour ICU shift. He’s wiped out, devastated, and shell-shocked. Let me introduce him to you before sharing his pain.

The kid was always enthusiastic about medicine. He wanted to be a physician more than anything. Maybe it runs in the family; …

Unraveling the complexities of ChatGPT-dependency disorder: Are we over-reliant on AI?

Harvey Castro, MD, MBA

Tech

June 28, 2023

In today’s digital age, it’s hardly surprising that our lives are intricately woven with technology. From smartphones to laptops, smart homes to artificial intelligence (AI), these innovations have brought about a remarkable shift in our lifestyle. OpenAI’s GPT-4 language model, colloquially known as ChatGPT, holds a special place among the pantheon of AI applications. Its users enjoy an interactive text-based AI experience, capable of composing prose, answering questions, and even …

Ensuring medication safety: a shocking incident that exposed a dangerous flaw

Richard Plotzker, MD

Meds

June 28, 2023

At six-week intervals, I replenish my supply of omeprazole. Initially, I took it for symptomatic relief of GERD, becoming symptomatic again within a week or two during periodic self-directed suspensions. An esophagogastroduodenoscopy, done for another reason, disclosed Barrett’s esophagus, shifting that daily pill of personal comfort to a more essential intervention. It falls within several Gastroenterology Society recommendations as a component of later malignancy prevention. My weekly pill case, set …

The fight for reinstatement: Advocating for early opportunities for excluded health care professionals battling opioid use disorder

Chris Kyzar, RN

Policy

June 28, 2023

I’ll begin by saying that I have a diagnosis of opioid use disorder (OUD) secondary to PTSD. I began diverting Norco from a pharmacy with which my hospice company had a contract. At the time, I had access to various narcotics as an RN case manager, which was quite concerning. This environment became a breeding ground for nurses seeking to divert medication for their own substance abuse.

My battle with OUD …

Proactive risk management: the key to preventing physician burnout and lawsuits [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 27, 2023

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Join us in this episode as we delve into the critical issue of physician burnout and its correlation with the threat of lawsuits in the medical field. Our guest, Howard Smith, an obstetrics-gynecology physician, explores the notion that every …

The unsung heroes of disease detectives: Controlling outbreaks and pandemics to save lives

Nicholas A. Daniels, MD, MPH

Conditions

June 27, 2023

An excerpt from Outbreaks and Pandemics: The Life of a Disease Detective.

The importance of disease detectives in solving and controlling outbreaks and pandemics must be recognized. We are the backbone of our public health system. We are scientifically savvy, inquisitive, detail-oriented, and able to follow the data wherever it leads, …

Overcoming limiting beliefs in a culture of growth

Alexandra Kharazi, MD

Physician

June 27, 2023

Limiting beliefs are thoughts that often hold us back from achieving a desired outcome. An example of this is internalizing negative criticism received. Instead of being an opportunity for growth, the dark side of criticism is that it can make us believe we are not talented enough, innovative enough, or qualified enough. That we are not enough. Often, this depends on how and when it is delivered.

According to the National …

The impact of medical traumatic stress on families

Kody Sexton, MSEd, Meghan Marsac, PhD, and Christina Salley, PhD

Conditions

June 27, 2023

Jacob, a father from a low-income, rural background, has vivid flashbacks of seeing his newborn intubated. Confused at why his mind keeps replaying the scene, he struggles to concentrate at work and earn the paycheck he needs to make ends meet for his family. Whenever he makes the long drive to the hospital for his newborn’s follow-up visits, he feels the same intense panic he felt in the NICU and …

The transformative power of volunteering at the science fair

Jasminka Vukanovic-Criley, MD

Education

June 27, 2023

“Thank you so much for taking the time today and judging,” yet another person said as they approached me, smiling or shaking my hand.

“You are welcome,” I said, smiling. It was my pleasure—my genuine internal pleasure.

I have been volunteering for schools and children’s education for many years.

As I agreed yet again to be a judge, I thought I was helping them: schools, students, the school district… It turned out that, …

Unlocking the secrets of medical practice success

Curtis G. Graham, MD

Physician

June 27, 2023

“The cause of man’s problem is a lack of knowledge. It does not stem from a shortage of information but rather from the rejection of information.”
– Hosea 4:6

This event in medical history is one such lesson that describes the blinding of physicians to the realities of open-mindedness and the destructive potential that results from ignoring factual truth.

If it weren’t for the persistence and medical ingenuity of an early 1800s medical …

Social inflation’s surge in medical malpractice insurance [PODCAST]

The Doctors Company & The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 26, 2023

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

Join us on this insightful podcast episode as we delve into the complex issue of social inflation and its impact on the medical malpractice insurance industry. Our guest, Robert E. White, Jr., president of The Doctors Company, …

From physician to survivor: My inspiring journey through burnout, mental illness, and triumph

William Lynes, MD

Physician

June 26, 2023

I am a physician, specifically a urologist. However, what most people do not know about me is that I am a survivor of multiple suicide attempts. My essay attempts to tell my personal story—a story of burnout, mental illness, and suicide—and to discuss the shame that accompanied these experiences.

I completed my urologic residency in 1987 at Stanford University and began practicing with the Southern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Group in …

More than skin deep: the importance of culturally competent care in medical education

Grace Shadid

Education

June 26, 2023

The very first patient I met in the rheumatology clinic at SUNY Downstate heard I was applying to medical school and pulled me close to her, saying, “I want you to feel the swelling in my hands.” She took great care to ensure I palpated each joint and appreciated the warmth, erythema, and “boggy” feeling imparted by the inflammation. She explained her medical history and was very specific with her …

A touching tale of hope and uncertainty in the hospital

Elizabeth Rodriguez

Education

June 26, 2023

Indeterminate. That’s the word we use when we’re unsure whether a patient will be able to survive without mechanical ventilation. We can’t say for certain that they have a good prognosis, but we can’t say they have a bad one either. A chaplain once said that those teetering between life and death can sense two things: sounds and smells. They also shared a story about a patient who woke up …

From darkness to healing: a urologist’s journey through suicidal ideation [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 25, 2023

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

In this poignant podcast episode, we welcome guest William Lynes, a urologist and survivor of physician burnout, who shares his personal journey through multiple suicide attempts. Join us as we delve into the four stages of suicidal …

Unlocking the hidden potential of physician scientists: the key to research breakthroughs and health care innovation

Toyosi Onwuemene, MD

Physician

June 25, 2023

Ten years ago, as a new graduate, I sought an academic job that would protect my time for research. I was surprised to find that I was “unqualified”: I had no research funding and few published manuscripts. With these deficits, no institution was willing to give me a research job. Eventually, I was offered a clinical job that would protect my time at 20 percent. With this time, I was …

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