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Why skipping your colonoscopy could be a deadly mistake

Conditions

January 31, 2023

I have to respond to and correct the recent article and podcast about a doctor having his first colonoscopy in his late 60s without anesthesia. There were multiple factual errors and misstatements by the doctor author, which may well dissuade doctors and laypeople from colonoscopies in the future.

First, he notes the reason he’s thus far not had a colonoscopy: he has no family history, and he’s athletic and overall …

A physician’s journey with COVID-19: reflections on mental coping mechanisms and seeking care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

January 30, 2023

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In this episode, we hear from Alen Voskanian, a palliative care physician, who shares his personal experience with COVID-19. Dr. Voskanian reflects on the mental coping mechanisms he used to try and understand how he contracted the …

Infertility: Navigating the challenges of IVF and the importance of self-advocacy

Lei Chu, MD

Conditions

January 30, 2023

I have undergone numerous IVF cycles. It is a heart-wrenching experience. Infertility is a pain that is difficult to describe unless personally experienced. I have never truly known heartbreak until the failure of IVF embryo transfers. Three preimplantation genetically tested normal embryos failed to implant, and knowing my three perfect embabies (embryos that were transferred but not implanted) will not be in my arms still hurt my heart. It took …

Why are so many physicians quitting medicine? The real reasons revealed.

Aaron Morgenstein, MD

Physician

January 30, 2023

It is well-recognized that there is a large number of physicians leaving medicine or preparing to do so. This is not to be debated!

Many physicians are retiring due to age, and others have accepted early retirement as their best option with the current state of health care. Beyond those retiring, it is concerning how many young physicians are leaving medicine and no longer want to stay in the current health …

Patients’ hilarious comebacks: a doctor’s perspective

John Chase, MD

Physician

January 30, 2023

I’ve had the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of patients. Along the way, I’ve heard some pretty memorable and interesting things. I thought it might be fun to share a few of my favorites.

One of the most common things I hear from my older patients is something like, “Doc, it’s just hell getting old!” Our standard response is usually …

The isolation of the COVID ICU: the need for patient advocates

Sara L. Merwin, MPH

Conditions

January 30, 2023

The COVID ICU is abuzz with monitors beeping and doctors and nurses rushing from bed to bed to care for critically ill patients, most on ventilators. The machines – dialysis, vents, pumps – sound off their rhythmic repetitions; breaths are pushed in and pulled out, and meds are dripped. Only the patients themselves are silent. We know this, and we hear this, but we are not there. It’s thhe height …

Innovative strategies for managing disruptive behaviors in health care settings [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

January 29, 2023

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Join us on our latest episode as we explore the importance of addressing violent behaviors in health care settings. We’ll be discussing the role of Behavioral Emergency Response Teams (BERTs), trained in non-violent intervention techniques, in managing …

Forgiveness vs. self-preservation: the difficult decision of caring for an abusive parent

Sheryl Recinos, MD

Physician

January 29, 2023

“My parents abused me as a child. I went no contact with them over ten years ago, but now my dad is in the hospital with a serious diagnosis and the discharge planner keeps asking me to be involved. I don’t want to. What are my rights?”

I read the lengthy message several times, feeling an overwhelming sense of dread. I was in the same “no contact” situation with my own …

Challenging conventional wisdom: How to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Arnold R. Eiser, MD

Conditions

January 29, 2023

Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating illness without effective treatment. Yet it may, in fact, be largely preventable. The first shocking fact to absorb is that the pathogenesis is largely extracranial, though assuredly not entirely so. That clearly defies the conventional pharmacologic wisdom, which has obsessed with amyloid-beta as the offending agent and has approached it by crafting and evaluating antibodies against it. The FDA has even bought into that theory …

The $6 soup that saved a pregnant patient $20,000

Anonymous

Physician

January 29, 2023

A good cup of soup can be comforting during illness. It’s like a form of medicine. Soups have many vitamins and minerals, protein and carbohydrates, and of course, water or cream to help stay hydrated. Salt makes a sore throat feel better (like warm salt water gargling) and heat clears nasal congestion (which relieves pain and sinus pressure). As such, a typical cup of restaurant soup costing $5 or $10 …

The unspoken epidemic: Why health care professionals aren’t talking about burnout

Varun Verma, MD

Physician

January 29, 2023

We don’t talk about burnout.

I recently reunited with a former medical school classmate for lunch and realized that I talked more to him in two hours about my experiences over the past few years than with my hospitalist colleagues at work or my closest friends. I’ve only ever dared to mention anything to my wife and brother (both physicians).

Lots of sources define burnout as the accumulation of stress over time …

Missed signs: a doctor’s reflection on depression [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

January 28, 2023

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In this episode, interventional physiatrist Francisco M. Torres shares a poignant story about missing the signs of depression in a patient. He reflects on the challenges of limited time with patients in modern health care and the …

Teen substance use rebounds after pandemic

Richard Capriola, MBA

Conditions

January 28, 2023

Among high school seniors using marijuana, the pandemic forced the largest one-year decline in use over the past 48 years. Marijuana use fell from 35.2 percent in 2020 to 30.5 percent during 2021. In 2022, it remained pretty much unchanged at 30.7 percent.

Alcohol drinking among high school seniors fell from 55.3 percent of seniors in 2020 to 46.5 percent during the pandemic year. However, in 2022, alcohol use among seniors …

Why taking risks is worth it: a doctor’s journey from uncertainty to opportunity

Francisco M. Torres, MD

Physician

January 28, 2023

There were no smartphones when I was a medical resident in the late 80s in Puerto Rico. During my last year, while waiting for a lecturer to arrive, I grabbed a medical journal from the conference room table to kill some time. I flipped through the pages, skimming the titles of the articles and looking at some of the advertisements. When I was about to put the journal down, I …

Why every doctor should have a side gig

Anonymous

Finance

January 28, 2023

Why is it that physicians are seeking alternative avenues to boost their income? It may seem counterintuitive for busy clinical doctors to pursue a side gig, why? In a post-pandemic era, physicians are plagued by colossal debt and increasing rates of burnout. More than 100,000 physicians have left the profession since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. My peers are frustrated, tired, and seeking a way out. For many, …

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Why every doctor should have a side gig

The DNA of entrepreneurs: How your genes could determine your business success

Harvey Castro, MD, MBA

Physician

January 28, 2023

Creating something new, taking calculated risks, and effectively allocating resources are all aspects of entrepreneurship. Both environmental and genetic variables play a role in this intricate process. This article will examine how a person’s propensity to become an entrepreneur is influenced by genetic and environmental factors that drive entrepreneurship.

Personality qualities and risk tolerance are critical genetic determinants of entrepreneurship. These characteristics can influence an individual’s approach to entrepreneurship and can …

Navigating the emotional impact of a medical malpractice lawsuit [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

January 27, 2023

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In this episode, we explore the emotional impact of medical malpractice lawsuits on physicians and how they can navigate the process. Attorney Christine Zharova shares her insights on how these lawsuits can affect relationships with colleagues, staff, …

Canada has a universal health care system. But does it really?

Jean Paul Brutus, MD

Policy

January 27, 2023

Maybe one day, our universal health care system represented the values of Canadians, but certainly not anymore. American friends, you may know us for our drinking age and “free health care.” Still, unfortunately, our health care system no longer embodies the principles of equality, respect, politeness, safety, and peace that we hold dear.

You may also be familiar with our Prime Minister’s fondness for dressing up and doing shirtless yoga poses. …

Pediatric mental health is a growing epidemic. Here’s how Illinois is leading the way to solve that.

Nitin Vidyasagar

Policy

January 27, 2023

One of my friends in middle school was known for her uncanny ability to brighten up any space she walked into. But when we hit high school, she had become more withdrawn and dejected, and her self-esteem plummeted. She was clearly struggling, but at the time, I didn’t know what the signs of depression were and was at a loss for how to support her. She and I had no …