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The invisible epidemic: How physician burnout is affecting the medical community

Physician

April 14, 2023

Physicians dedicate their lives to the well-being of their patients, often neglecting their mental health in the process. The demanding nature of their profession, coupled with long hours, emotional exhaustion, and immense responsibility, can result in physician burnout, depression, anxiety, and even suicide. In this article, we will discuss the importance of mental health and self-care for physicians and provide some actionable …

Why physicians are losing autonomy

Allan Dobzyniak, MD

Physician

April 14, 2023

There are difficult issues confronting physicians generally, regardless of whether they are primary care physicians or specialists or employed or in private practice. The list is long and growing as more and more requirements, costs, mandates, and regulations are being inflicted in an environment of decreasing compensation. All of these lend to the rapidly lost freedom and autonomy for a medical profession where these are foundational.

It seems clear that the …

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Why physicians are losing autonomy

A man’s life turned upside down by pneumonia and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Jenna Podjasek, MD

Conditions

April 14, 2023

An excerpt from Particles in the Air.

As he sat in the empty waiting room several hours later, Forest couldn’t recall how he made it through the remainder of the morning. He had never felt so terrible in his life, even as a child. His chest and ribs were exceptionally sore …

Physicians take a stand against anti-LGBT laws: a call to action

Mike Stillman, MD

Policy

April 14, 2023

In the 1970s, my brother and I were raised as twins. He’s a year older than me, but we wore matching denim outfits, had thick side-parted hair, and worshiped The Beatles. Near identical though we were, only one of us was queer. And America was lying in wait.

When I was a toddler, the American Psychiatric Association de-pathologized homosexuality, but nearly 40 percent of its members fought that decision. Many of …

United by medicine: a journey of friendship, success, and the power of character [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 13, 2023

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

Join us in this episode as we dive into the incredible bond between Sharyar Baradaran, a periodontist, and Arya Shamie, an orthopedic surgeon. Despite their different religious backgrounds and specializations, these two childhood friends from Iran have …

Doctors: We must fight against frivolous lawsuits

Howard Smith, MD

Physician

April 13, 2023

Lawyers assert that they never file a frivolous lawsuit. All malpractice claims are legitimate because there is a reasonable suspicion of fault when a case is filed.

On January 21, 2022, at 11:40 a.m., I received a call from my attorney, who represented me in a frivolous malpractice lawsuit, informing me that I was unconditionally dismissed. I never doubted that dismissal with prejudice was inevitable.

For a lawyer, a …

Strategies for effective patient communication: a guide for physicians with the aid of ChatGPT

Harvey Castro, MD, MBA

Tech

April 13, 2023

Effective communication is the cornerstone of the patient-doctor relationship, fostering trust, empathy, and understanding between both parties. As a physician, honing your communication skills helps to facilitate accurate diagnoses and treatment plans and improves patient satisfaction and adherence to medical recommendations. This article will explore strategies to help you communicate more effectively with your patients as a health care professional and discuss …

Why doctors are experts at dissociating

Christine Gibson, MD

Physician

April 13, 2023

When you think of the word dissociate, it likely conjures up images of someone stumbling up a beach with no recollection of their life before being washed up on shore. Sure, dissociative amnesia is a (rare) phenomenon. But dissociating is not.

In fact, doctors are trained to do it.

When I was in clerkship in Toronto, Canada – I started working night shifts. Learning to ignore my body’s signals that it was …

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Why doctors are experts at dissociating

Physicians: Don’t believe these career transition myths

Jawaria Suhail, MD

Physician

April 13, 2023

Are you a physician looking to explore nonclinical career options and make a fresh start? While the thought of transitioning away from your current job might be daunting, these five myths about career transition should not hold you back – there are actually many opportunities available for advancing professionals like yourself who have the courage to seize them. By shifting our perspective on traditional notions of success and progression, we …

Hospitalsplaining: a lawyer’s perspective on condescension in the medical field

Dennis Hursh, Esq

Finance

April 13, 2023

It will come as no surprise to anyone reading my articles that hospitals can be extremely condescending to physicians. As a physician’s lawyer who spends his days reviewing and negotiating physician employment agreements, I am also frequently “treated” to this phenomenon.

My firm has coined the phrase “hospitalsplaining” to describe how hospitals routinely talk down to physicians and their lawyers. A recent example illustrates the problem nicely.

We were reviewing a …

Psychological safety: the unspoken key to health care success [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 12, 2023

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

In this episode, we are joined by clinical psychologist and health systems leadership consultant, Nicola F. De Paul, to discuss the importance of psychological safety in health care environments. Nicola shares her personal experience of addressing psychological …

I’m not so different from Lionel Messi – and neither are you

Lauren Tien

Education

April 12, 2023

In the United States, 16,783,000 viewers watched the 2022 World Cup final. That number doesn’t include me, who inconspicuously watched the match over the shoulder of a stranger sitting one row ahead of me on a flight — a traveler who had the means to purchase the plane’s Wi-Fi while I, a student surviving on loans, do not. So, let’s set the record straight and revise the number of viewers …

How AI can help alleviate the strain on the medical system

Harvey Castro, MD, MBA

Tech

April 12, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has left an indelible mark on the health care system and its professionals. With an increased demand for nursing staff during the crisis, many young nurses entered the workforce to fill the gap. However, this new generation of nurses has brought a set of expectations and attitudes that are now putting a strain on hospitals and impacting physician salaries. …

6 ways ChatGPT can help you succeed in medical school

Drew Bergman

Education

April 12, 2023

Medical school can be a daunting journey for many aspiring physicians. As I look back now at the beginning of my 4th year, this has certainly been the case for me. With an overwhelming amount of information to learn and retain, students often find themselves struggling to keep up with the pace of the curriculum. Although somewhat mitigated by USMLE Step 1 transitioning to pass/fail, students are also pressured to …

Jimmy Carter’s end-of-life decision: Respecting patient autonomy and the importance of hospice care

Paul B. Hofmann, DrPH, MPH

Conditions

April 12, 2023

A KevinMD article about Jimmy Carter’s end-of-life care decision, “The heartbreaking story of Jimmy Carter: a call for Medicare reform in end-of-life care,” indicated that the former president’s decision was heartbreaking. However, I have a different view. In my opinion, the 39th president, at age 98, made an autonomous and well-informed decision.

On February 18, The Carter Center announced in a statement that “after a series of short hospital stays, …

Is it time to say goodbye to medical school rankings?

James Goldchild

Education

April 12, 2023

Premeds, don’t let them mislead you again.

It was once said that if we were 30 percent less intelligent, we would likely become happier. Sadly, awareness precedes intelligence. There is terrifyingly little strength involved in witnessing any tragedy that would either take a very long time to unsee or would stick with us to the grave. Around January, we heard the shot go around the world; 11 …

From community to corporation: the transformation of primary care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 11, 2023

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

In this podcast episode, we have Michael Fine, a family physician and author of On Medicine as Colonialism, sharing his insights on the changing landscape of primary care. He reflects on his experience of practicing in a …

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome: Understanding a rare disorder and supporting patients and families

Christian Hardoy

Conditions

April 11, 2023

Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by a broad spectrum of clinical features, including intellectual disability, growth retardation, and distinct craniofacial and limb abnormalities. Named after Dr. Jack Rubinstein and Dr. Hooshang Taybi, who first described the syndrome in 1963, RTS remains an area in which the medical community has limited understanding, diagnosis, and treatment options. Improved awareness and research efforts are needed …

Why health care careers are essential in the age of AI: Encouraging our children to pursue the irreplaceable human touch

Harvey Castro, MD, MBA

Tech

April 11, 2023

The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have left many parents questioning the best career paths for their children in a world increasingly influenced by automation. One field that continues to be indispensable, despite AI’s growing presence, is health care. The unique qualities of human empathy, critical thinking, and adaptability remain essential in this sector, ensuring that health care professionals retain a …

Transforming birth: How advocacy and sharing stories can shape policy and empower families

Tiffani Marie, PhD

Conditions

April 11, 2023

Musical genius and mogul Rihanna recently graced the Oscars stage for her second performance after the birth of her son, with a baby bump indicating her second pregnancy. She described her first birth as “blessed” and “beautiful.” While many expecting parents long to describe their birthing process similarly, there are realities within the medical system that complicate this narrative for those who are not celebrities. When my partner and I …

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