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Deaths of despair: an urgent call for a collective response to the crisis in U.S. life expectancy

Policy

March 20, 2023

Some grim news has emerged revealing the sad decline in the health of the United States. America saw its most significant 2-year fall in life expectancy, 2.7 years, in almost 100 years. This has led to U.S. life expectancy being at its lowest since the mid-1990s. This unprecedented fall requires deep examination.

While COVID is a major cause behind this decline, another …

Redefining success: a journey of self-discovery and fulfillment [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

March 19, 2023

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

We are joined by Ketan Kulkarni, a physician entrepreneur. We dive into the often-used but loosely defined word “success.” With the constant bombardment of images of success through the media, it’s easy to feel lost and unclear …

Yoga and self-care won’t cure my Crohn’s disease

Kristen L. Cole, PhD

Conditions

March 19, 2023

Inflation and rising interest rates have given way to a record high of $930.6 billion in credit card debt.

I am among many people who have gone into credit card debt by spending too much on health and wellness.

Several years ago, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is not the same as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBD is …

The patient who became my soulmate

Anonymous

Physician

March 19, 2023

As oncologists, we encounter numerous patients on a daily basis and form emotional bonds with many of them, especially if they survive long enough and continue to see the same doctor for several years. This bond can grow so deep that we feel their pain, cry with them, and sometimes even realize that some of our patients are our soulmates.

According to Wikipedia, a soulmate is a person ideally suited to …

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The patient who became my soulmate

Breaking the stigma: Addressing the struggles of physicians

Jean Antonucci, MD

Physician

March 19, 2023

The state of health care in the U.S. is widely considered to be inadequate. I recently learned in an online class that family doctors in Canada only have 10 minutes per patient. I am unsure who sets or enforces this rule and it is unclear why anyone would choose such a job. As an introvert, I understand the toll of being present for others all day, but 10 minutes to …

Can AI solve the physician shortage crisis?

Harry Severance, MD

Tech

March 19, 2023

A 2021 Merritt Hawkins article reports increasing physician shortfalls in the U.S. while pointing out that almost 50 percent of all currently practicing physicians are older than 55. In some medical specialties, the “greater-than-55” physician numbers are between 60 to 90+ percent.

Similar findings have been confirmed in an updated January 2023 Becker’s Hospital Review article. These recent reports estimate that there will be a …

Breaking barriers in arthritis care with telemedicine [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

March 18, 2023

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In this episode, we welcome Diana M. Girnita, a rheumatologist and founder and CEO of Rheumatologist OnCall. We discuss the challenges facing patients with arthritis and the shortage of rheumatologists. Despite the growing need for specialized care, …

Life as a physician is sometimes like a runaway trailer

Christopher Nyte, DO

Physician

March 18, 2023

It was a hot day in Northern California, and my clothes were covered with the red dust of summer. At age 9, I couldn’t take a step on our property without grasshoppers launching themselves from the dry wheat grass. Colorful ladybugs were also out in force. I searched everywhere for a container to keep my prized bugs, but my efforts were to no avail. I headed for Mr. Maryfield’s trailer, …

What causes fainting and how to prevent it during needle procedures

Jean Paul Brutus, MD

Conditions

March 18, 2023

Fainting, or syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness when the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen. Many things, including dehydration, low blood sugar, or anxiety, can cause it. As all doctors know, a common trigger for fainting is seeing blood or a needle.

Emotional fainting is very common in humans, especially in younger people, but it is extremely rare in non-human vertebrates. Fainting may be a response that Homo sapiens …

The controversial origin of the Hippocratic oath

Brian Elliott, MD

Physician

March 18, 2023

An excerpt from White Coat Ways: A History of Medical Traditions and Their Battle With Progress.

So, who wrote this immortal Hippocratic oath: Hippocrates or one of his Hippocratic followers? Though no one knows for certain, the answer is potentially neither. The most compelling evidence for this argument is that the …

From physician to patient: one doctor’s journey to finding purpose after a devastating injury

Stephanie Pearson, MD

Physician

March 18, 2023

December 20, 2012, started like any other day as an OB/GYN when I was called to do a precipitous delivery. I immediately saw that the baby’s heart rate was dangerously low, and I knew I had to act quickly. Several nurses helped me maintain the patient’s position to get a vacuum on the baby’s crowning head. While placing the vacuum, the patient kicked me in my brachial plexus, and my …

Breaking down the barriers to effective bar-code medication administration

Amy Dang Craft

Policy

March 18, 2023

According to the Commonwealth Fund and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the health care system in the United States continues to rank the highest in health spending, has the highest rates of avoidable deaths, and rates of infant and maternal deaths compared to other high-income countries. These countries include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, …

Uncovering the truth about skincare: a dermatologist’s perspective [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

March 17, 2023

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

In this episode, we have Fayne Frey, a dermatologist and author of The Skincare Hoax: How You’re Being Tricked into Buying Lotions, Potions & Wrinkle Cream.

We delve into the world of skincare and the billions of dollars …

Navigating life’s zero-sum game: the struggles of competitive health care professionals

Deepak Gupta, MD

Physician

March 17, 2023

Life is often viewed as a competition where resources and opportunities are limited. This is especially true for health care professionals, who must navigate the delicate balance between their professional responsibilities and their personal lives. The challenge becomes even greater when factors such as competition among family members and the rise of artificial intelligence threaten to disrupt the traditional roles and relationships that have defined humanity.

Geography plays a significant role …

The locums industry has a beef problem

Aaron Morgenstein, MD

Policy

March 17, 2023

America, we have a beef problem! The inflation rate is high, and the inflation on beef is even more outrageous. At the time of this article, inflation hovers around 8 to 9 percent, while beef is priced at least 15 to 30 percent more than before COVID-19.

We are undoubtedly seeing corporate greed from the meatpacking companies as they have driven up prices throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The numbers don’t make …

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The locums industry has a beef problem

Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

Katie Klingberg, MD

Physician

March 17, 2023

As I enter the patient exam room, the first question is no longer “When can I get my COVID-19 vaccine?” but rather, “Are you leaving? My old doctor left. You are my fifth doctor in three years. What is happening?”

Nowadays, I spend more time educating patients about the visible cracks our medical system flaunts. They were present before the pandemic and will remain as it ends. In my health care …

The process of career transition can be confusing. It doesn’t have to be.

Jawaria Suhail, MD

Physician

March 17, 2023

For physicians, the process of career transition can be overwhelming. With the potential to take you out of your comfort zone and into uncharted waters, it’s understandable why Physicians feel apprehensive when it comes to transitioning into a new role or environment.

Understanding what steps would best fit one’s situation as they progress through their career is essential for creating a successful outcome. As a coach that specializes in guiding medical …

Breaking the cycle of misery in medicine: a practical guide

Paul R. Ehrmann, DO

Physician

March 17, 2023

Presently, two-thirds of all physicians are demoralized and experiencing a less than satisfied work experience for a number of reasons other than it being “our fault” (please do not let them call it “burnout”). The future of finding happiness in practicing primary care medicine does not appear to be promising.

The combination of more complicated medical problems in addition to an increased volume of older patients on the horizon and less …

Why setting boundaries is essential to your mental health [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

March 16, 2023

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

Our guest for today’s episode is Samantha Benjamin-Allen, a physiatrist who will be sharing her personal struggles with setting boundaries as a physician, and the importance of self-care, as …

Canada’s health workers are sounding the alarm. We must act, now.

Ivy Lynn Bourgeault, PhD

Policy

March 16, 2023

It is no longer hyperbole to say that we are witnessing our health system moving slowly but surely to a point where it will be very difficult to return.

Despite the weighty First Ministers’ meeting with the Prime Minister on health care, complete with many promises, health workers continue retreating from the system, as they have for the last year, in a sort of slow-motion form of resistance.

Health workers are reducing …

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