My husband passed away six months ago, and it is quite evident to me that not only do I miss him, but so does our dog Grace. She adored Bill and would scamper to find him if I directed her to “Go find dad!” I no longer use the word dad, as that sets her off on a sad but fruitless chase around the house.
Very soon after Bill died, it …
Loving our pets through loss: Coping with the death of a family member
Advancements in health IT have created ease and efficiency in delivering health care that has never been seen before. Electronic ordering and prescribing have reduced medication errors from misinterpreting handwritten information. The interoperable transmission of critical patient history, lab work, and digital imaging from one hospital to another has reduced costs and unnecessary extraneous tests. Virtual care and telehealth utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic has revolutionized how patient encounters are …
The paradox of health IT: Improving care, impeding communication
It wasn’t until I reflected upon how many times the highway rumble strip had potentially saved my life that I sought the help of a physician trained in sleep medicine. Prior to that, no doctor had ever asked me about my intractable insomnia.
Sleep is increasingly being recognized as an underappreciated vital sign. An estimated 50 to 70 million Americans may have a sleep disorder, and according to the Centers …
Sleep matters: Addressing the neglected vital sign
Giving patients the information, abilities, and resources they need to actively participate in their care is at the heart of the critical health care concept known as patient empowerment. Health care professionals can increase patient involvement, boost health outcomes, and maximize the use of health care resources by empowering people. In recent years, there has been an increase in interest in using technology to encourage patient empowerment. Chatbots, in particular, …
The rise of chatbots for patient empowerment
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Join us as we explore the history and evolution of the orphan drug revolution with James Geraghty, a health care executive. Discover how the pharmaceutical industry of the 1970s, driven by a pursuit of predictable profitability, led …
An inside look at the orphan drug revolution [PODCAST]
As an OB/GYN, I know that medication abortion is safe, commonly used, and effective. Women’s rights, family building, and abortion are recognized in many international human rights documents. The United Nations’ 1966 Human Rights Treaty states that all people have a right to the highest attainable standard of health. The ability for someone to choose when and if they want to have a child is the basis of the Reproductive Justice framework and is paramount …
The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters
I treat myself to the same restaurant for breakfast once or twice a month. There she is again, the same waitress with those same sad eyes. She knows my name, but I don’t know hers. Sometimes she has a bruise on her forehead or bruises up and down her arms, and I can see through her makeup.
My heart aches because even though I don’t know her, I know her. It’s …
Help is out there: a waitress’ story of hope and inspiration
When I was doing my transitional year in internal medicine, I was essentially bullied for going into diagnostic radiology by my co-residents and the internal medicine attending doctors I worked with. They used to tell me that my “forever job” would be to sit on a chair in a dark room and dictate “correlate clinically” all day long. And I would immediately argue: No! That’s terrible! I would never do …
The collaboration between radiologists and clinicians for optimal diagnostic outcomes
My mother passed away in early December. She had been battling Alzheimer’s disease for several years. Her communication was poor due to the disease. The caregivers in the memory care unit where she was located stated that she had been vomiting the night before her death. The next morning, she was moaning, and they believed she was in pain. An ambulance was called, and she was taken to the local …
A hands-off approach to medical exams is potentially deadly
As the internet has become increasingly accessible, many individuals have turned to online platforms, such as ChatGPT and “Doctor Google,” to search for information about their symptoms and health concerns. While these resources can help provide individuals with a general understanding of their symptoms, there are risks associated with self-diagnosis and relying on online resources for medical advice. Another trend is patients inadvertently putting their personal medical information at risk …
The dangers of sharing personal health information online: Protecting your privacy and health
The World Health Organization (WHO) first declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on January 30, 2020, when, outside of China, there were fewer than 100 cases, and there were no deaths. This formal declaration by the WHO has been renewed 12 times, most recently last month the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee advised the WHO that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to be …
COVID-19 is still a global health issue but we can responsibly live with it
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In this episode, we welcome Stephanie Straeter, a clinical psychologist. The holidays are often portrayed as a time of joy and thankfulness, but for many people, this is not the case. In fact, 3 percent of individuals …
Tips for managing seasonal affective disorder [PODCAST]
An excerpt from Justice in the Age of Judgment: From Amanda Knox to Kyle Rittenhouse and the Battle for Due Process in the Digital Age.
In the early 1970s, a group of researchers at Stanford University placed advertisements in a newspaper offering two dollars to people who would participate in an …
The power of first impressions: How false information can stick
We’ve all been there, sitting in a virtual meeting, our eyes glaze over, and our minds wander as yet another PowerPoint slide drones on. The experience can make even the most dedicated health care professional question the value of meetings altogether.
But in health care settings, meetings can be a matter of life and death. Physicians and health care administrators are tasked with managing complex care teams, staying up-to-date on …
Shopify’s meeting policy for health care: a game changer for providers and patients
“We appreciate your tireless efforts in these difficult times.”
Eyeroll. No, you don’t. I don’t need another meeting or committee. I don’t need a “Burn-Out Committee Action Plan.” I don’t need a “token of appreciation”— a pair of socks? (Really? How much did that cost?) I don’t need another seasoned and respected nurse leaving to travel and make bank or going to some made-up administrative role. I don’t need to come …
The reality of health care workers in the pandemic: burnout, overwork, and inadequate support
According to Chris Jordan, a New Jersey shore native who writes about music and entertainment, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band performed “like their lives depended on it” when they recently kicked off their 2023 tour in Tampa, Florida early February. The tour will keep the 73-year-old Springsteen on the road for six months, playing a total of 62 concerts, proving that mortality can be a …
You sigh as you see the name on the next chart. “Good grief, this poor woman,” you think as you place your hand on the doorknob.
“Doctor, I really tried. I really tried this time!” she sobs.
“Cheryl, I know you did. But you’ve got a disease, and you need treatment.”
“Doc, I can’t go back there again. I can’t. I can’t. I can’t. I’m going to lose my job. I can barely …
Breaking the cycle of addiction treatment scams: a physician’s guide
Recently, I heard a news report regarding several state attorneys general suing the federal government to eliminate the requirement that health care providers be immunized against COVID. They argued that as fully immunized individuals still contract COVID, and that allowing unimmunized people to be rehired would relieve provider shortage, the regulation was unhelpful.
Initially, I agreed, as rehiring these individuals would generate some relief for those staff members who have worked …
The vaccination dilemma: Protecting patient rights or caregiver freedom?
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In this episode, we are joined by Peter Angood, MD, CEO and president, American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL). We explore the increasing value of physician leadership in health care and dive into the findings of a …
Empowering physicians to lead: the benefits of physician leadership [PODCAST]
What’s one of the biggest complaints we physicians have about the current state of our jobs? It’s that we’ve lost our autonomy, that it has been taken from us by a health care system more focused on profits than on the well-being of patients and ourselves.
As a physician, you know firsthand how dysfunctional health care has become. There is abundant evidence that the modern health care system is more than …
Physicians in crisis: the battle for autonomy and happiness in a broken system
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