How to overcome the roadblocks to getting a medical second opinion

Physician
October 7, 2021

There are many reasons why you should seek a second opinion. A second opinion can help you:

  • Make sure your diagnosis is accurate, lowering your risk of misdiagnosis and the harms that can cause.
  • Ensure that you’re choosing an appropriate, evidence-based treatment that has been shown to achieve better outcomes.
  • Learn about all appropriate treatment options, both medical and surgical, so you can make an informed decision.

One study conducted by …

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Women are still being “burned at the stake” in medicine

Physician
October 7, 2021

Are you a woman, and your sanity has been questioned? Congratulations: You are now an activist.

There is such a thing as implicit bias in which we may not be aware of how our subconscious thoughts are affecting our conscious thoughts, opinions, or actions we have daily.

They manifest in all aspects of life. Whether you come to see me for a surgical consultation and when you walk into the room, you …

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Sexism in medicine: Alive and well or a dying breed?

Physician
October 7, 2021

Thirty-five years ago, as a first-year student, I (DWS) wrote an article for my medical school’s student-run newspaper titled, “Sexism in Medical School.” The article highlighted three examples of sexism:

  • In the middle of a pathology lecture, the professor projected a photo of a woman in a skimpy bikini lounging on a sports car to “liven things up.” He then showed a photo of a kitten, “So you ladies don’t …

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Aduhelm and how money and politics supersede science [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 6, 2021
YouTube video

“Sufferers of diseases, particularly terrible ones like Alzheimer’s disease, and their loved ones need and deserve something better than science can deliver today. However, the scientific rigor of the clinical trials process where approval is only granted to drugs with a clear benefit in excess of risk needs to return.

Imagine …

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Why this physician is running out of sympathy

Physician
October 6, 2021

Every day I read stories on the Internet and in the newspaper of the deaths of previously healthy people who died of COVID-19. They were good people, caring parents, working people who seemed like responsible citizens. What they all shared was not being immunized against COVID-19.

Maybe they were just “vaccine-hesitant” — one of those who wasn’t convinced of the value and safety of the vaccines. Maybe they didn’t understand the …

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Physician identity: who you are vs. what you do [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 5, 2021
YouTube video

“‘Hi, my name is Kristin Yates, and I am the OB/GYN doctor.’ This is how I greet most patients for the first time.

It has never really felt natural to introduce myself as ‘Dr. Yates,’ even now that I have been an attending physician for more than five years. To be …

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The needs of Afghan refugee children must be prioritized in evacuation and resettlement plans 

Policy
October 5, 2021

I smiled as the Afghan family of six approached my triage station in the Philadelphia airport. The three young boys were laughing, playful, and full of energy despite the long journey. The oldest, who looked about 10 years old, sat on a chair and immediately began describing his symptoms—sore throat and cough, most likely a viral upper respiratory tract infection. I completed my physical exam as the medical student flipped …

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Why people diagnosed with cancer should get a second opinion [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 4, 2021
YouTube video

“Although people think of medicine as a science—the facts reveal the diagnosis, the diagnosis dictates the treatment—most physicians acknowledge that medicine is as much an art as a science. It’s not like a simple math equation with one undeniably right answer. Even when the diagnosis is clear, there may still …

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3 ways your rehabilitation doctor advocates for you

Conditions
October 4, 2021

If you’ve ever been in a serious accident or traumatic event leaving you with one or multiple injuries, you’ve probably met the rehab doctors a few times. Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R, also called physiatry) is a branch of medicine geared towards helping people heal and adapt to new circumstances after their diagnosis using medications and rehab.

Here, I want to share three ways a physiatrist can be your advocate after …

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Medicine’s science has advanced. Medicine’s art has stalled. [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 3, 2021
YouTube video

“I was a bit nervous about how she would perceive my advice. She could find it inappropriate and report me for making personal remarks. But I believe she sensed the sincerity in my words and appeared invigorated, uplifted, and excited. She was smiling now and exclaimed, ‘Doctor, you will see …

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The Black feminist revolution medicine needs

Education
October 3, 2021

Black feminism describes that Black women are inherently valuable and the specific liberation of Black women is necessary in its own right.  It parses out these political identities and desires to have true humanity for Black women—arguing that it is impossible for there to be bondage of any other group when we liberate marginalized genders and Black people as these populations are seen as the most marginalized …

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Working in a rural emergency department during the pandemic

Physician
October 3, 2021

I finished residency in 2020, during the height of the pandemic. We had a ceremony limited to just the graduating class; no family or friends could attend. Then my four other colleagues of the past three years and I embarked on our next steps as physicians.

Family medicine is my passion – I went to medical school loving the idea of caring for a whole family, from pregnancy through birth to …

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From a patient to health care workers: Always remember your humanity [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 2, 2021
YouTube video

“Always remember your humanity. You are not super-human. Make connections to your heart, to your mind, to others. Look closely at the situation that lies before you, listen carefully to all that is around you, and calm the pounding heart.

Dig deep within your psyche, ask the big questions, and most …

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When telemedicine leads to burnout

Physician
October 2, 2021

Recently, one of my coaching clients came to our Zoom session looking exhausted. I wasn’t surprised. She’s a physician, a leader at her hospital, and the past two years have been a lot for her. COVID takes its toll in many ways, and it has changed her forever. But this day her biggest challenge was something a little bit different. She was tired of cameras.

“I’m seeing so many patients through …

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Humane health care outcomes by creating therapeutic alliances [PODCAST]

Podcast
October 1, 2021
YouTube video

“In fully-humanized health care, I envision patients as clients, with doctors as part of the health care team in a role more akin to expert consultants and skilled proceduralists. The consumer is empowered in the network to drive his or her own health — taking the central role rather than …

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There was life before COVID, but we are not yet at the point of life after COVID

Physician
October 1, 2021

Each weekday morning, without fail, I awake to two texts.

One is a symptom checker from my hospital.

The other is a symptom checker from my son’s elementary school.

They serve as a persistent reminder that the pandemic isn’t over, even if we would all like to pretend that it is. In fact, my morning routine is filled with reminders that the pandemic isn’t over: as I pack masks for my children (with …

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To the patient who left a negative physician review

Physician
October 1, 2021

Greetings. I write briefly to inform you I am aware of your Google Review placed nearly a week ago. I’m not upset, but I must say that I am rather surprised by some of the statements. It is germane to the situation when a patient expresses displeasure about his or her experience with our office that we all collectively learn from the experience to improve patient experience in the future. …

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How to get patients vaccinated against COVID-19 [PODCAST]

Education
September 30, 2021
YouTube video

“While opposition to the vaccine may be hardening, pediatricians and family physicians enjoy an advantage the CDC and Dr. Fauci may not: namely, they are liked and trusted by patients. In general, parents look to personal physicians for guidance and usually follow their advice on health care for their children. …

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