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Hospitals at a breaking point: Lack of staff and resources leave ERs in chaos

Edwin Leap, MD

Physician

February 2, 2023

I recently worked an evening shift in the emergency department the day before New Year’s Eve. Patients arrived in waves, by car and by ambulance. They seemed to check into the triage area every few minutes. When I left at midnight, there were 23 patients awaiting admission in the ER waiting for four, six, 12 or more hours — some for a full day.

Simultaneously, there were about 20 waiting to …

Navigating the health care system as a chronic patient and physician [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

February 1, 2023

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In this episode, we talk to Holly MacKenna, an integrative psychiatrist, about her experience as a chronic patient in the health care system. Holly shares how emotional and overwhelming the process was, and how she was able …

The short-term rental tax loophole: a game-changer for physicians

Jeff Anzalone, DDS

Finance

February 1, 2023

Tax benefits are one of the primary reasons many doctors invest in real estate. The U.S. government incentivizes real estate ownership as it is considered starting a business, which creates jobs and increases tax revenue. One way to achieve significant tax savings is by becoming a real estate professional, but this is impossible for those working full-time. An alternative option for these individuals is short-term rental properties.

A short-term rental (STR) …

Breaking the burnout: How health care leaders can support physician well-being

Jennifer Shaer, MD

Physician

February 1, 2023

Recently I was scrolling through posts from a physician leadership Facebook group. I came upon one that caught my eye. It said something like, “Does anyone have information I can share with my radiologists to show them the impact of working through lunch?”

I was happy to see a post that focused on physician well-being. A leader who cares enough and wants her physicians to take a break. And then …

Cream Puff Days: Coping with grief and finding comfort

Nancie Wiseman Attwater

Conditions

February 1, 2023

I wrote an article on letting grief make you stronger and talked about a trip to the grocery store where I was not as strong as I hoped. I walked by the Cream Puffs and broke into tears. My husband passed away almost four months ago, and he always used to ask me to get cream puffs when I went to the store. I didn’t even think about it until …

From science nerd to accomplished ballroom dancer: my story as a hospitalist

Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD

Physician

February 1, 2023

“Life is about taking chances, trying new things, having fun, making mistakes, and learning from them.”
– Anonymous

Early journey as a science nerd

In high school, science was my thing. I wasn’t like the others. I wasn’t interested in teenage drama. The boys didn’t chase me, and I didn’t chase them. I was that nerd; I was committed to science. My love for science drew me to a degree in biology which …

Pain management beyond prescription pills [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

January 31, 2023

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In this episode, we welcome Cindy Perlin, a licensed clinical social worker and chronic pain survivor, to discuss the ongoing issue of prescription painkiller abuse and the dangers of relying on medication to treat pain. Research shows …

The dark side of celebrity medicine

Toni Brayer, MD

Physician

January 31, 2023

Sharon Stone has publicly said that medical professionals missed a large fibroid tumor. This followed a prior incident where she reported that she was given larger breast implants without her knowledge while undergoing reconstruction surgery. We all know that Michael Jackson was killed by his personal doctor, who failed to monitor him while he was given Propofol (an anesthetic that is never used at home). Dr. Murray was on the …

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The dark side of celebrity medicine

The dark side of cannabis: increased risk of psychosis

Ken Finn, MD

Conditions

January 31, 2023

Psychosis is a broad term that describes a change in the perception of reality. It can be caused by various conditions, including metabolic, psychiatric, neurologic, genetic, and other medical conditions, as well as licit and illicit substances, particularly cannabis. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) states that abnormalities define these disorders in one or more of the following five domains: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking (speech), …

Be a prepared physician: laceration repair kits for your home, vacation home, and cars

Nathan Whittaker, MD

Why skipping your colonoscopy could be a deadly mistake

David Neiblum, MD

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

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

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

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

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 …

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