Medical residents signed up to live in the hospital, not to die there

Physician
December 16, 2020

I saw a tweet recently from a medical resident training at another hospital that really hit home for me: “In response to a rumor that health care workers who treat COVID patients will be prioritized for vaccination in our health system, one of my co-residents asked unironically, ‘Does that include us?’”

“Resident” is a word coined in the twentieth century when physicians in training often physically lived (“resided”) at the hospital. …

Read more…

What worries this physician about the COVID-19 vaccine

Conditions
December 16, 2020

Over coffee and the usual banter in the doctor’s lounge, a group of physicians takes a break from seeing patients after donning off their PPE. The TV is blasting the news, largely ignored, until the focus turns to the COVID-19 vaccine. The newscaster announced that the first group to receive the vaccine would be health care workers. Everyone stops talking; all gaze at the wall-mounted screen. And it …

Read more…

How can we redefine locum tenens? [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 15, 2020
YouTube video

“Hiring locum tenens clinicians often proves to be more efficient, and when a position goes unfilled, health care organizations are potentially leaving millions of dollars on the table in unrealized revenues. Once in place, locum tenens clinicians can help organizations expand their service lines, provide access to specialists, relieve existing staff …

Read more…

COVID, paternalism, and the death of patient autonomy

Education
December 15, 2020

A year ago, if you had asked me if most doctors respected their patients’ wishes, I would have answered with a resounding yes. If you had asked me if medicine had divorced its paternalistic roots when physicians trampled over ideals like patient autonomy and non-malfeasance, I would have said yes. But that was last year, and in this new world of COVID, panic, hysteria, and ever-present claims of just “following …

Read more…

Understanding the business of medicine: How to pursue excellence in the medical field

Finance
December 15, 2020

Your success in the medical field is not solely contingent upon your clinical dexterity but often results from the mastery of various industry aspects. What separates a great doctor from a good doctor is their cognizance of both the clinical and business sides of medicine. The market, risks, and trends of medical businesses are a great resource for residents as they establish their place in medicine. Business management is a …

Read more…

How to make peace with purpose

Physician
December 15, 2020

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
– Mary Oliver, The Summer Day

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means “a reason for being.” The word “ikigai” is usually used to indicate the source of value in one’s life or the things that make one’s life worthwhile. The word translated to English roughly means “thing that you live for” or “the reason for …

Read more…

When coaching physicians with wellness, don’t lead with mindfulness [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 14, 2020
YouTube video

“In my work with physicians and physician leaders in academic medicine, I learned that physicians are highly self-reflective and aware of the pressures they face; however, they are frequently the last to ask for help, and the first to deprioritize their own self-care.  This has led to high suicide rates in the overall …

Read more…

Why can I trust the COVID vaccine?

Conditions
December 14, 2020

Many friends have asked for my perspective on the COVID vaccine. Answering this requires both an explanation of clinical trials and an understanding of what normally slows down pharmaceutical development.

Importantly, COVID vaccines are required to go through the same process as every other pharmaceutical. These include the following:

Preclinical trials. In this stage, researchers conduct animal testing to see if the vaccine can produce an immune response. If the vaccine is …

Read more…

New Medicare documentation and payment changes starting next year that deliver relief for clinicians

Policy
December 14, 2020

Starting on January 1, 2021, clinicians across the country can expect new Medicare rules on billing, documentation, and payment for evaluation and management (E/M) services — or common office/outpatient visits – to go into effect. These historic changes will give clinicians more flexibility in how they document visits in their patients’ medical record, reduce their paperwork burden and give them more time to spend with patients. With over 750,000 clinicians …

Read more…

What to consider before becoming a medical power of attorney

Conditions
December 14, 2020

If a family member or friend asked you to serve as his/her medical power of attorney, what would your answer be? Many people agree to assume this role without a second thought, but you should take some time to understand what your responsibilities as a medical power of attorney would be, why the person has chosen you to do this, and what potential complications and conflicts may arise. With that …

Read more…

Turn 2020 into an opportunity by changing your mindset [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 13, 2020
YouTube video

“A few months ago, I signed up for a virtual conference for women in medicine. It’s a group of women, over 10,000 of us, who have watched me and supported me through the past two years of my career. Two years of struggle. Two years of personal and professional pain. Two …

Read more…

Proponents of independent non-physician practice make a dangerous assumption [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 12, 2020
YouTube video

“Most Americans have remained dangerously unaware of this revolution in health care. Being treated by a non-physician is not on the radar of the average patient, most of whom assume that anyone in a white coat is a physician. If patients do wonder about being treated by a non-physician, they are …

Read more…

8 things physicians should know before they’re interviewed by the media

Physician
December 12, 2020

Lights, camera, action!

You get a call from your hospital’s public relations office asking you to speak to the local news. Even though this isn’t your first time, your heart is pounding, with a mix of nerves and excitement. You start doubting whether you have anything valuable to say about the topic, even though, yes – you went through many years of medical school and residency before this moment. You are …

Read more…

ADVERTISEMENT

What is culinary medicine and why do we need it?  

Physician
December 12, 2020

It is no secret that physicians spend countless hours studying a wide variety of disease processes and treatments. We all know that sub-optimal dietary choices and habits can lead to chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. The burden of these diseases is rising astronomically. According to the USDA 2015-2020 guidelines, in 2008, the medical cost related to the chronic disease of obesity was estimated to be …

Read more…

Can there be hope amid politics? [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 11, 2020
YouTube video

“Humans are complex. Humans are multifaceted. Humans are capable of grit and determination. This means that humans are also worthy of hope.

If I learned anything from watching this moment in history, I realize that it’s not about being a ‘Democrat’ or a ‘Republican’ it’s about being human.

What we do now will echo …

Read more…

What it takes to be called a great doctor: a patient’s perspective

Potpourri
December 11, 2020

Let me begin by extending my gratitude to all physicians who have served our country during this time of the coronavirus pandemic. During this trying time, your dedication and service have given a sense of stability and confidence in our health care systems at a time filled with so much uncertainty and turmoil.

As a member of the “Baby Boomer” generation, I’ve seen my fair share of physicians over the years. …

Read more…

ADVERTISEMENT

Mental health in medical professionals and the power of sharing stories [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 10, 2020
YouTube video

“Frontline medical professionals must collectively share what they experienced as a whole. We must piece together these narratives and unearth commonalities to truly know what happened. Just as we must continue rigorous quantitative research on the virus itself, we must also conduct a qualitative examination. In the peri-COVID era, it will …

Read more…

More physicians have tattoos, and how that makes them more genuine at the bedside

Physician
December 10, 2020

Throughout my time in medical school, residency, and now as a practicing physician, I have noticed physicians’ changing face. When applying for medical school, I remember choosing a medium-grey pantsuit to match my medium-brown hair to wear for my interview, paired with a simple necklace and conservative makeup. Nothing too flashy, as even choosing grey instead of black and a pantsuit instead of a skirt would stand out and be …

Read more…

How to decrease your dread of being on-call [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 9, 2020
YouTube video

“Have you ever wondered how much time we spend worrying about call, versus the amount of time that we actually spend being on call? What about the Monday after a long weekend, returning from vacation, or an overnight shift? Is it as bad as we think it’s going to be, even …

Read more…

ADVERTISEMENT

Lottery docs? Randomize medical school admissions for fairness

Education
December 9, 2020

It’s this simple: The medical school admissions system is bloated and reinforces implicit and systemic biases leading to further social inequity.

Medical schools across the country are going through thousands of applications and making literal life-changing choices for these students. Introducing randomization into the admission process would simplify and address the built-in issues in this process.

Admissions tests do not determine the quality of a doctor’s …

Read more…

542
pages