Losing our most valuable non-renewable resource: physicians

Physician
February 14, 2022

Suppose you have watched the news, been on social media, or have had any conversations with others. In that case, it should not be a surprise that health care workers are physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted and extremely burned out.

We are currently entering our third year of a global pandemic. So, burnout physicians are not a big surprise, especially when doctors’ opinions are marginalized over political beliefs about a virus. …

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A love letter from your doctor

Physician
February 14, 2022

You know who you are.

I’m writing to tell you no matter how wrenching our time was together, or messy, or scary, or short were the hours, I love you. I cherish you. And no matter how hard I tried, it was you who gave more. Because you let me in when I showed up unannounced in my pale blouse and loud heels.

You might have been curled up …

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Autism spectrum disorder and the masks we wear [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 13, 2022
YouTube video

This episode is sponsored by Athelas, the number one provider of remote patient monitoring.

“In the ongoing saga of the pandemic, there is the debate whether to wear a mask or not. These are physical masks that temporarily hide our face, but we all wear another type of …

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Dog poop, the social contract, and pandemic behaviors

Physician
February 13, 2022

Dogs have been part of my extended family for most of my sixty-plus years. With a dog comes poop.

It doesn’t really matter on a farm, but in the city, there is an expectation, a social contract of sorts. In the public parks and boulevards, the dog owner is expected to scoop the poop.

While some dog walkers dutifully pick up their dog’s poop, others don’t bother, and before I know it, …

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Stand and deliver: Health care systems need to serve up health equity missions

Policy
February 13, 2022

One year after the White House instated an executive order focusing on health equity and support for underserved communities, changes are in progress. But even with the positive news that the Omicron surge has peaked with the seven-day case average dropping, gaping holes in health disparities are still unanswered.

Some hospitals and health care systems such as CoxHealth have hired diversity, equity, …

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9 medical student tips to prepare for the Match

Education
February 13, 2022

Medical students are quickly familiarized with which specialties are most competitive when they finish their first year. The prior year’s Match statistics can make the process seem daunting. As if the enormous amount of material to be learned is not enough, students also face the anxiety of adequately preparing for a coveted residency position. There might be additional stressors for a medical student in a small city or rural area …

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Eating disorders are mental health illnesses that don’t have a certain “look”

Conditions
February 13, 2022

A few days ago, I talked to a mentor and brought up my anorexia recovery journey. Using my voice after years of suffering in silence has been instrumental in releasing myself from the inner torment while trying to create purpose from the pain. When I mentioned my struggle with anorexia, the mentor responded, “How are you doing, now?” followed by one of my most dreaded comments: “I mean … You …

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Why is Covaxin not in the FDA’s toolbox? [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 12, 2022
YouTube video

This episode is sponsored by Athelas, the number one provider of remote patient monitoring.

“As a clinician who has received two Pfizer doses and a booster without any side effects, I wholeheartedly embrace vaccination to solve this pressing public health crisis. The key is for policymakers to …

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I am not leaving medicine because I like the clinical practice part of my job

Physician
February 12, 2022

The headlines read “Why Healthcare Workers are Quitting in Droves,” “Docs are Leaving Practice,” and “Physician burnout declared a public health crisis.” The side-gig, financial independence retire early (FIRE), and non-clinical career posts pop up in my daily professional media feeds. Believing in the power of suggestion, I wonder if I  should start looking for career number two.

Start. That’s a joke. …

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Mildred Mitchell-Bateman, MD: an icon in psychiatry

Physician
February 12, 2022

New Haven, West Virginia, is a small town nestled in Appalachia and located approximately eight miles from the juncture of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. Newspaper articles from the 1950s and ’60s suggest that the town’s demographic makeup and surrounding area as nearly 97 percent Caucasian.

In 1926, as commissioned by West Virginia, a psychiatric facility was opened and named The Lakin Hospital for the Colored Insane. In the tradition of …

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What do physician coaches do, and what can they do for you?

Physician
February 12, 2022

When was the last time someone sat down with you to talk about what you want from your career? Let me ask this differently: When was the last time someone sat down with you and listened while you talked about what you want from your career? If your answer is yesterday, or last week, or last month, or anytime in the last year, and you love what you do without …

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Physician informatics and the chief medical information officer [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 11, 2022
YouTube video

This episode is sponsored by Athelas, the number one provider of remote patient monitoring.

“At the beginning of my time as a CMIO, I needed to remain clinical to build camaraderie with my colleagues. This proved essential as the health system was going through a transition to …

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Why is the world’s first universal coronavirus vaccine not in the FDA’s toolbox?

Conditions
February 11, 2022

Success in any project is based on using the right tool for the job. No tool would be more effective in the campaign against COVID than Covaxin, which has shown its value in India and other markets during recent months. 

While mRNA vaccines were a promising option in the early stages of the pandemic, a study released by the CDC on January 19, 2022 showed that in two of the most …

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What doctors need to know about psychedelic medicine

Meds
February 11, 2022

Frustration.

If you’ve treated patients with PTSD, I’m guessing that both you and your patients have experienced frustration at numerous points along the treatment course. And it’s understandable – up until this point, the efficacy of PTSD treatments has been notoriously poor. The best options aimed to diminish the severity of symptoms with a combination of therapy and daily medications.

However, the …

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Reflections of a critical care doctor after 2 years of COVID

Physician
February 11, 2022

COVID has been with us for two years. I have written my reflection during the pandemic periodically to vent, share and disseminate information. But I have felt at a loss for words in the last few months. I am exhausted, emotionally drained and bereft.

Critical care docs are resilient. We train to serve the sickest patients. We are used to making decisions in split seconds. Lives depend on us, and we …

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Don’t be in a hurry to fast

Conditions
February 11, 2022

There is a lot of confusion and outright falsehoods about fasting. You can search the internet for clarity and end up more confused than when you started.

The fact is, fasting can be a very effective tool to improve your metabolic health, increase insulin sensitivity and help you lose weight. But, who should and shouldn’t use fasting for weight loss and how long to fast for effective weight loss are questions …

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Never underestimate the self-flagellation of the physician [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 10, 2022
YouTube video

This episode is sponsored by Athelas, the number one provider of remote patient monitoring.

“Patients die. This is a tragic truism in the world of medicine. Usually, the patients who die are elderly. Patients die from diabetes and kidney disease, or from alcohol abuse and liver failure, …

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A crushing blow in a workplace I loved

Physician
February 10, 2022

My gut churned, a burning rose into my chest as I read the email. It’s happening again repeated on a reel in my mind, followed by  I need to leave this job. But I wasn’t quitting. I was triggered. It was years after I’d had the rug pulled out from under me at an institution where I’d spent decades working, but sometimes my nervous system sent me right back there.

I was a palliative …

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