Reasons why you should consider having your surgery at an ASC

Physician
December 7, 2024

“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”
– Henry Ford.

The changing landscape of health care, along with a rising trend among patients for more affordable, manageable, and specialized solutions, has made ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) gain noticeable traction as a preferred surgical option. The value ASCs provide to patients, providers, and insurers is a perfect combination of convenience, safety, and cost savings. Here are ten data- …

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Faster sepsis diagnosis in emergency departments [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 6, 2024
YouTube video

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We sit down with pulmonary and critical care physicians Tonya Jagneaux and Hollis O’Neal to explore the complex challenges emergency departments face when diagnosing and treating sepsis. With overcrowded EDs, rising patient volumes, …

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The future of orthopedic care: Embracing the ASC-urgent care model

Physician
December 6, 2024

The landscape of orthopedic care is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by rising health care costs, patient demand for convenience, and the increasing popularity of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). As an orthopedic surgeon dedicated to advancing minimally invasive techniques and maximizing patient outcomes, I believe the key to navigating this evolving landscape lies in prioritizing patient access to the appropriate clinician via seamless care delivery. Simply put, “the right clinician …

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American tears and allyship: Who is at your table?

Physician
December 6, 2024

In a post-election fog on the morning of November 6, I attended my third-grade daughter’s Veteran’s Day assembly. It was deeply moving and full of the trust, hope, and optimism that we want all children to have. They enthusiastically sang “Proud to Be an American” and a less well-known song, “American Tears.” The lyrics hit hard that morning in the auditorium, and many of the audience members were shedding them. …

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What the death of UnitedHealth CEO reveals about our broken health care system

Physician
December 6, 2024

The sudden death of UnitedHealth CEO Brian Thompson has pulled back the curtain on something we’ve all known deep down: America’s health care system is failing. Every day, we hear heartbreaking stories of people denied life-saving treatments like cancer care, not because those treatments don’t exist, but because someone decided they weren’t “cost-effective.” This isn’t just a health care problem—it’s a crisis of humanity.

We talk about “making America great …

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is talking when they should be listening

Physician
December 6, 2024

On May 9-10, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a workshop titled “Training health care providers on pain management and safe use of opioid analgesics — exploring the path forward.” I attended the workshop in person to offer comments on behalf of chronic pain patients. A summary of my observations at the time was published by the now-defunct Pain News Network. The following extended extract is from …

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Physician compensation secrets: 2024 MGMA DataDive insights [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 5, 2024
YouTube video

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Join us in this insightful episode as we delve into the 2024 MGMA DataDive, the gold standard for physician compensation data. Our guest, Jon Appino, the driving force behind Contract Diagnostics,  will explore …

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Why every physician craves a break from daily chaos

Physician
December 5, 2024

In today’s medical world, cancer treatment guidelines are constantly evolving. CME events are held worldwide to help health care professionals become more familiar with new treatments. They can be live events held at specific locations or online activities. I will not go into further detail about the CMEs or industry-sponsored CMEs because that is not the focus of this story.

The best thing about being a physician is the opportunity to …

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The hidden truth about ghost networks: one mom’s fight for mental health care justice

Conditions
December 5, 2024

Jane Doe – her real name being hidden to protect her young child – thought she knew how to help her eight-year-old son “”Baby Doe.” She was well-educated, employed in a professional role by a federal agency, and comfortable navigating bureaucracies and unresponsive gatekeepers. More importantly, she was a fierce advocate for her child, who had been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and needed occupational and speech therapies, which …

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A neurosurgeon’s 23 simple things you can do (in five minutes or less) to improve your brain health

Conditions
December 5, 2024

Here are 23 simple things you can do (in five minutes or less) to improve your brain health. Do one of them each day. Keep it up for a few short weeks and your brain will sing your praises.

Attitude of gratitude

The act of being grateful improves mental health in a number of ways, such as making the grateful person less prone to depression and fostering stronger relationships. Becoming more grateful …

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Why rapid weight loss drugs may not be the health solution they seem [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 4, 2024
YouTube video

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Join us in this episode as we talk with health reporter Martha Rosenberg about the complex dynamics behind obesity, junk food advertising, and the surge of new semaglutide-based weight loss drugs. We explore …

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8 important things everyone should know about tongue-ties and lip-ties by a pediatric dentist

Conditions
December 4, 2024

As a pediatric dentist and owner of a tongue tie center, I pride myself on having a conservative and collaborative approach when it comes to treating oral restrictions. Too many providers rush to release, and too many parents are misinformed thinking the release is going to be a “magic fix.”

I’ve compiled a list of important things that I feel everyone (both providers and parents) should know about tongue-ties and lip-ties.

1. …

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The heartbreaking lesson about life, love, and the “doctor hustle”

Physician
December 4, 2024

“Bring me flowers now while I’m living.
I don’t need your love when I’m gone.
Don’t spend time, tears, and money on my old breathless body.
If your heart is them flowers, bring ’em on.”

These are the words of that great philosopher and country music singer, Tanya Tucker. A friend of hers had died, and someone suggested they bring flowers for the deceased. Tanya thought about this a moment. As she reflected on …

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The untold truths behind overdiagnosis and why it matters to your health

Conditions
December 4, 2024

An interview with Jerome Hoffman, MD, professor emeritus at UCLA.

Martha Rosenberg: As professor emeritus at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), you engaged in what is laughingly called in academics the “triple threat” of research, teaching, and clinical work for 30 years. Can you please summarize a little of what you did?

Jerome Hoffman: You’re right – I spent my career as an old-style academic, doing those three types of work. …

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Why rudeness and AI are pushing doctors to rethink their approach

Physician
December 4, 2024

Last week my nurse called me, weeping. A patient had called and abused her, threatened her, and said he would complain to authorities about her. This, because his insurance company had delayed his medication refill request by a week. My nurse was hurt; she answers patient queries and emails even on her days off. He is not the only one shouting at and threatening medical staff. In my 30-year career …

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When empathy is found in unexpected places [PODCAST]

Podcast
December 3, 2024
YouTube video

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We delve into the powerful narrative of patient vulnerability and resilience. Our guest, writer Rachel Litchman, shares her deeply personal experience of being hospitalized, highlighting the disconnect between patient needs and systemic responses. …

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Medicaid in non-expansion states: Explaining the indefensible

Policy
December 3, 2024

Over the years, as members of the Health and Public Policy Committee (HPPC) of the Texas chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP), we have focused on advocacy for what we believe is the most important health policy issue in our state, Medicaid expansion under provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Our efforts, and the work of many others, have had no discernable impact on state policy.

In the …

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The impact of sleep on fertility: Why rest matters for reproductive health

Conditions
December 3, 2024

Introduction

Sleep is not just a luxury; it is essential for maintaining health, and its role in fertility is particularly profound. From regulating reproductive hormones to protecting egg and sperm quality, sleep impacts every stage of the reproductive process. Yet, sleep disturbances—such as insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and irregular schedules—are often overlooked in fertility discussions. Recent research highlights how poor sleep affects fertility in men and women, influencing natural conception …

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Nurses, stop eating your young: a call for change

Conditions
December 3, 2024

I sat on a cylindrical stool, eyes bleary from the early hour. Navy scrubs freshly pressed, my nursing school patch tacked to my left shoulder. Would anyone notice I used hot glue and whipstitches?

I remember the sound my clipboard made as I attached a fresh piece of paper. The whoosh was faint and mimicked the flip-flap of wings attached to butterflies whirring around in my belly. I waited eagerly for …

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