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PPE: psychiatrist presenting emotion

Physician

April 22, 2022

Out of all the fields of medical practice, the field of psychiatry is the most unlikely place to be wearing a mask. My fellow physicians in hospitals, operating rooms and clinics typically had masks ready to utilize for several procedures long before COVID emerged.

In mental health care, especially as a child psychiatrist, masks are a significant hindrance in clinical care.

How could the family that uses American Sign Language read my …

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PPE: psychiatrist presenting emotion

Tips for delivering difficult pediatric diagnoses [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 21, 2022

“I remember our first day in the cystic fibrosis clinic like it was yesterday. I cried in the parking garage and struggled to nurse my daughter in the waiting room. And then it happened. That moment is forever etched in my mind. The pediatric pulmonologist took my hands, looked me in the eye, …

Prostate cancer, sex drive, male menopause and conversations to have with your doctor

Kevin Charles King, MD

Conditions

April 21, 2022

Americans are having less sex than ever before. Should we be worried? Ask your prostate.

A 2022 study from the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior found that the rate of all types of sexual intercourse have declined from 2009 to 2018. While the authors speculate as to why this may be the case – it is unlikely they examined the role of prostate cancer.

This doctor got COVID. Here’s what it taught him.

Matthew Hahn, MD

Conditions

April 21, 2022

Tuesday night, March 29 into March 30, I started to feel that sensation I associate with the start of a cold. It was a feeling in the back of my throat that’s almost hard to describe. I haven’t had that sensation in years. Because I have been wearing an N95 mask every time I come into contact with people outside of my inner circle, I hadn’t had any sort of …

Does Chicago needs a rapid response to food sanitation and safety?

Janice Phillips, PhD, RN and John Mazzeo, PhD

Policy

April 21, 2022

As the momentum to mitigate food insecurity continues to unfold, we need a stronger emphasis on ensuring better food sanitation and safety in economically disadvantaged and under-resourced communities. For example, the closing of 400 Dollar General Stores in several states and a grocery store closure on Chicago’s West side due to rodent infestation are of concern, especially for communities who are already dealing with …

Debunking the myths around asynchronous care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 20, 2022

“So how can health systems and clinicians provide patients with an improved, consumer-friendly experience while also making strides to decrease provider administrative burden and burnout? They need to embrace virtual care beyond just video visits and look toward asynchronous telehealth. Asynchronous care allows providers to treat patients for common, …

Done with COVID? Not so fast.

Stefanie Demetriades, PhD

Conditions

April 20, 2022

Moving into the pandemic’s third year, as many settle into the notorious “new normal” of COVID, the challenge now is avoiding complacency and keeping attention and vaccination rates high enough to maintain protection against the still-evolving virus.

Six months after approving a first vaccine booster, the FDA has now authorized a second booster dose for older and immunocompromised people at greater risk of serious illness. With new variants …

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Done with COVID? Not so fast.

Malpractice: an officer of the court

Brian Sayers, MD

Physician

April 20, 2022

Tony (not his real name) was one of those patients who came to be a friend. I was his doctor for 11 years, guiding him through some very difficult times with a chronic autoimmune disease. He was a handyman, a fly fisherman, a husband, a father and a man of deep faith.

His condition was difficult to control, but he always offered a smile as he patiently and hopefully waded through …

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Malpractice: an officer of the court

The horror of darkened hearts

Steve Adelman, MD

Physician

April 20, 2022

In 2016, I published A Tale of Two Epidemics in the Harvard Health Blog. Sadly, our current pandemic has joined with health professional burnout and the opioid epidemic to gobsmack us with virus-infused spittle. Although doctors and nurses have stepped up heroically to save lives, many of us are depressed and dispirited. We’ve gotten sick. Some have died. Political nonsense has overshadowed reason – some have been …

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The horror of darkened hearts

A psychiatrist’s part-time journey [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 19, 2022

“She kept quiet, but she had planted the seed.

Interestingly I did not talk much about work during the appointment, so her question stirred my thoughts. Why did she think it was work-related? I started to look at my daily routine. I was able to recognize where I needed to …

Divided loyalties: A physician testifies against a colleague

Kasi Chu, MD

Physician

April 19, 2022

Some may think I am a traitor.

I testified against one of our colleagues. And his employment was terminated.

It feels terrible. The type of gut-wrenching terrible that baits my tear and steals my sleep. I find myself rehashing the testimony, always startled afresh at the unambiguous answers.

“What were your concerns?” Counsel asks.

“Patient safety.”

“Do you think he should be employed at this company?”

“No.”

Seemingly simple words that seal a 60-month saga.

My first meeting …

How to retain more of your hard-earned money

Tod Stillson, MD

Finance

April 19, 2022

I have never known a doctor who wasn’t interested in bringing more money into their home. There are so many reasons for this that can range from paying off large loans to the costs of having children (nannies, sitters, private schools, college, weddings, etc.) to the growing sense that your employer undervalues you.

Regardless of your reason, most of you will attempt to fill this void by working harder or by …

A bad death: the importance of truth-telling at end-of-life

Althea Halchuck, EJD

Conditions

April 19, 2022

“Death would not be called bad, O people, if one knew how to truly die.”
— Nanak

Her funeral was yesterday, and there was a huge turn-out. She was 67 and never cussed or said a bad word about anyone. She was much-friended and well-loved. In late January 2022, she was diagnosed with stage-4 cancer in her lungs, which metastasized to her liver and bones. At first, some medico used the word …

Pfizer and Moderna must share vaccine technology [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 18, 2022

“Pfizer has a particular onus to help intervene globally as one of the largest and most profitable pharmaceutical companies in the world. With its immense capital power, Pfizer should shift some of their spending from national ads promoting their vaccine product in a country that has large booster vaccine availability …

Looking across the glass door: a COVID-19 vigil

Katarine Egressy, MD, MPH

Conditions

April 18, 2022

A small piece of lint is tickling my nose as I am desperately trying not to sneeze into the tight-fitting mask on my face. I know that I will not be able to adjust the mask as my gloves are sterile, and I am standing suspended over a patient’s body with my gloves patinaed with small drips of blood mixed with an antiseptic. The procedure is challenging as the patient …

Reduce your loneliness, improve your well-being, and take the first step

Paula Rochon, MD

Conditions

April 18, 2022

Just before the pandemic, I walked 96 miles (154.5 km) in seven days on the West Highland Way in Scotland, though I was hardly alone in this endeavor. About 250 people start the walk each day, including the amazing group of primary women that I walked with, indicative of both the attraction of the trail and the popularity of this form of physical activity.

All types of people were walking. There …

What do we do with our sadness and anger?

Tracey O'Connell, MD

Physician

April 18, 2022

When my boys were little, they responded to frustration differently. One would get angry, throw toys, yell, bite, refuse to cooperate. The other would become pitifully sad, appearing abandoned or lonely.

The sad one received more attention because when we see someone who’s sad, it pulls on our heartstrings and evokes innate compassion. Seeing another in a low energy, low pleasantness state makes us want to reach out and offer comfort. …

Help patients recognize how important their opinions are [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

April 17, 2022

“Too often in medicine, health care providers assume what patients want or need. Like the crocodile, we may assume all patients would want a tire removed in order to help extend their life – even if the cure meant losing the only thing that made their unique life worth living. …

How to prepare to be an effective caregiver

Miles J. Varn, MD

Physician

April 17, 2022

At some point, most of us will take on the role of caregiver. You may be caring for your parent or older family member, a spouse or partner, or a close friend. As the population ages, the number of people in the U.S. who are caregivers is growing significantly. Caregiving in the U.S. 2020, a report from The National Alliance for Caregiving, found that the number of …

I see so much of this in pain management

Merideth C. Norris, DO

Physician

April 17, 2022

In 2017, the CDC rolled out a “solution” to the opioid crisis. The recommendations, which were never intended to become laws, were mostly level of evidence three or below.

To put it another way, they were not robust, nor were they based on research in any way that matters. There was also no input from the pain medicine associations.

The premise was that we would solve the problem using what those of …