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Expanding health care access and equity through telehealth

Gjanje L. Smith, MD, MPH, Wanneh A. Dixon, and Maria Phillips, JD

Policy

October 22, 2021

The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) has been an amplifier and catalyst for numerous issues. The pandemic has impacted health care delivery significantly, and inequities for the Black community are more apparent. Federal and state rules for telehealth compliance/reimbursement were relaxed to preserve health care access during the PHE. While we are still in the data collection and observation phase, some concepts are clear: Telehealth positively impacts health care access, …

A son’s brain cancer. A father’s story. [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 21, 2021

“As you wait, you have a lot of time to think. You comb through the past in search of something you might have missed. If we had acted sooner on the signs of his illness—had the cancer been diagnosed earlier—would Lee have had a better chance? You think about your …

Crossing the liminal space of the pandemic

Jessica Bloom, MD

Physician

October 21, 2021

We have been walking down a long hallway for many, many months. We left the room we resided in pre-COVID, but we have not yet found a room to rest. We are in the liminal space of COVID. This is unsettling and unnerving — liminal space often is.

Liminal space in architecture is the area between discrete, functional spaces, a way of passage, but not the place where beds are placed, …

Stratified reproduction in medicine

Micaela Stevenson

Conditions

October 21, 2021

Shellee Cohen defines “stratified reproduction” as the practice in which society assigns value to offspring and, therefore reproductive capacity of different groups of people. While commonly race or socioeconomically based, this can be based on any category we can divide people. This concept is ever-present in medicine, even in the most progressive environments. This became most evident when I was sitting at my desk in an outpatient gynecology office, clicking …

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Stratified reproduction in medicine

I was thinking about retiring, and COVID-19 gave me a push [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 20, 2021

“Last March, I was working in a small primary care practice on the west side of Denver. COVID-19 came to town. On Thursday, March 12, we were told the schools would be closing. On Friday, we were told that clinic staff had to wear masks — and the clinic had …

Having a sad: A physician leans into the feeling of sadness

Russell Prichard, MD

Physician

October 20, 2021

I broke down crying. Again. — In this cold heart, I can live, or I can die. — It isn’t even on my sad song playlist, so why am I so upset? My scientific brain encouraged me to recreate the environment, remove the variables, and play the song again in isolation. — I believe if I just try, You believe in you and I — Oh no, it’s happening a …

Why physician-owned businesses need our attention and support [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 19, 2021

“There has been a growing wave of entrepreneurial physicians finding joy and value in starting consulting and coaching businesses. Many use their expertise to work with physicians exclusively. Our company has been excited to play a part in better spotlighting these businesses. Today it is now even easier to find …

Breast cancer’s silver lining

Anne Katz, RN, PhD

Conditions

October 19, 2021

In many ways, this woman was similar to other patients I have seen after a diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Her hair was growing back, and I immediately noticed that she was comfortable enough to not be wearing a wig or head covering for our Zoom visit. I keep my hair very short by choice and I find this …

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Breast cancer’s silver lining

Does pro-vaccine always have to be pro-mandate?

Farhan S. Imran, MD

Physician

October 19, 2021

“They are firing me for not getting the COVID vaccine. I can make more money working at Michael’s than I do at this job. I was only doing this because I like to help people. But this is it for me. I’m quitting. I’ll miss the patients, but I cannot be forced into doing something that I don’t believe in.”

The patient care tech said to me after putting my patient …

What we can learn from an orthopedic surgeon who publishes a novel [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 18, 2021

“Transections, eviscerations, exsanguinations, amputations, decapitations, disembowelments, penetrations, disarticulations, emasculations, enucleations, incinerations—these things he has seen. But of late he chooses to see only the glimmering vials. His vision fades and darkens as he draws closer to the OR where the ultimate reality lies prepped, draped, framed, and illuminated, waiting for …

How the board certification exams infantilize resident training

Karen S. Sibert, MD

Physician

October 18, 2021

Not long ago, my patient in a complex thoracic case developed progressive bradycardia followed by a malignant-looking multifocal atrial arrhythmia that didn’t generate any blood pressure.

“Get out some epinephrine!” I said to my resident, who was standing closer than I was to the drug cart. The resident quickly drew up a milligram of epi, but then paused. I could almost see the thought bubble overhead: “Should I print out a …

Some health issues should not be evaluated in the office

Steven Reznick, MD

Physician

October 18, 2021

I received a phone call from an elderly gentleman who was closer to ninety years of age than 80, was taking an aspirin, and had just suffered a fall and hit his head. He did not know why or how he fell. He asked for an appointment the same day to “check me out.”

My staff asked all the pertinent questions and immediately brought the information to me. After reviewing it, …

Ivermectin is a Nobel Prize-winning wonder drug

Jeffrey R. Aeschlimann, PharmD

Meds

October 18, 2021

Ivermectin is an over 30-year-old wonder drug that treats life- and sight-threatening parasitic infections. Its lasting influence on global health has been so profound that two of the key researchers in its discovery and development won the Nobel Prize in 2015.

I’ve been an infectious disease pharmacist for over 25 years. I’ve also managed patients who delayed proper treatment for their severe …

A story of a physician photojournalist [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 17, 2021

“Her face is decorated in colors of the earth. With events on Earth Day and throughout the week, New York City celebrates sustainability and ways to live in harmony with the planet. Scheduled festivities include a march down Broadway with a mix of virtual talks and celebrations and in-person walks …

I’ve broken free from time, and I am a better doctor for it

Sneha Shah, MD

Physician

October 17, 2021

How many minutes have you given yourself to read this post?

There was a time when none of us could tell time. Imagine not knowing what the ever-moving hands of a clock are trying to reveal. My memories skew, but in that era before I could tell time, all I remember is laughter, effervescence, and the occasional injury. (The first time I hit my “funny bone” was quite the scare!)

Now, we …

Compassion fatigue and the unvaccinated

Jazbeen Ahmad, MD

Physician

October 17, 2021

“Do you get compassion fatigue when you take care of smokers or patients with obesity or diabetes?”

This was in reply to an article on compassion fatigue I had posted on my Facebook page. The article was written by an exhausted physician caring for unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. My initial reaction was, “Of course not. That’s my job!” But it made me think, why was it that caring for unvaccinated patients seemed …

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Compassion fatigue and the unvaccinated

Why it’s important to take charge of your own health

Himani Joshi, PharmD

Conditions

October 17, 2021

Little did I know that after October 2, 2020, my life would completely change forever. I want to start by saying I am a pharmacist by profession, and I now finally understand the saying, “take charge of your health.”

My brother and I had taken my dad to a hospital in Philadelphia on the morning of October 2, 2020. Caught by surprise, we found out my dad had four blockages. My …

When celebrities attack children with food allergies [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 16, 2021

“A child is born with a food allergy. They do not choose to have their immune system compromised. Parents do not get the choice to opt-in or out of having their child’s body recognize ordinary food as a threat. Food allergies are a unique disease in that we need the …

The inverse relationship of efficiency and resilience

Erin Maslowski, MD

Physician

October 16, 2021

I was recently coaching a bright, energetic primary care physician in her first few years of practice. She was working through her Life’s Purpose statement, an exercise we often recommend. At the end of her admirable statement, she tagged on “with efficiency.” Naturally, we explored this a bit. Our conversation meandered toward an interesting conclusion: the more she focused on efficiency, the more likely she was to feel overwhelmed and …

Patient complaints have psychological repercussions [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

October 15, 2021

“I believe there is an art to medicine, a psychological connection to your patients through a hands-on patient encounter. There are nuances AI may take decades to compete with. For now, in my lifetime, I hope that people examine patients and when there are questions about the quality of care, …

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