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Conditions

November 23, 2020

I enter the hospital to work again. I must work as I have three small children and a husband presently out of work because of COVID. He is “non-essential.”

A violinist is playing at the employee entrance. I know they do this to lift our spirits. But it’s a slow, sad string that reminds me of the titanic. And yes, every day I clock in, I feel as if it’s a …

Practical thoughts on pursuing a partnership track

Mitchel Schwindt, MD

Finance

November 23, 2020

A quick preview of any journal will note a plethora of physician jobs spanning the country. Many of these jobs offer a partnership track and promote a democratic philosophy.

As someone who has worked on both sides of the equation, I wanted to share a few thoughts. You may not agree with all, but here they are, nonetheless.

First, consider your long-range plan. While it’s exciting to contemplate a first job while …

Essential physician communication tips to improve the patient experience [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 22, 2020

“A majority of physicians see between 11 and 20 patients per day, and among all practices, the majority of doctors spend between 17 and 24 minutes with each patient. Assuming a five-day workweek, this translates to more than 900 patient interactions per year and over 1,066 minutes spent communicating with patients. Today, many …

I am an emergency and critical care physician. I had COVID-19 infection twice and I’m tired.

Kara Ward, MD

Physician

November 22, 2020

I am a critical care and emergency medicine physician, I have had COVID-19 infection twice, and I’m tired.

My first infection was early on in the pandemic. I had to place a Blakemore tube in a young man who was going to die from his massive bleeding from cirrhosis. I didn’t know then that the patient was positive for COVID, as he didn’t have any “typical” symptoms. I placed the tube …

What Caribbean medical students need to know about the residency match

Samir Desai, MD

Education

November 22, 2020

For students studying at Caribbean medical schools, success in the residency match is a major concern. And it should be, because Caribbean medical students have unique challenges. At the same time, strategizing early in your medical school career can significantly impact your ultimate success.

Here are five rules that are critical in residency match success:

1. Yes, your exam score matters. The reality of the current day residency match is that programs …

Why spiritual health is so important [PODCAST]

Elizabeth J. Berger, APBCC

Podcast

November 21, 2020

“Around the time of the coronavirus outbreak, 2019 also marked a full century since the death of Sir William Osler, who revolutionized medical training. Despite some lingering debate over whether Dr. Osler’s pneumonia-related death should be counted among the 50 million lost to the 1918 influenza pandemic, his notes suggest that he …

The ibuprofen COVID-19 paradox

Amy G. Schade, PA-C

Conditions

November 21, 2020

With the surge of information surrounding COVID-19 released in the news this year, an interesting concern arose regarding ibuprofen’s use in patients with COVID-19. In March of 2020, French authorities were the first to investigate anecdotal reports of severe COVID-19 infection in patients who had taken ibuprofen.

The initial concern involved the ACE-2 receptor. The theoretical concern was that NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen might …

Read more…

The ibuprofen COVID-19 paradox

Mental health care in children during COVID-19 [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 20, 2020

“Our country, and the world, is beyond exhausted by COVID-19 and the utter chaos and destruction of lives it has caused. All people, including physicians, are being pushed beyond capacity. What do we mean, collateral damage? Originally related to war: the unintended result of a terrible, unprecedented event or action. We …

Declaring racism as a public health crisis from the lens of two Latinx student doctors [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 19, 2020

“Antiracism requires action-oriented work and calls us to ask, how will we work to become antiracist? How will we change our institutional culture and systems to become antiracist? As Latina medical students, we have seen and experienced racism in many aspects of society and have felt the need to change our …

An inflexibility and inflammation root-cause approach to treatment [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 18, 2020

“In medicine, empiric therapy is treatment that is administered based on the probability of success because we don’t have all of the information. We make our ‘best guess.’ Actually, empiric decision-making exists in our everyday lives — running the garbage disposal when the sink is clogged, jiggling the key in the …

Advice to aspiring medical students on work-life balance

Kelly G. Elterman, MD

Physician

November 18, 2020

I recently met a student and aspiring surgeon who asked me if I was happy with anesthesiology and a career in medicine in general. I told him that aspiring to medicine is wonderful and that while I am indeed happy with my career choice, it does come with daily challenges, both professional and personal. This led to a discussion of work-life balance, particularly with regard to family life, in which …

Why the pandemic is the perfect opportunity to introduce meditation to children [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 17, 2020

“While there is a myriad of expert opinions on what long term effects this pandemic will have on our children and their physical and mental health, we must also remember the age-old idiom: this too shall pass. We must also be sensitive to not add to parents’ already full plates. Meditation …

The value of intergenerational relationships

Satya Moolani

Education

November 17, 2020

With the rapid growth of modern medicine and awareness in lifestyle and environmental influences, individuals can live longer and healthier lives. Approximately 15.2 percent of the U.S. population consists of individuals 65 years and older. To make the added years of life expectancy fulfilling, older adults need to stay socially connected and involved. One key method is through the development of meaningful …

Appreciation in the personal finance world [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 16, 2020

“Appreciation in the personal finance world has two different components to it:

Quantitative: increasing value of net worth and financial assets
Qualitative: feeling of gratitude for one’s finances, resources, and circumstance. This is not dependent on the dollar amount.

These are both important, but the qualitative is the best predictor of increasing …

COVID-related stressors and increasing instances of substance abuse [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 15, 2020

“While the rise in substance use disorders during COVID will become more apparent as the pandemic eventually ebbs, the silver lining is that this is not a novel problem. We understand substance use disorders far better than we understand COVID-19, and we also know that one of the largest obstacles to treatment is the shame associated with admitting that one has …

The pedestal that’s killing doctors

Patricia Celan, MD

Conditions

November 15, 2020

Doctors are often called “heroes” – a surprisingly uncomfortable label. Physicians are already tired of being held to a higher standard than the average person; raising the pedestal is problematic. While doctors are compassionate individuals who care about bettering lives and curing illnesses, we are also human. At the end of a standard workday, we would like to live normal lives. Unfortunately, the hours are longer, and we are never …

Read more…

The pedestal that’s killing doctors

Let’s make compassion go viral [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 14, 2020

“We are social beings. Evolution has taught us that in order to survive, we must work together. Community trust (trusting your fellow citizen) is a very effective way to build community resilience when hardships strike. Studies have been done in the wake of natural disasters and have shown that social infrastructure and connections have equal, if not more, impact on the …

To the third-year medical students who feel like they aren’t learning anything

King Pascual

Education

November 14, 2020

First of all, congratulations on making it this far in your journey towards becoming a physician. It truly is a privilege to be in the position of a third-year medical student because unlike the previous two years, we are now able to address the needs of actual patients, and in many cases, their family members and caregivers, whether they be emotional, mental, physical, or socioeconomic.

I admit that it sounds trite …

Hassle-free real estate investing for busy doctors [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

November 13, 2020

“Why real estate?

By having a ‘why’ you want something, it’ll help keep you motivated to pursue your goals when setbacks and mistakes occur.

For our family, we wanted passive income streams.

Passive income gives you options. I love options.

It doesn’t matter if you want to work forever, retire early, or change careers, multiple income sources can make it happen.

Our passive income is not …

Proponents of independent non-physician practice make a dangerous assumption

Rebekah Bernard, MD and Niran S. Al-Agba, MD

Physician

November 13, 2020

An excerpt from Patients at Risk: The Rise of the Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant in Healthcare.

On a sunny Tuesday in March 2015, the steps of Capitol Hill were draped in white as nurse practitioners from across the United States descended on the nation’s capital. Their …

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