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New Medicare documentation and payment changes starting next year that deliver relief for clinicians

Policy

December 14, 2020

Starting on January 1, 2021, clinicians across the country can expect new Medicare rules on billing, documentation, and payment for evaluation and management (E/M) services — or common office/outpatient visits – to go into effect. These historic changes will give clinicians more flexibility in how they document visits in their patients’ medical record, reduce their paperwork burden and give them more time to spend with patients. With over 750,000 clinicians …

What to consider before becoming a medical power of attorney

Miles J. Varn, MD

Conditions

December 14, 2020

If a family member or friend asked you to serve as his/her medical power of attorney, what would your answer be? Many people agree to assume this role without a second thought, but you should take some time to understand what your responsibilities as a medical power of attorney would be, why the person has chosen you to do this, and what potential complications and conflicts may arise. With that …

Turn 2020 into an opportunity by changing your mindset [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 13, 2020

“A few months ago, I signed up for a virtual conference for women in medicine. It’s a group of women, over 10,000 of us, who have watched me and supported me through the past two years of my career. Two years of struggle. Two years of personal and professional pain. Two …

Proponents of independent non-physician practice make a dangerous assumption [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 12, 2020

“Most Americans have remained dangerously unaware of this revolution in health care. Being treated by a non-physician is not on the radar of the average patient, most of whom assume that anyone in a white coat is a physician. If patients do wonder about being treated by a non-physician, they are …

8 things physicians should know before they’re interviewed by the media

Tyeese L. Gaines, DO

Physician

December 12, 2020

Lights, camera, action!

You get a call from your hospital’s public relations office asking you to speak to the local news. Even though this isn’t your first time, your heart is pounding, with a mix of nerves and excitement. You start doubting whether you have anything valuable to say about the topic, even though, yes – you went through many years of medical school and residency before this moment. You are …

What is culinary medicine and why do we need it?

Disha Narang, MD and Nisha Patel, MD

Physician

December 12, 2020

It is no secret that physicians spend countless hours studying a wide variety of disease processes and treatments. We all know that sub-optimal dietary choices and habits can lead to chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. The burden of these diseases is rising astronomically. According to the USDA 2015-2020 guidelines, in 2008, the medical cost related to the chronic disease of obesity was estimated to be …

Can there be hope amid politics? [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 11, 2020

“Humans are complex. Humans are multifaceted. Humans are capable of grit and determination. This means that humans are also worthy of hope.

If I learned anything from watching this moment in history, I realize that it’s not about being a ‘Democrat’ or a ‘Republican’ it’s about being human.

What we do now will echo …

What it takes to be called a great doctor: a patient’s perspective

Michele Luckenbaugh

Potpourri

December 11, 2020

Let me begin by extending my gratitude to all physicians who have served our country during this time of the coronavirus pandemic. During this trying time, your dedication and service have given a sense of stability and confidence in our health care systems at a time filled with so much uncertainty and turmoil.

As a member of the “Baby Boomer” generation, I’ve seen my fair share of physicians over the years. …

Mental health in medical professionals and the power of sharing stories [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 10, 2020

“Frontline medical professionals must collectively share what they experienced as a whole. We must piece together these narratives and unearth commonalities to truly know what happened. Just as we must continue rigorous quantitative research on the virus itself, we must also conduct a qualitative examination. In the peri-COVID era, it will …

More physicians have tattoos, and how that makes them more genuine at the bedside

Katherine Palmisano, MD

Physician

December 10, 2020

Throughout my time in medical school, residency, and now as a practicing physician, I have noticed physicians’ changing face. When applying for medical school, I remember choosing a medium-grey pantsuit to match my medium-brown hair to wear for my interview, paired with a simple necklace and conservative makeup. Nothing too flashy, as even choosing grey instead of black and a pantsuit instead of a skirt would stand out and be …

How to decrease your dread of being on-call [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 9, 2020

“Have you ever wondered how much time we spend worrying about call, versus the amount of time that we actually spend being on call? What about the Monday after a long weekend, returning from vacation, or an overnight shift? Is it as bad as we think it’s going to be, even …

Lottery docs? Randomize medical school admissions for fairness

Caspian Kuma Folmsbee, MD

Education

December 9, 2020

It’s this simple: The medical school admissions system is bloated and reinforces implicit and systemic biases leading to further social inequity.

Medical schools across the country are going through thousands of applications and making literal life-changing choices for these students. Introducing randomization into the admission process would simplify and address the built-in issues in this process.

Admissions tests do not determine the quality of a doctor’s …

Mental health in our youngest healers [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 8, 2020

“I was admitted to the hospital for psychiatric evaluation and stabilization just after my third year of medical school. Leading up to my episode, I thought I was fine – stressed, sure, overworked, definitely, but I thought that was normal for someone just finishing a year of clinical rotations. I deteriorated …

COVID-19 and the cruel death of my mother

Christine King, CRNA

Conditions

December 8, 2020

I am very happy to hear that the CDC decided to prioritize health care workers and long-term care residents to be the first to receive the vaccine for the COVID-19 vaccine. It is very personal to me as a health care worker and a daughter.

My mom was admitted to an assisted living/personal care home as the lockdown was hitting this past March.

Her health had been declining since September of 2019 …

Preparing for the USMLE despite 2020’s obstacles

Jia Wei Tan, MD

Education

December 8, 2020

I came from Malaysia dreaming of completing my residency in the U.S. and becoming a nephrologist. Luckily, I interviewed for programs before COVID-19 shook the world, and I began my residency at Yale University Bridgeport Hospital in June 2020.

Having just reached my target score for the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) after graduating from UCSI University in Malaysia, I empathize with current students struggling to study for their USMLE. …

How to bring joy and be valued while avoiding burnout [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 7, 2020

“When I was regularly working 80+ hours a week, and was on call almost every day, I had to admit that something needed to change. I stepped back and did significant research to find a strategy to help coach myself out of constant exhaustion and put myself first.

Today, I’m a peak …

The truth about Baron Von Munchausen, Munchausen’s Syndrome, and Munchausen’s by proxy

Michael Hefferon, MD

Conditions

December 7, 2020

An excerpt from Medical Myths: A Sceptic’s Journey.

The German Baron Karl Friedrich Von Munchausen (1720-1797) was famous for his tall tales. Returning from the war, he described himself riding on a cannonball and even reaching the moon. Stories were compiled …

How to be sick: challenges faced by those with chronic pain and illness [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 6, 2020

“I write in my book, ‘I know from experience that nothing positive comes from directing blame at yourself.’ When it comes to chronic illness (which includes chronic pain), it’s crucial to remember that you are not the enemy. Anyone can get sick, physically or mentally, and anybody can develop chronic pain. …

3 strategies for matching into a competitive specialty, even with a lower USMLE score

Rajani Katta, MD

Education

December 6, 2020

For applicants seeking to match into a competitive specialty, it can be challenging. In fact, it’s not uncommon for programs to receive over 100 applications for a single residency position. To sort through that many applications, many programs use filters. One type of filter is a USMLE “cut-off” score: applicants who don’t score above a certain minimum won’t be considered further.

That’s why, for applicants with lower-than-average USMLE scores, my advice …

COVID-19 vaccines: Channeling the 7 habits to get from vaccines to vaccinations

Toyin M. Falusi, MD

Physician

December 6, 2020

In the U.S. and worldwide, cases, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19 are surging. The health care workforce is overworked, and increasingly, more people appear to be experiencing mask fatigue. In the midst of this, there is exciting news. A few weeks ago, initial promising results from two phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trials were released. The vaccines reportedly showed 90 to 95 percent efficacy, exceeding expectations, and providing much-needed optimism.

Vaccines are …

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