4 ways to support someone living with alcohol or substance use disorder

Conditions and Diseases
August 16, 2021

The pandemic has made the difficult work of recovering from alcohol or substance use disorder even harder. To deal with the heightened anxiety, depression, and stress caused by the pandemic, more people have turned to alcohol and substances. In addition, it’s been harder for people in recovery to stay on track when many in-person treatment options were limited, and they had to rely on online resources and meetings.

The National Center …

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4 ways to support someone living with alcohol or substance use disorder

Redefining traditional gender roles and the importance of a growth mindset [PODCAST]

Podcast
August 15, 2021
YouTube video

“Maybe it’s a testament to a hardy relationship that there was no resulting argument. Without thinking, I blurted out, ‘You are so sexist!’ I could immediately tell by my husband’s face, his upper eyelids and eyebrows lifted a bit, his mouth freeze-framed in a small ‘o’ — my exclamation surprised …

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Redefining traditional gender roles and the importance of a growth mindset [PODCAST]

Doctors are humans, not heroes

Physician
August 15, 2021

Everybody dies. And doctors can’t change that reality.

But we’ve created a system where we lead people to believe immortality is possible. We expect clear-cut answers to health questions. We’ve been trained to look for multiple-choice questions with an answer key that tells us the correct solutions. As doctors, we’re expected to be selfless, altruistic superhuman helpers who always know the answers and will sacrifice ourselves to benefit everyone else. And …

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Doctors are humans, not heroes

Are you a part of “The Upsell” in health care?

Physician
August 15, 2021

Does this scenario sound familiar? You bring your car into the dealership for routine servicing. The service representative (patch on his shirt says his name is “Bob”) checks your car history. He tells you they will do the routine service check, but he also recommends the “manifold inspection,” a “carburetor cleaning,” and a “transmission flush.” Now you have no idea what the hell a manifold is or does, but you …

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Are you a part of “The Upsell” in health care?

The bleak reality of racial disparity in surgical care

Physician
August 15, 2021

As a practicing surgeon for 30 years in the super-specialized field of otology, neurotology and skull base surgery, I have been privy to some of the most disturbing realities of surgical care. Often, these realities are bleaker than most people expect. One thing physicians, and the general population, need to be more aware of is the very real racial disparity in surgical care.

Are the outcomes for Black and Hispanic patients …

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The bleak reality of racial disparity in surgical care

Stop resisting the imposter

Physician
August 15, 2021

The problem with feeling like an imposter is thinking there’s something wrong with it.

I know this is different from any way you have thought about it, but humor me. What happens when we are offered an opportunity but we feel like an imposter?

We hide.

We overwork to compensate.

We look around at our colleagues and resent them. Because why do they get to feel so secure? Why aren’t they feeling insecure? They …

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Stop resisting the imposter

A physician’s journey to walk again and how she learned self-compassion [PODCAST]

Podcast
August 14, 2021
YouTube video

“Suffering something similar in my career, I know the detrimental impact of not having a voice or being heard in the medical community. Medical professionals do not want to appear weak, so they continue until something breaks.

As a pain physician, I understand where the frontline health care workers are coming …

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A physician’s journey to walk again and how she learned self-compassion [PODCAST]

Sorry, I’m fed up. It’s not professional, but I am.

Physician
August 14, 2021

“It’s experimental.”

“It alters your DNA.”

“It may cause long-term problems.”

“It’s too new, too rushed. I want more time.”

I hear this nonsense from patients all day.

None are docs, virologists, microbiologists, immunologists, public health officials, medical researchers, nor intensive care docs. COVID can kill them in a particularly unpleasant way; with 99 percent+ effectiveness, the vaccine prevents them from dying from COVID, but they still recite a litany of scientifically illiterate reasons for …

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Sorry, I’m fed up. It’s not professional, but I am.

Delta surge warning: Ignoring jaw pain comes at too high a price

Conditions and Diseases
August 14, 2021

As surges of the Delta variant alarm officials and citizens in this country and around the world, while the cases of COVID-19 have reached more than 200 million worldwide, a less visible threat re-emerges.

If health care professionals are not allowed to perform non-emergency procedures, as was the case in 2020, patients suffering with chronic pain such as jaw pain, may be left helpless.

The COVID-19 …

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Delta surge warning: Ignoring jaw pain comes at too high a price

That glorious last summer: A patient says no to chemo

Patient
August 14, 2021

It never ceases to amaze me that some people do not realize they have the absolute right to make their own health care choices even if everyone else thinks it’s the wrong choice. Once they recognize that every medical option is theirs to accept or reject, the effect can be liberating.

In the Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990 Act, this right to choose is outlined, including the right to refuse treatment, …

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That glorious last summer: A patient says no to chemo

America as an outlier: Paying more for less

Health Policy
August 14, 2021

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United States clearly stands out: we spend far more on health care per capita than any other country in the world, yet life expectancy is shorter than in other developed countries that spend far less. Despite having a higher total expenditure on health care per capita than any other country in the world, the U.S.’ health …

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America as an outlier: Paying more for less

Let’s look at what’s right about nursing homes [PODCAST]

Podcast
August 13, 2021
YouTube video

“Extensive media coverage of the emotional and death tolls that COVID-19 inflicted on nursing homes has intensified concern for preserving the humanity of an often-overlooked population. There is an opportunity to re-examine the policies and practices that shape the nursing home experience and to add quality metrics that capture the …

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Let’s look at what’s right about nursing homes [PODCAST]

20/20 vision: empowering thoughts

Physician
August 13, 2021

I’m sure many people would agree that 2020 was catalytic for them. For me, it was the year I finally achieved 20/20 vision, and my eyes opened up to a world of reality. Up until this point in time, I had tried so hard to believe in hope. I found myself making excuses for other people’s behavior by doing too much compassion work on their behalf instead of taking care …

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20/20 vision: empowering thoughts

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The mindset hack that will change your life

Sponsored
August 13, 2021

This article is sponsored by the Fast FIRE to Freedom Summit.

“Abundance mindset just seemed too simple to really be the solution. But I couldn’t deny the evidence … and that allowed me to loosen up to the possibility that maybe mindset is really the key.”

Chris was gleeful as he told me and my husband Kenji this. Downright giddy. He laughed throughout our …

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The mindset hack that will change your life

A physician’s COVID message to patients

Conditions and Diseases
August 13, 2021

I know there’s a lot of information out there about the COVID-19 vaccine. You have probably read many different things about the vaccine from friends and family members, in the news, and social media. There is so much conflicting information that it makes it hard to know what the right thing to do is anymore. I’m weary of all the conflicting information too.

As your doctor, and a person who cares …

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A physician’s COVID message to patients

I am no longer terrified of COVID

Conditions and Diseases
August 13, 2021

I am no longer terrified of COVID.

I’ve seen its death. I’ve seen it take the breath from someone’s lungs. I’ve watched it shut down kidneys. I’ve walked the halls of an ICU with pumps outside the room, and patients turned upside down. I’ve heard the code blues. I’ve passed an endotracheal tube through vocal cords. I’ve squeezed air into suffocating lungs. I’ve broken ribs doing chest compressions. I’ve sent electricity …

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I am no longer terrified of COVID

Why it is essential to prioritize universal coverage [PODCAST]

Podcast
August 12, 2021
YouTube video

“Looking to other countries that provide universal coverage to see what works and what would fit well for the U.S. is an option. Countries like France, Australia, and England provide universal coverage and rank their health care systems very highly, and are culturally and socioeconomically similar to the U.S.

Whatever health …

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Why it is essential to prioritize universal coverage [PODCAST]

May each of you find your own sunrise and sunset

Physician
August 12, 2021

When I turned 60, it was a weird feeling, something I had not experienced with previous birthdays.  I remember thinking, “SIXTY! Am I really 60?” Where did the time go? Looking back, I realize how much of it I had “wished away.” We all can fall into this trap. There are life challenges to overcome and tasks to complete to reach our ultimate dream. Suddenly, though, we realize that the best …

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May each of you find your own sunrise and sunset

Joy is our antibiotic. Let not your stings fester.

Medical Education
August 12, 2021

I had a nightmare last Christmas. I thrashed in bed for at least an hour before slipping into a seat at the start of a medical lecture. Some of my classmates were present, and while standing next to a friend’s desk, he said, “Wow, your knee is red and throbbing, did you know?” Before acknowledging his comment, I became aware that the lateral side of my right knee was red, …

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Joy is our antibiotic. Let not your stings fester.

The political backlash to evidence-based doctors’ recommendations

Conditions and Diseases
August 12, 2021

Last week, someone referred to me online in the most shocking terms: a liberal. As I read the phrase, I gripped the pearls around my neck and coughed down my scalding afternoon tea. How could this have happened to me?

With all its newsworthiness to the public, last week was still an ordinary one in the intellectual life of a doctor: Read journal articles, understand new guidelines, disseminate via recommendations. By …

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The political backlash to evidence-based doctors’ recommendations

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