Physicians’ access to maximum potential in medical practice has vanished

Physician
August 1, 2024

Practicing physicians have been extremely lucky over the last century to have survived financially in the health care system to the degree that they have today. Judging from my 25 years of medical practice research and 40 years of clinical medical practice experience, I have been watching the self-disintegration of most physicians’ value to the profession.

Your personal values become hostage to the Medical-Industrial Complex or Medical Deep State. Just the …

Read more…

Private equity’s takeover of health care: a patient’s nightmare

Policy
August 1, 2024

As private equity (PE) plays a larger role in health care, we likely have a patient-centric image of who these individuals are and what these institutions do. But what does health care look like to PE, and what does health care do from their perch? While attending a housewarming party of an acquaintance who works in PE and specializes in GI clinic acquisitions, these questions were answered, and it was …

Read more…

Quiet firing in medicine: my journey from burnout to freedom

Physician
August 1, 2024

As I sit in this dark room in an empty house in solitude, I still wonder how I got here.

I have been the subject of quiet firing that resulted in my mental and social health suffering. It soured my work relationships, consumed my day, made me an angry person to everyone, including my family, and gave me anxiety. It culminated in exactly what the system wanted: me leaving. It was …

Read more…

How knowledgeable patients face suspicion in medical care [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 31, 2024
YouTube video

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Join us as we delve into the experiences of patients with long-term complex conditions who are often met with disapproval or suspicion by medical professionals for being knowledgeable about their own health. Our …

Read more…

Privacy protection after death: an ongoing dilemma

Physician
July 31, 2024

Privacy protection does not cease to exist at death, as privacy laws protect information until 50 years post-mortem. So, why does the protected information of public figures often find its way into the public domain long before this embargoed period elapses, sometimes almost immediately after death?

Firstly, the primary question is: What defines a public figure? Some individuals are public figures long before their deaths, while others become public figures at …

Read more…

Why meaningful patient connections matter in medicine

Physician
July 31, 2024

Connecting with another human being in a meaningful way allows a physician to practice the art and the science of medicine. Showing you care helps to gain trust, and helping to alleviate pain and suffering establishes a bond. When you give of yourself on behalf of your patient, as a caregiver you share something not many people get to experience—compassion-driven skill. Choosing a career in health care is most often …

Read more…

In-office cardiac CT scanners transform heart care in rural Mississippi

Conditions
July 31, 2024

Mississippi holds a troubling distinction when it comes to heart health: Over a third of all deaths in the state are attributed to cardiovascular disease (CVD), making it the leading cause of death. The state also grapples with one of the highest adult obesity rates in the United States, with nearly 40 percent of adults considered to be obese. The alarming statistics highlight the urgent …

Read more…

End-of-life issues in dementia care [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 30, 2024
YouTube video

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Join us as we welcome psychiatrist Lewis Cohen to discuss his book, Winter’s End: Dementia and Dying Well. In this episode, we explore the ethical dilemmas, legal challenges, and emotional impacts surrounding life-shortening …

Read more…

Telltale hearts: Navigating modern medicine’s human element

Tech
July 30, 2024

The potential advances that AI will bring to medicine boggle the mind and portend massive changes, the likes of which we have not experienced since the advent of modern surgical techniques, the development of image-based diagnostic methods, and the discovery of effective medications. As a primary care doctor who has worked at San Francisco General Hospital for over 30 years, and as someone who has worked through the epidemics of …

Read more…

The sham peer review: a hidden contributor to the doctor shortage

Physician
July 30, 2024

Imagine you’ve worked in a clinical environment for an extended period. You might be a resident or fellow getting ready to graduate, an attending who has been operating for years, or a full-fledged partner in private practice. As your morning alarm sounds, you check your email and see: “Informal Meeting–Mandatory.” The content of the email is vague, but it seems you’re being asked to meet with several colleagues in your …

Read more…

Why you need allergen component tests to support your allergy diagnosis

Conditions
July 30, 2024

Almost 1 in 3 U.S. adults and more than 1 in 4 U.S. children reported having a seasonal allergy, eczema, or food allergy in 2021. That’s more than 100 million people and rates are rising. While many people experience relatively mild symptoms, for others, living with an allergy can be debilitating, with symptoms being severe and, in the worst cases, even fatal.

Therefore, it is essential to ensure …

Read more…

Are Ozempic patients on a slow-moving runaway train?

Meds
July 30, 2024

Have you ever heard of a drug called Ozempic? Just kidding. As we all know, this medicine and numerous related drugs are the rage. It is classified as a GLP-1 drug. The percentage of my patients who are taking these drugs is steadily rising. Of course, initially, Ozempic’s purpose was in diabetic management. Once it was discovered that weight loss was a “side-effect,” a new therapeutic mission was discovered. Indeed, …

Read more…

AI in health care: Improve outcomes with effective prompt engineering [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 29, 2024
YouTube video

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

We are joined by Fady Chamoun, an internal medicine physician, to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care. We delve into the art of prompt engineering and its six …

Read more…

ADVERTISEMENT

How physicians can find true happiness beyond wealth

Finance
July 29, 2024

Most physicians step into their careers already burdened with over $200,000 in student debt, no assets to speak of, and a nagging feeling that they’re way behind. If you’re the primary breadwinner in your family, this pressure can be even more intense. Interestingly, most doctors didn’t pursue medicine for the paycheck. But once that MD is proudly displayed after their name, they are thrust into a relentless sprint to catch …

Read more…

21st century schizoid health care: the unseen crisis of our system

Physician
July 29, 2024

“21st Century Schizoid Man” is a 1969 antiwar song by the prog rock band King Crimson. It appeared as the lead cut on their debut album In the Court of the Crimson King. “Schizoid Man” is considered an epic, described by Rolling Stone as “a seven-and-a-half-minute statement of purpose: rock power, jazz spontaneity, and classical precision harnessed in the service of a common aim.”

Schizoid personality disorder is much …

Read more…

Prescribing data and efficiency: Harnessing technology to alleviate the physician shortage in the U.S.

Policy
July 29, 2024

Amidst the pressing challenges confronting the health care landscape in the United States, the physician shortage stands out as a critical issue demanding innovative solutions. The Association of American Medical College’s latest report projects that the nation’s physician shortage could reach up to 86,000 by 2036. Burnout, which was further exacerbated by the pandemic, a large portion of physicians nearing retirement, limited medical school enrollment, and population growth …

Read more…

ADVERTISEMENT

Diverse data redefines heart disease prevention strategies

Conditions
July 29, 2024

In 2013, the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) created a “risk calculator” to estimate the 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and guide patient-centered medical therapy for prevention strategies, like starting statins. However, concerns arose that the pooled cohort equations (PCEs) overestimate risk and do not reflect the current diverse U.S. population, particularly underrepresenting Asian and Hispanic adults.

In 2023, AHA’s Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Scientific Advisory …

Read more…

Innovative solutions to the clinician shortage crisis [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 28, 2024
YouTube video

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

We dive into the evolving health care landscape with Jamie Babcock, a health care executive. We’ll explore the growing demand for skilled providers and the critical clinician shortage projected by the Health Resources …

Read more…

The hidden talent that transformed my medical career

Physician
July 28, 2024

Writing is something I enjoy. I take pleasure in writing, especially because of my beautiful handwriting. When I started school, we had to write with a lead pencil until fifth grade. I was so excited to write with a pen when I started sixth grade. After I learned how to write with a pen, I have been writing nonstop. I found my writing mesmerizing. My friends used to cram notes …

Read more…

ADVERTISEMENT

The emotional toll of chronic illness

Conditions
July 28, 2024

My legs felt like thick, immovable tree trunks as I shakily shuffled down the long, cold hospital hallway in my chafing hospital gown and ill-fitting non-skid socks, pulling my stubborn and squeaky IV pole alongside me. My mom took small, measured steps next to me as we took our daily walk around the hospital floor to escape from my cramped, confining hospital room.

Now several weeks into my first hospitalization after …

Read more…

542
pages