Privacy protection after death: an ongoing dilemma
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 …
Why meaningful patient connections matter in medicine
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 …
In-office cardiac CT scanners transform heart care in rural Mississippi
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 …
End-of-life issues in dementia care [PODCAST]
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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 …
Telltale hearts: Navigating modern medicine’s human element
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 …
The sham peer review: a hidden contributor to the doctor shortage
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 …
Why you need allergen component tests to support your allergy diagnosis
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 …
Are Ozempic patients on a slow-moving runaway train?
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, …
AI in health care: Improve outcomes with effective prompt engineering [PODCAST]
How physicians can find true happiness beyond wealth
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 …
21st century schizoid health care: the unseen crisis of our system
“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 …
Prescribing data and efficiency: Harnessing technology to alleviate the physician shortage in the U.S.
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 …
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Diverse data redefines heart disease prevention strategies
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 …
Innovative solutions to the clinician shortage crisis [PODCAST]
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 …
The hidden talent that transformed my medical career
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 …
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The emotional toll of chronic illness
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 …
How team sports prepared me for a successful career in medicine
Nothing could have prepared me better for my career and life than playing team sports growing up.
It’s hard to imagine someone now in their 70s pitching a fastball 100 miles per hour, bench pressing almost 400 pounds, and running the 100-yard dash in 9.8 seconds. These skills allowed me to play baseball until I was 26 and then move on to medical school.
Professional athletes pride themselves on their speed and …
From farm to pandemic: the urgent need for dietary changes [PODCAST]
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Young lives at risk: the unseen dangers of fentanyl addiction
When we go charging in blood vessels at breathtaking speed to relieve the blockade that otherwise may bring a sad end to life, we expect to be doing it for the mature and elderly. The stress and strains upon the heart through the journey that is life upend the natural rhythm and flow, with the turbulence churning up clots like butter from milk that flow downstream till the narrowed channels …
Past Week
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Are quotas a solution to physician shortages?
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Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting
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How smartphones are stealing your focus—and what you can do about it
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Learning to trust your body again: Healing the hidden wounds of medical training
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Why patients and doctors are ditching insurance for personalized care
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When grief hits all at once: a morning of heartbreak and love
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Past 6 Months
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How trade wars could destroy the U.S. health care system
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How hospitals are quietly taking control of physicians
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What happened to real care in health care?
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The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors
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Doctors don’t need yoga, they need time to smoke
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Academic medical centers under threat: the impact of funding cuts
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Recent Posts
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The hidden bias in how we treat chronic pain
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The origin of medical licensing exams
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Focusing on medicine’s core, not administrative chores [PODCAST]
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When America sneezes, the world catches a cold: Trump’s freeze on HIV/AIDS funding
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Burnout isn’t ironclad—and neither are we
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Biologics are not small molecules: the case for pre-allergy testing in an era of immune-based therapies
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Past Week
-
Are quotas a solution to physician shortages?
-
Internal Medicine 2025: inspiration at the annual meeting
-
How smartphones are stealing your focus—and what you can do about it
-
Learning to trust your body again: Healing the hidden wounds of medical training
-
Why patients and doctors are ditching insurance for personalized care
-
When grief hits all at once: a morning of heartbreak and love
-
Past 6 Months
-
How trade wars could destroy the U.S. health care system
-
How hospitals are quietly taking control of physicians
-
What happened to real care in health care?
-
The silent crisis hurting pain patients and their doctors
-
Doctors don’t need yoga, they need time to smoke
-
Academic medical centers under threat: the impact of funding cuts
-
Recent Posts
-
The hidden bias in how we treat chronic pain
-
The origin of medical licensing exams
-
Focusing on medicine’s core, not administrative chores [PODCAST]
-
When America sneezes, the world catches a cold: Trump’s freeze on HIV/AIDS funding
-
Burnout isn’t ironclad—and neither are we
-
Biologics are not small molecules: the case for pre-allergy testing in an era of immune-based therapies
-
