Caring for our caregivers: Addressing the burnout crisis in health care
The public health crisis of burnout among health care workers is more severe than many realize. With 49% of physicians experiencing burnout, patients face a 1 in 2 chance of being treated by an exhausted, unmotivated, and underperforming doctor. This issue affects all areas of health care, from emergency and urgent care visits to surgeries, deliveries, and cancer screenings. A patient’s well-being hinges on health care professional’s ability to …
The hidden heroes who fought for women’s reproductive rights in the 1950s
The term “Dainty Maids” could refer to various subjects depending on the context—ranging from historical groups to fictional characters.
Historically, women in service roles, such as maids or attendants, were referred to as Dainty Maids. They were noted for their refined manners and appearance, women who embodied ideals of delicacy and decorum. In literary works, poetry, and plays from various periods, particularly in the Victorian era, Dainty Maids were often described …
Unmasking online scams: How to stay safe as a visible patient advocate
As a health care writer and patient advocate for people in pain, I spend a lot of time online on venues like Facebook, Quora, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter). I am visible. And because I am visible, many people reach out to me seeking help or doctor referrals to the few clinicians who are still prescribing safe and effective opioid pain relievers. In recent years, I have also been contacted …
Money dysmorphia: the new financial disorder affecting millions
A new, concerning trend in society has emerged online and across social media: money dysmorphia. It’s the latest version of the comparison trap and aims to describe a distorted view of one’s financial situation and how one is doing financially.
What is money dysmorphia?
Money dysmorphia is a psychological condition where individuals have distorted perceptions of their financial status, often leading to unhealthy behaviors and attitudes toward money. Similar to body dysmorphia, …
Battling burnout in pediatric intensive care [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!
We delve into the critical issue of physician burnout with Jillian Bybee, a pediatric intensive care physician. Jillian shares her firsthand experiences from the front lines of health care, discussing the unique challenges …
A doctor’s eye-opening journey as a patient
In 2022, I sought out mental health care, finally able to say, “I need help.” During this experience, my doctor’s brain churned, and a new patient’s brain grew. These allowed me to see both sides of the world of medicine, and the contrast, unfortunately, disappointed me. Below is a spur-of-the-moment writing inspired by a series of unfortunate patient experiences. In sharing these words, I hope I can help the patients …
The rise of at-home medical tests: Can the hype meet our health care needs?
Recent news feeds are packed with consumer tips for navigating the abundance of at-home medical tests. Within the past month, Healthline, Fortune, Self Magazine, and the New York Times, to name a few, have published articles on “best of” medical tests for a range of health conditions, from herpes and HIV to COVID-19 and thyroid function.
At-home medical tests are a booming market, expected to reach …
The surprising secret to success in medical school
I never thought I would make it to medical school. I stumbled upon pre-med while walking down the halls, late to my 8:00 a.m. art class because weightlifting went longer than expected. I was on the university soccer team, and my schedule already felt overwhelming. When I got the call, I was on a hike with my dad and husband. “Congratulations Madison, you have been accepted!” I couldn’t believe it. …
AI and empathy: Transforming cancer patient support [PODCAST]
Adopting technology to support the nurse workforce and provide smarter, safer care delivery
The U.S. health care industry is facing a nursing shortage crisis driven in part by burnout and technology burden, which was further emphasized by the COVID-19 pandemic. To improve working conditions for nurses and drive quality patient care, industry leaders must prioritize implementing technologies that support the nursing workforce and care delivery.
I practiced earlier in my career as a critical care nurse at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital. From this …
Unlock your child’s potential: the power of nurturing hidden talents
What do you do to make your child confident? Do you tell them that they are amazing? Do you say that they are smart? Do they believe you?
Today, I am going to share the story of an autistic child who was brought to the doctor after a severe mental breakdown at school. His school had completely given up on him; they asked his parents to transfer him to another school …
The surprising truth about where intimacy really begins
Intimacy starts outside the bedroom. Most people think intimacy occurs inside, but it seems to me this could not be farther from the truth.
Intimacy is a taboo topic in our society. I am not referring to only physical intimacy but also emotional and spiritual. For some reason, it makes us uncomfortable; it rattles us.
Intimacy is about honesty, love, and connection. It starts with connection, but the other pillars are essential.
Our …
ADVERTISEMENT
Why curing baldness remains as elusive as putting a man on the moon
If they can put a man on the moon, why can’t they cure male pattern baldness? It’s not easy being bald. In winter, you freeze; in summer, you burn. New follicles never “spring” up, and hair continues to “fall.” That pretty much describes the seasons of my discontent.
You would think that at age 80, I would have come to grips with my shiny dome. After all, I had the highest …
Compensation for mentoring residents [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!
Join us as we delve into the evolving landscape of physician employment agreements with Dennis Hursh, an attorney. Discover the significance of the new Individual Specialty Residency Program Agreements that compensate physicians for …
How physicians can learn to love their private medical practice
Having an ambitious understanding that small private medical practice businesses are the “belt and suspenders” that enable your medical career to approach your elite expectations for your medical career success is only part of your drive toward an illustrious medical career.
Your medical training, knowledge, and skills are how you grow, expand, maintain, and earn income. Physicians have struggled for decades to weave these two pillars into a highly functional, well-oiled, …
ADVERTISEMENT
Stop physician burnout: the hidden danger of AI note-writing software
AI note-writing software will provide massive short-term relief to stressed-out physicians, effectively disconnecting the quality of notes from personal data entry skills. Unfortunately, after a brief respite from the stress of documentation, things could worsen.
The first EMR software was implemented in the early 2000s. The increased stress of digital documentation caused physician burnout rates to jump by 20 percent. Every study conducted since that time has identified documentation burden as …
From devotion to despair: a teacher’s fight against glioblastoma
He was only 31 years old. He had a beard and was a very tall and incredibly handsome man. He was a teacher who used to teach the Holy Quran to young children in a faraway village in Punjab. He used to offer his prayers regularly. He did not go to school or college but was a productive member of society. He worked at a tailor shop and used to …
How to rewire your brain with positive language
Language is a powerful internal influencer. You use language to communicate with yourself, just as you do with others. Language is the byproduct of what you think and helps create, define, and redefine the way you think. An angry person is more likely to have negative thoughts. If your internal language is negative about yourself, the people in your life, or your environment, you may come to believe what you …
ADVERTISEMENT
Challenging the legal barriers of cross-state telemedicine [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!
Join radiation oncologists Shannon MacDonald and Sean McBride as they delve into the evolving landscape of telemedicine in oncology. They discuss the significant improvements telemedicine brought during the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges and …
Past Week
-
Physician patriots: the forgotten founders who lit the torch of liberty
-
The hidden cost of becoming a doctor: a South Asian perspective
-
Why fixing health care’s data quality is crucial for AI success [PODCAST]
-
Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients
-
How functional precision oncology is revolutionizing cancer treatment [PODCAST]
-
Why physician voices matter in the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ laws
-
Past 6 Months
-
What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
-
Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check
-
How dismantling DEI endangers the future of medical care
-
How scales of justice saved a doctor-patient relationship
-
A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how
-
The broken health care system doesn’t have to break you
-
Recent Posts
-
How functional precision oncology is revolutionizing cancer treatment [PODCAST]
-
Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients
-
When a doctor becomes the narrator of a patient’s final chapter
-
Why innovation in health care starts with bold thinking
-
Navigating fair market value as an independent or locum tenens physician [PODCAST]
-
Gaslighting and professional licensing: a call for reform
-
Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!
Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.
551
pages
Past Week
-
Physician patriots: the forgotten founders who lit the torch of liberty
-
The hidden cost of becoming a doctor: a South Asian perspective
-
Why fixing health care’s data quality is crucial for AI success [PODCAST]
-
Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients
-
How functional precision oncology is revolutionizing cancer treatment [PODCAST]
-
Why physician voices matter in the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ laws
-
Past 6 Months
-
What’s driving medical students away from primary care?
-
Make cognitive testing as routine as a blood pressure check
-
How dismantling DEI endangers the future of medical care
-
How scales of justice saved a doctor-patient relationship
-
A faster path to becoming a doctor is possible—here’s how
-
The broken health care system doesn’t have to break you
-
Recent Posts
-
How functional precision oncology is revolutionizing cancer treatment [PODCAST]
-
Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients
-
When a doctor becomes the narrator of a patient’s final chapter
-
Why innovation in health care starts with bold thinking
-
Navigating fair market value as an independent or locum tenens physician [PODCAST]
-
Gaslighting and professional licensing: a call for reform
-
