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There’s a good reason why we don’t see patients’ joy in the office

DocG, MD

Physician

December 7, 2018

I like to think of myself as a relatively optimistic person. If you have ever met me in person, you might think that I have a pretty sunny disposition on life. And for the most part, I do. Since I write every day, however, there are times when my posts may start going negative. Not for an extended period, but long enough for my readers to wonder if am just a touch …

Give millennials what they need in health care

Sandra Worrell, MD

Physician

December 6, 2018

Another study reiterates what we already know: In droves, millennials are venturing away from the traditional model of securing a primary care provider and opting not to access health care “as usual.”

Still, too many physicians do little more than shake their heads over this. We wonder when millennials will figure out they need a medical home for the best possible care – especially when a medical emergency occurs.

But, guess what? …

This isn’t just my lane, it’s my highway

Judy Melinek, MD

Health Policy

December 6, 2018

On Wednesday, I did a gunshot-wound autopsy. On Friday, I was going into the morgue to perform another when I checked Twitter and saw this.

Doctors across the U.S. and across medical specialties were already responding and sharing photos: their face shields spattered and scrubs drenched in their patients’ blood; more blood on the emergency room …

Why your practice needs a makeover

Diana Anderson, MD, MArch and Keith Mankin, MD

Physician

December 6, 2018

The spaces where we live and work can exert both strong and subtle influences on the way our brains function. They can make us anxious, distracted, inefficient or tired, affecting not only our cognitive ability but also our emotional state, mental stability, and physical well-being. Clinical medical practice, like much of life in our society, is tethered to indoor space, so physicians, staff and patients alike are particularly prone to …

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Why your practice needs a makeover

The challenge of no to arthroscopic surgery

Eric Bohm, MD and Ivan Wong, MD

Conditions and Diseases

December 6, 2018

Nearly half of Canadians aged 65 and over experience osteoarthritis in their knees. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of bones wears down over time leading to pain, stiffness and decreased mobility. It frequently occurs in the hips and knees — and can be quite painful.

To help improve mobility and treat joint pain, it has been …

The power of the tincture of time

Philip A. Masters, MD

Physician

December 6, 2018

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

I distinctly recall during residency a much older and well-respected clinical teacher periodically opining that what was needed in a particular patient case was “a dose of the tincture of time.”

For those less familiar with more historic terminology, a tincture is an alcoholic …

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The power of the tincture of time

Should doctors stay in their lane? A physician says yes.

Kyle Varner, MD

Physician

December 6, 2018

The National Rifle Association ruffled a lot of feathers recently when it published a tweet that said that doctors should “stay in their lane” on the subject of gun control.

As a practicing physician, you might be surprised to hear that I side with the NRA.

There’s something fundamentally different between diagnosing and treating a disease in a patient and recommending a new law because you treat people …

Sickle cell is my neighbor

Benjedick Joseph, RN and Amy Sobota, MD, MPH

Conditions and Diseases

December 6, 2018

I was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at three months old in Haiti. The diagnosis from the doctor was followed by more tragic news; my parents were told that I was not going to live past five months. From that point on, my parents searched high and low for medication and knowledge about this unfamiliar disease. They spent an abundant amount of money in Cuba looking for any medicine that …

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Sickle cell is my neighbor

When physicians don’t enjoy the holidays, it’s a wakeup call

Stephanie Wellington, MD

Physician

December 5, 2018

As the holidays approach, this time of year can be filled with mixed emotions for high-achieving medical professionals who find themselves in the hospital, clinics, and practices caring for patients instead of spending time with loved ones. It can be more hectic than ever as doctors try to be all things to family and friends while still carrying a full patient load.

Personally, I learned the hard way that this is …

What medicine can learn from Disney

Tyson Schwab, MD

Physician

December 5, 2018

When I was a young child, like most children, I loved Disney. However, my fascination with Disney did not involve the exhilarating theme parks, characters or delicious foods. As a young boy, I was captivated by the Disney culture, the multifaceted business model and the life and legacy of Walt Disney. During the past two decades, I have continually studied these complex concepts. Concurrently, I was pursuing a scientific education …

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What medicine can learn from Disney

5 ways we can prevent doctor suicide

Leanne Rowe, MD

Physician

December 5, 2018

For Meg — with sorrow.

We have failed to address the scale of suicide and mental illness in the medical profession, which is a global issue. Each of us can help prevent doctor suicide with these five strategies both locally and worldwide:

1. We can destigmatize mental illness for doctors and medical students

First, we can change the negative attitudes to mental illness in our profession by accepting that doctors and medical students …

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5 ways we can prevent doctor suicide

As doctors, our social capital is changing

Richard Plotzker, MD

Physician

December 5, 2018

Retirement has gotten me edgy. Three months after departing, I had begun spending too much time horizontal, which I forced myself to remedy but then finding myself with nothing to do.

Moreover, things have gotten more noticeably like Bowling Alone, an often-cited book by Robert Putnam published in 2000 that describes attrition of diverse communal activities over the previous 30 years. For physicians, our daily activities prevent us from working in …

Patients are not passengers

Christopher Noll, RN, MSN

Patient

December 5, 2018

Health care safety efforts have long focused on improving the behavior of providers and improving the systems of care. A proven model of safety is in the airline industry. There are undoubtedly many parallels between airline safety and health care working toward common goals. This work should continue in both industries to ensure the safety of the people they serve.

The airline safety model, though, can only look at health care …

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Patients are not passengers

What a physician would tell his younger self about the use of debt

Cory Fawcett, MD

Physician Finance

December 5, 2018

As Christmas approaches, I have begun seeing ads for things our family “must” have this Christmas. Overspending in December is a common problem I often find when I do a financial makeover for doctors. There is a huge push to buy things during the Christmas season, whether they can afford it or not. Those who choose to overspend, end up with a big headache when their January’s Visa bill arrives.

Overspending …

7 reasons why you should prioritize retirement savings over college savings

James M. Dahle, MD

Physician Finance

December 4, 2018

It is widely recommended in the financial world that you prioritize your retirement savings over college savings for your children. I agree with this advice. Yet, I run into people all the time who are not following it. Perhaps it is because college often arrives a decade or more earlier than retirement so it seems natural to save for college first and then turn your attention toward …

How physicians can get started with passive income

Passive Income, MD

Physician Finance

December 4, 2018

It’s been a little over two years since I started this journey of blogging about passive income, and I’ve learned so much along the way. The term “passive income” has come to mean something very different to me over these years.

I used to think that passive income was simply earning money in a way that isn’t proportional to the time you put in. And while this is …

There’s no room for ego in health care

Suneel Dhand, MD

Physician

December 4, 2018

I was recently seeing a rather complicated medical patient in the hospital. We were treating both a heart and kidney condition, and things were not going so well. To spare anyone non-medical who is reading this the scientific details of the bodily processes involved, we were essentially balancing hydrating, with the need to get rid of excess fluid. After seeing the patient, I spoke with the nurse, went over the …

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There’s no room for ego in health care

Physicians sacrifice a lot to deliver care. Technology shouldn’t ask for more.

Erin Palm, MD, MBA

Health Technology

December 4, 2018

I had a great case the other night. Around midnight on a Friday, the hospitalist physician called me to evaluate an incarcerated femoral hernia. I thought this elderly and medically ill patient would likely die no matter what I did. I spent a grim half-hour at bedside explaining the dilemma to the patient and her family. She needed surgery, but surgery would probably kill her.

The patient chose surgery. And she …

You must make a good first impression with patients

Andrea Lauffer, MD

Physician

December 4, 2018

First impressions are critical. We are taught early in our careers that first impressions truly matter. Whether interviewing for medical school or a residency program, our goal is to make a positive first impression in hopes of making the cut at each checkpoint in our early careers.

These processes in our academic lives and careers are exhausting. As residencies and medical schools are becoming more competitive, the importance of first impressions …

It’s the little things that can make or break the doctor-patient relationship

David Penner

Patient

December 4, 2018

“The dermatology profession exists for the primary purpose of caring for the patient. The physician-patient relationship is the central focus of all ethical concerns.”
– American Academy of Dermatology, Code of Medical Ethics.

The doctor-patient relationship is one of profound importance and complexity. And while doctors in training often receive quality mentorship regarding their chosen specialty, many lack good mentors to guide them in the art of the doctor-patient relationship. This is …

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