As I navigate this world, I often feel overwhelmed by its harshness, making peace and harmony seem elusive.
Today, the atmosphere feels particularly heavy with distrust and anger, leaving me caught in a constant “me” versus “you” mindset. At times, it feels as though a corrosive glue has enveloped the workings of my heart, preventing me from experiencing emotions and diminishing my willingness to seek the truth or ensure my story …
I recently came across an ongoing “discussion,” or rather aggressive bantering, in an online physician platform regarding the old guard versus the alleged newer, more entitled, and lazy generation of doctors. Years ago, I would have more staunchly fallen on the side of the old guard. Though I am a solid elder millennial, my “bootstrap” upbringing and Navy career fully encouraged the concept of medicine as a calling vice a …
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!
Emergency physician Drew Remignanti discusses his KevinMD article, “High tech should not replace high talk and high touch in health care.” In this episode, Drew examines the limitations of artificial intelligence and …
It’s getting close to that time of the school year. Your teenage patient with chronic headache/migraine is finishing up their high school education, either through the traditional or non-traditional pathway. They have chosen their next step—going to college. As their provider, you are so proud of them. Perhaps high school has been really hard for them academically, socially, and/or emotionally. They needed and used accommodations around schoolwork and attendance. They …
Picture this: You’re sitting in a courtroom, and the defendant in front of you is a major insurance company. The charge? Denying a life-saving claim that led to devastating consequences for someone’s health. The prosecutor stands up, looks toward the jury—a group of everyday people like you and me—and declares, “They prioritized profits over the lives of people.” Doesn’t that statement hit differently this morning, especially as you sip your …
“Shame on you for glorifying people leaving such a noble profession.”
That’s a little … intense.
I was jolted but, unfortunately, not surprised by this negative comment on my LinkedIn post—a post sharing my story of resigning from residency.
Backlash like this is not new to me. Anytime I speak publicly about leaving clinical medicine, I am met with an odd mix of “That’s so brave of you to share” and “How dare …
If you have followed my blogs for the past few years, you know that I have focused on practice management, the business of a medical practice, and recently AI. This blog will depart from those topics and discuss a clinical topic, the orgasm gap, that I have written with a colleague, Dr. David Mobley, a urologist at Weill-Cornell Medicine.
Everyone, both men and women, deserves to experience an orgasm or the …
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!
Psychotherapist and litigation stress coach Gail Fiore discusses her KevinMD article, “Recognizing and addressing medical malpractice stress syndrome (MMSS).” In this episode, Gail explores the prevalence of MMSS among physicians, the common …
Breast cancer recovery is about more than survival—it’s about reclaiming a vibrant, fulfilling life. Instead of focusing solely on survivorship, we need to embrace what I call “livingship”: the journey of truly thriving after treatment. This approach focuses on ensuring patients not only survive but thrive in their cancer-free lives.
A personal journey in medicine
My path to becoming a breast cancer specialist was shaped by early aspirations and personal experiences with …
A nurse practitioner (NP) in urgent care saw a patient with a severe headache following a fall. Initial testing and symptoms suggested a concussion, leading to discharge. However, when the patient’s worsening condition later revealed an elevated white blood cell count, they were rushed for further evaluation—but it was too late. The patient succumbed to bacterial meningitis. …
Diagnostic error is a difficult issue to track in the emergency department (ED). For a good reason, too: The patient population is so transient it’s difficult to detect a “missed” diagnosis. It’s less readily apparent than medication errors, falls, and other commonly reported incidents.
But that’s precisely what makes diagnostic error such an insidious problem.
Recent research into malpractice claims over a five-year period suggests that 28 percent of all diagnostic error …
Dear new nurse graduate,
Welcome to a world unlike any other—a world brimming with happiness, sadness, confusion, self-doubt, defeat, and heroism. You’ve just stepped onto the first rung of a ladder that reaches into the unknown. Nursing is not easy, and there will be countless moments when you ask yourself, “What was I thinking?” or “Why did I choose this path?”
But nursing isn’t just a job; it’s a lifelong journey, a …
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!
Internal medicine physician Melvin Speisman discusses his KevinMD article, “How AI is transforming medicine faster than ever before.” In this episode, Melvin explores the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence within health care, …
ADVERTISEMENT
Age should not define a person or diminish respect from others. There is a generation of people overlooked every day, and little attention is paid to this growing problem.
As people age, they may become less visible within their communities. It can seem like people who once smiled as they walked by begin passing without a glance. Seniors may feel like unwanted outsiders in society. Sadly, many participate in their own …
The recent decision by the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from its website has sparked a significant debate within the academic community. This move, aimed at complying with an executive order from President Donald Trump, highlights the tension between institutional values and political mandates. This essay explores the implications of Penn’s actions, contrasting …
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated medical communication as patients and doctors utilized computer technology to manage health care that was not available a decade ago.
Hospitals and doctors maintain online medical records that enable patients to access personal information about ongoing issues. “Portals” allow users to view lab tests, imaging results, pathology reports, and progress notes. The computer “message” system also enables patients to communicate with their physicians or other health care …
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!
Internal medicine physician and psychiatrist Muhamad Aly Rifai discusses the KevinMD article “The role of social credit scores in the enforcement of health care regulations.” They explore the expansion of predictive algorithms …
Introduction
It is no secret that the U.S. medical system fails to treat all patients equally. Those with Medicaid often lack access to the same primary care and subspecialty clinics as those with Medicare or private insurance and face longer wait times. Medicaid is jointly funded by the states and federal government. The solution is to increase Medicaid reimbursement. Of course, in my home state, Texas, …
The concept of a “Faustian bargain” originates from the legend of Dr. Faustus, a figure from German folklore who trades his soul to the devil in exchange for worldly knowledge and power. Doctor Faustus is Christopher Marlowe’s most renowned and controversial work. The play depicts the sinister aftermath of Faustus’s decision to sell his soul to the devil’s henchmen in exchange for power and knowledge. It serves as a timeless …
When I learned that I had been chosen for the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS), I was ecstatic. It felt like a profound recognition of my values and hard work—a celebration of compassion, empathy, and humanism, which have always been the cornerstone of my personal and professional life.
Throughout medical school, I spent considerable time addressing gaps in my medical school’s curriculum and community engagement, founding several initiatives and organizations to …
Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.
