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How religion helped this physician in the PICU

Physician

December 24, 2017

I majored in history of religion in college and have always had an interest in the places various twists and turns of theology can lead people. One relatively recent wrinkle is what has been loosely termed “prosperity gospel” or “prosperity theology.” It’s built upon the basic notion good things happen to good people, and bad things happen to bad people. Of course, that’s a foundational viewpoint of much of Christianity in the …

Fix the broken windows of the medical profession

Suneel Dhand, MD

Physician

December 24, 2017

I am honored to be a member of the medical profession. Being a physician is a great job and a highly rewarding thing to do. One of the aspects that I like most, unlike so many other desk or number jobs, is that you can never go home in this line of work thinking that you haven’t done something good with your day (if you do, there’s something seriously wrong).

The …

How to create a household budget: a physician’s simple approach

Live Free MD

Physician Finance

December 24, 2017

Learning to budget is scary. After all, it means you have to say NO to unnecessary purchases and keep your eye on long-term goals at the expense of short-term pleasure. There are a variety of ways to budget, ranging from the restrictive and somewhat impractical “envelope system” to the more vague and potentially ineffective “wing it” system. I’d like to present a balanced approach to budgeting that …

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Why doctors should practice active listening

Neha Sharma, DO

Physician

December 23, 2017

It was a busy yet mundane morning. I was returning to work after having a few days off. I commenced my day by perusing patient details while sipping on some coffee and reacclimating to the customary hospital cacophony. Some patients were critical, some ready to be released. It seemed like the usual assortment of diagnoses. Next, I reviewed my calendar and strategized an action plan for the day.

As I was …

10 most popular KevinMD stories of 2017

Kevin Pho, MD

Potpourri

December 23, 2017

I often say in my keynotes that KevinMD shares the story of the many who intersect with our health care system, but are rarely heard from.

KevinMD has completed its 14th year as the web’s leading social media platform for these voices. Over 3,000 contributors power the site, and together, we are making our voice heard as our health care world changes around us.

I sincerely appreciate your readership …

Read more…

10 most popular KevinMD stories of 2017

Should President Trump be tested for degenerative brain disease?

Ford Vox, MD

Physician

December 23, 2017

When President Trump slurred his words during a news conference this week, some Trump watchers speculated that he was having a stroke. I watched the clip and, as a physician who specializes in brain function and disability, I don’t think a stroke was behind the slurred words. But having evaluated the chief executive’s remarkable behavior through my …

‘Tis the season for safe anesthesia practice worldwide

Kelly McQueen, MD, MPH

Physician

December 23, 2017

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

When seconds count, physician anesthesiologists make critical split-second decisions during surgery, procedures or emergent situations that save lives, but what happens when there is no physician anesthesiologist? This is the reality for 5 billion people worldwide. That’s not a typo. Five billion people …

MKSAP: 63-year-old man with mid-upper back pain

mksap

Conditions and Diseases

December 23, 2017

Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.

A 63-year-old man is evaluated for severe mid-upper back pain following a minor fall 1 day ago. He also notes progressive fatigue of 6 months’ duration and a 6.8-kg (15-lb) weight loss. Medical history is notable for an 80-pack-year smoking history, although he is currently a nonsmoker.

On physical examination, temperature is 37.3 …

Myths debunked: Physicians’ incomes are too high and they are the cause of rising health costs

Walker Ray, MD and Tim Norbeck

Health Policy

December 22, 2017

It seems that whenever there is a discussion of health care costs in America, at least one critic pops up – usually more than one – who carps about physician fees, income, earnings, etc. and how they greatly impact rising health care costs. They don’t, and it is a false narrative to claim that they do, but critics continue to throw the charges out there in the expectation that some …

Nurse practitioners will save primary care

Leah Hellerstein, LCSW

Health Policy

December 22, 2017

I enjoyed reading the article titled “Fix the pay imbalance between specialists and primary care physicians” by Zachary Janowski and learned a great deal about the factors that have led to the discrepancy in pay between primary care physicians and specialists.

This article caught my eye especially because I just listened to the Freakonomics podcast episode titled, “Nurses to the Rescue.” The …

The secret to a better life? Talk to strangers!

Monique Rainford, MD

Physician

December 22, 2017

Although I consider myself an extrovert, I find it more than a little intimidating to talk to strangers. Yes, like many of us, perhaps I was warned as a child not to talk to strangers. That may have had an effect, but I think it is most likely due to the fear of rejection.

However, I recognize that it’s a fear that needs to be overcome. While my skills have improved …

8 reasons burned out doctors refuse help

Maiysha Clairborne, MD

Physician

December 22, 2017

Every day, I see and hear physicians sharing and complaining about how burned out they are. However, I am struck by the fact that while we coach our patients to get help when they are suffering, sick, depressed or in a state of hopelessness, we refuse to follow our own advice. Furthermore as physicians, when presented with potential avenues to alleviate our pain and suffering, we find reasons to be …

Professionalism charters for health care organizations are needed now

Joshua Liao, MD

Health Policy

December 22, 2017

In a recent article in Annals of Internal Medicine, physicians from the University of Missouri described their experience helping to create a “professionalism charter” for health care organizations. As the authors note, the need for such a charter is heightened by the troubling health climate, with millions of patients at risk of losing insurance coverage, scores of physicians experiencing burnout, and health care organizations grappling with how to preserve …

Debt is like poorly fitting shoes on numb feet

Cory Fawcett, MD

Physician Finance

December 22, 2017

With a society living on credit, a government deep in debt, eight years of desensitization during training (something unique to doctors), rising tuition, and falling pay — it’s no wonder doctors are having a major problem with debt. Where will it end? Debt has become the norm. Will Rogers summed up this pattern of high consumption on borrowed money nicely: “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned to buy …

Can technology and the art of medicine coexist?

Lianne Marks, MD

Health Policy

December 21, 2017

While on the way to a national meeting on health and public policy, I ponder on what the practice of medicine has become and whether this meeting will provide any hope for improvement. It hasn’t been clear to me that those most responsible for public health policy are listening to doctors. Politicians have been leading this charge, sometimes solo, sometimes in a group but rarely in a collaborative fashion — …

Sutter Health’s antitrust case matters. Here’s why.

Justin Bullock

Health Policy

December 21, 2017

In case you missed it: Sutter Health, the Northern California health system titan was recently sanctioned for intentionally destroying 192 boxes of material relating to its anticompetitive actions and alleged overcharges. The material, which amounted to 10 years’ worth of evidence, was initially slated to be destroyed in 2035. Sutter’s Vice President, Melissa Brendt, authorized her executive assistant, Sita Santagata, to destroy …

What it’s really like in a post-baccalaureate program

Neil Kondamuri

Medical Education

December 21, 2017

More than 15 percent of last year’s new crop of first-year medical students completed a post-baccalaureate program. These programs exist in two flavors: one type helps students who want to improve their undergraduate academic record, and the other helps those who want to redirect their careers toward medicine, like me. Both are growing rapidly in number.

With so many future doctors launching …

Are hospital ads just unregulated false hope?

Elina Serrano

Health Policy

December 21, 2017

In a world where health care is defined by consumerism, positive health care campaigns like “Redefining Possible. The profound and unstoppable power of yes” and “Making Cancer History” have been directly targeting consumers in an effort to thrive in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Health care reform is partly responsible for the increase in hospital advertising, as customers now have a greater agency to choose where they seek care. But how …

End the resident physician abuse now

Anonymous

Physician

December 21, 2017

Let’s talk about the cycle of abuse. No, I am not referring to the very serious issue of domestic violence. Instead, I am talking about the graduate medical education system. No one is a resident forever: the duration of each residency is predetermined with a wide range of three to nine years. The self-limited nature of this experience decreases the incentive for participants to advocate for changes. And the attitude …

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End the resident physician abuse now

Pop quiz: Do you know the tax implications of your retirement accounts?

Another Second Opinion, MD

Physician Finance

December 21, 2017

Pop quiz: Fill out the chart above.

If this was too easy for you, move along, this isn’t the post you’re looking for. If you’re slightly unsure, either follow along or skip to the end. I’m going in order.

Retirement accounts

There are so many to “choose” from it seems slightly overwhelming at first. You really don’t get that many choices: If you’re self-employed, you …