From surviving to thriving: a new era in breast cancer care

Conditions
February 17, 2025

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 …

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Are you protecting your career? 5 essential questions about your NP liability insurance

Policy
February 17, 2025

The Doctors Company

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. …

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Solving a hidden challenge: 10 tips to reduce diagnostic error in the emergency department

Conditions
February 17, 2025

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 …

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Wisdom for new nurses: lessons from a 30-year ICU veteran

Conditions
February 17, 2025

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 …

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Exploring the rapid impact of AI on modern medicine [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 16, 2025
YouTube video

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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, …

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How society forgets the invisible elderly and why their stories matter

Conditions
February 16, 2025

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 …

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The future of diversity in medical schools is under threat

Education
February 16, 2025

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 …

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Communicating with your doctor online could cost you

Physician
February 16, 2025

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 …

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Understanding social credit scores in health care enforcement [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 15, 2025
YouTube video

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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 …

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To boost primary care physician pay, Congress should change funding requirements for Medicaid state-directed payments

Policy
February 15, 2025

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, …

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The Faustian bargain of modern medicine

Physician
February 15, 2025

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 …

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Why I have mixed feelings about being inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society

Education
February 15, 2025

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 …

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Strategies to reduce EHR burden for women in medicine [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 14, 2025
YouTube video

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Internal medicine physician and physician coach Diane W. Shannon discusses her KevinMD article, “Why women doctors spend more time on EHRs and what it means for patient care.” She explores key points …

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Reviving the lost art of family history

Physician
February 14, 2025

In my medical career thus far, I’ll admit family history is something I routinely brush aside. It was never a focus in my medical school or residency training. In my primary care clinic, I spend a couple of minutes asking new patients about their parents’ medical conditions but rarely revisit the topic in future visits.

This approach made sense to me. We’re taught to treat each patient as an individual—to focus …

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A silent killer in our midst: Tackling hypertension in Ghana

Conditions
February 14, 2025

On a seemingly ordinary Sunday evening, a casual conversation with my mother took a terrifying turn. She mentioned a sudden, excruciating headache that had woken her from a nap. My medical training immediately raised red flags. Despite no prior history of such severe headaches, I recalled an isolated incident of elevated blood pressure. Instinctively, I insisted on checking her blood pressure again. Within 15 minutes, the readings soared from 182/120 …

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Supporting family caregivers: insights from a rare medical crisis [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 13, 2025
YouTube video

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Scott Bane, senior program officer, discusses his KevinMD article, “How a family caregiver saved my life during a rare medical crisis.” He explores the challenges and triumphs of family caregiving, and the …

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Why AI scribes are changing medicine and the hidden risks you must know

Tech
February 13, 2025

Introduction: the AI scribe revolution

Let’s be real: AI scribes are incredible. I’ve personally used one for well over 3,000 clinical encounters. If you’ve been using one, you already know. If you haven’t, you’re probably considering it or you’ve heard the buzz and are cautiously curious.

Notes that used to take forever are now magically generated with near-perfect grammar, complete sentences, and even structured formatting. It’s borderline addictive. I’ve been using an …

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Navigating the uncertainty of food allergies in air travel: a call for compassion and change

Conditions
February 13, 2025

Food allergies are a serious, life-threatening medical condition that remains widely misunderstood. For millions of travelers with food allergies, navigating airline policies is an unpredictable challenge, where inconsistent accommodations and societal skepticism create unnecessary risks.

Those living with food allergies must often navigate a world that does not always recognize the severity of their condition. Although we teach those with food allergies how to live in a world with …

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The role generative AI can play in cardiovascular education for patients

Conditions
February 13, 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic in health care, capturing headlines for its ability to solve diagnostic mysteries and even outperform trained physicians in specific tasks. While we are still far from going to your local AI “doctor” for diagnosis and treatment, generative AI is already capable of intervening in meaningful ways—particularly in cardiovascular education for patients. This potential remains underutilized despite the significant public health need for …

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Auto-brewery syndrome: Navigating diagnosis and advocacy [PODCAST]

Podcast
February 12, 2025
YouTube video

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Nurse researcher Barbara Cordell discusses her KevinMD article, “My husband’s rare drunken disease made me an international advocate.” She explores the complexities of auto-brewery syndrome, including diagnosis challenges, treatment options, and the …

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