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Cardiologist Stanley Liu discusses his article “The business lesson new doctors must unlearn.” Stanley explains why the habits of being a “good soldier” during residency—such as accepting excessive workloads, never questioning compensation, …
How doctors can think like CEOs [PODCAST]
In today’s data-rich but insight-poor health care environments, the ability to measure performance isn’t the problem. The real challenge is turning that measurement into meaningful, actionable insight—and more importantly, sustainable improvement. I’ve seen countless KPI dashboards rolled out with great fanfare, only to become screen clutter that no one trusts, understands, or uses to drive change.
To avoid that fate, you must build dashboards rooted in operational reality, tailored to the …
Why your health care dashboard isn’t working and how to fix it
Physicians today face mounting challenges in the practice of medicine, including declining reimbursement, workforce shortages, administrative burdens, and the ever-present risk of litigation. The Doctors Company’s latest study, “Nuclear Verdicts and Rising Costs: How Inflation Is Impacting Medical Malpractice Claims,” highlights another pressure point: the accelerating impact of inflation on medical malpractice claims.
The research study, conducted by Moore …
Nuclear verdicts and rising costs: How inflation is reshaping medical malpractice claims
Throughout my career as a board-certified colorectal surgeon, I have prided myself on my commitment to providing high-quality patient care and upholding professional integrity. As a long-standing member of a major surgical society, I have always believed in the mission to foster excellence in the field of surgery. However, my relationship with that organization took a challenging turn when I was placed on probation after testifying in a medical malpractice …
A surgeon’s testimony, probation, and resignation from a professional society
A new gene-editing therapy just dropped LDL cholesterol by 69 percent — with a single injection. One shot, permanent effect. Cue the headlines: “Game-changer!” “End of statins!” “Revolution in heart disease!”
Here we go again.
Let’s be clear: I’m not anti-innovation. I’m not against gene therapy. I’m against making the same mistake again and again, just with better marketing and shinier tools.
VERVE-102 is the latest miracle-in-a-vial — a CRISPR base-editing therapy that …
One injection dropped LDL by 69 percent. Should we celebrate?
Although locum tenens in medicine has a rich history dating back to the 1970s, many misconceptions and questions continue to foster apprehension in those considering this alternative form of practice. While some view locum tenens providers as unstable wanderers who may have difficulty holding traditional permanent employment, many, such as myself, have taken this intentional path in search of independence and freedom.
From a busy metropolitan hospital in California to a …
Locum tenens: Reclaiming purpose, autonomy, and financial freedom in medicine
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Physician Jessie Mahoney discusses her article “Why physicians struggle with caregiving and how to cope with grace,” reflecting on the unique challenges doctors face when caring for aging parents and ill family …
Why doctors struggle with family caregiving and how to find grace [PODCAST]
Over the past decade, cycling has evolved from a sport into a full-fledged lifestyle. From weekend road warriors to dedicated commuters, millions of men around the world rely on their bikes for exercise, stress relief, and environmental consciousness. But a question often comes up in clinic rooms, whispered more than spoken aloud: “Is all this cycling hurting my fertility?”
It is a valid concern, especially for men trying to conceive. The …
Does cycling hurt male fertility?
When I began my internal medicine residency in 1987 at Boston City Hospital, all new interns were enrolled in the Housestaff Association, the residents’ union. Some of my resident peers were active leaders in the union. Coming from Minneapolis …
Collective action as a path to patient-centered care
Since spring 2020, Molly Humphreys, a native of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, has photographed workers in and around the Berkeley Medical Center (BMC) and, in the process, has created a rich mosaic of the complex realities of health care in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Specializing in portraiture, Humphreys had never worked in the health care space—that is, until I invited her to partner in …
Portraits of strength: Molly Humphreys and the unseen women of health care
When I arrived in the U.S. as a young physician in the early first week, I didn’t know what “passed out” meant. Or “threw up.” My English was polished—British-style, courtesy of Indian schooling—but I wasn’t prepared for American slang, accents, or sports metaphors. So there I was in a Philadelphia hospital, fumbling through a patient history. I was embarrassed—by my accent, my vocabulary, my uncertainty. But I wasn’t humiliated. That …
When embarrassment is a teacher in medicine
You, there beyond the words of this page. Oh, how I wish I could step beyond this limited medium and have a one-on-one conversation with you, as this matter is of the utmost importance to me. Unfortunately, I can do no such thing. As a result, I must lay out the groundwork by which this spewing of feelings will work henceforth. We medical students are fond of only wasting our …
How new loan caps could destroy diversity in medical education
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Board-certified nurse practitioner Shabeena Hirani discusses her article “From nurse practitioner to quality improvement leader in sleep medicine,” sharing her journey from clinical care to driving systemic change. Shabeena explains how her …
From nurse practitioner to leader in quality improvement [PODCAST]
This article is sponsored by MagMutual.
Nearly one in three U.S. physicians report having been sued, and in some specialties, a malpractice claim is almost inevitable. When a clinical decision becomes the subject of a lawsuit, it can feel like an attack on your integrity and identity. Having the right support during this time can make all the difference. Litigation support …
Litigation stress is real: Here’s how to navigate it
For the last several years, burnout (a syndrome typically defined as emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and poor efficacy) has been a hot topic in the world of health care. But as a bit of good news, the AMA recently released that the rates of physician burnout are at the lowest they have been since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I would argue that if 43 percent …
A simple 10-10-10 tool to prevent burnout through mindfulness
As a board-certified neurologist in independent practice for three decades, I’ve watched the soul of medicine slowly erode, not due to a lack of compassion, skill, or science, but from a suffocating bureaucracy that has infiltrated every corner of patient care. Private practice doctors across America are being regulated, pre-certified, audited, and administratively strangled out of existence.
Each week in my office, my staff and I spend countless hours fighting with …
The crushing bureaucracy that’s driving independent physicians to extinction
It is Saturday, late in July and hot as blazes in Louisville, Kentucky where I live. I’ve been here for many years.
I sit in a McDonald’s restaurant close to my home. The place is just about empty. I am here after a short walk from my house, about half a mile. I am happy to be here—happy, that is, that I can manage to walk this far, even in the …
How community and buses saved my retirement
An excerpt from The Fix Your Internal Language Handbook.
“I talk to myself, and I talk to them. They are not here to listen to me.”
Most of us spend more time talking to ourselves than to anyone else. We use language to think and clarify our thoughts. Whether we are consciously ruminating or thinking on a more subconscious level, we are still using language. We have internal dialogues with ourselves, …
How changing your self-talk can transform your entire life
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Health care executive Shelli Pavone discusses her article “Why retail pharmacies are the future of diverse clinical trials,” highlighting the urgent need to improve representation in clinical research. Shelli explains how barriers …
Why retail pharmacies could transform diversity in clinical trials [PODCAST]
A busy waiting room with buzzing lights, cramped-up chairs, and rushed medical staff on the clock can make you feel more anxious about the care you are going to get. Clinic waiting rooms are often the first point of contact between patients and health care providers.
The psychology of waiting
While traditionally considered functional spaces, a growing body of evidence suggests that the design and ambiance of these environments significantly influence patients’ …
Why your clinic waiting room may affect patient outcomes
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