Should physicians yearn for the nostalgic ideals of their predecessors?

Physician
August 26, 2019

What has the medical community, once thought of as the “ultimate team,” finally come down to in 2019? The “back in my day” sigh I often hear from more senior physicians has inspired me to read several books about the history of medicine. As I devoured them from cover to cover, the excitement of medical discovery, the anticipation of the near-miracles that were about to be revealed, and most importantly, …

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Should physicians yearn for the nostalgic ideals of their predecessors?

We must challenge the health care status quo

Policy
March 11, 2017

In no other field is change received with so much resistance and skepticism than in medicine.  The oath taken by physicians to “do no harm” is profoundly ingrained in the medical culture that any deviation from tradition is regarded as near blasphemy.

As a physician, I frequently catch myself relying on superstition and past experiences more than on evidence and proof of progress.  As the world is witnessing an unprecedented technological …

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We must challenge the health care status quo

Ability to pay for medical expenses should be a vital sign

Patient
June 25, 2012

We are a new generation of physicians and physicians in training.  The words “stem cell therapy,” “Robertsonian translocation,” and “artificial tracheal transplant” were part of our vocabulary from the first day of medical school.  At the astounding speed at which scientific advancements are made, our ability to incorporate new material is in a constant state of change.

Slowly, the heavy textbooks became relics, as we migrated towards a mobile knowledge, a …

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Ability to pay for medical expenses should be a vital sign

Is the daily blood draw in the hospital truly necessary?

Conditions
June 5, 2012

One of the most memorable discussions regarding the cost of care was at 4:45AM during surgical morning rounds.

As usual, the interns would present the overnight events of their patients to the chief resident and a plan for the day would be agreed upon.  These morning rounds were particularly intense: in addition to the 30 patients that an intern had to manage solo over night, the brutal hours that the surgical …

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Is the daily blood draw in the hospital truly necessary?