Jarret Patton, MD
Conditions and Diseases

These are tremendous times that we have never faced before. A novel virus, lack of preparation time, and a healthcare system that already runs at near capacity, we have a disaster of epic proportions on our hands. What can we…
These are tremendous times that we have never faced before. A novel virus, lack of preparation time, and a healthcare system that already runs at near capacity, we have a disaster of epic proportions on our hands. What can we do? What should we do? How can I help even if I am not on the front lines?
Many of you are waging war on the front lines: the hospitals, clinics, …
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I can only compare COVID-19 to 9/11
Physician Finance

Recently, Forbes named Jay-Z the first rap music artist billionaire. There are a number of reasons that he is classified in this exclusive category. However, his humble beginnings from the Marcy housing projects in Brooklyn did not hold him back.…
Recently, Forbes named Jay-Z the first rap music artist billionaire. There are a number of reasons that he is classified in this exclusive category. However, his humble beginnings from the Marcy housing projects in Brooklyn did not hold him back. He found ways along his journey, and received some good advice, that made him successful beyond his career as a musician.
Taking the time to practice your trade …
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What doctors can learn from Jay-Z
Health Policy

Over the past several years there have been numerous reports on the rates of death and injury in children with firearms. In fact, a 2-year-old child recently accidentally took his own life in Philadelphia recently. Although the studies don’t entirely…
Over the past several years there have been numerous reports on the rates of death and injury in children with firearms. In fact, a 2-year-old child recently accidentally took his own life in Philadelphia recently. Although the studies don’t entirely agree, two things are certain; 1 death is one too many and children don’t need to exercise their second amendment rights.
The United States has by far the highest rate of …
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Do children need to exercise their Second Amendment rights?
Physician

November brings fall weather, raking leaves and one of my favorite holidays. No, not Thanksgiving, it is Veteran’s Day. Veteran’s Day is a day reserved to celebrate members of the U.S. armed forces for their service. Thank you, veterans. Veterans…
November brings fall weather, raking leaves and one of my favorite holidays. No, not Thanksgiving, it is Veteran’s Day. Veteran’s Day is a day reserved to celebrate members of the U.S. armed forces for their service. Thank you, veterans. Veterans are found in all segments of our society. Some are retired, some have started second careers, and some are struggling with health issues as a result of their service. They …
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Why veterans deserve special recognition
Physician

Just as summer is in full swing, the back-to-school advertisements are running. This time of year can be exciting for many — the first day of elementary school, high school or college. For the rest of us, we try to…
Just as summer is in full swing, the back-to-school advertisements are running. This time of year can be exciting for many — the first day of elementary school, high school or college. For the rest of us, we try to be lifelong learners: learning from our successes and failures, learning from others and if we are lucky learning by reading.
Reading is a skill learned in the early school years. Children …
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Literacy is a health care problem no one talks about
Physician

School’s out! This time of year is met with great expectation in children all over the country. However, another unwelcomed guest, hunger, comes along with the summer break. Over 30 million children qualify for the National School Lunch Program which…
School’s out! This time of year is met with great expectation in children all over the country. However, another unwelcomed guest, hunger, comes along with the summer break. Over 30 million children qualify for the National School Lunch Program which provides free or low-cost meals to children daily during the school year. When classes are out over the summer months, the food availability lessens for many children as parents aren’t …
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Summertime is no fun when you are hungry
Physician

America seems to have a more divisive tone now compared to recent years. New Orleans has seen protests spark over the removal of Confederate monuments. Images are all around us with one that seems to have people quite divided —…
America seems to have a more divisive tone now compared to recent years. New Orleans has seen protests spark over the removal of Confederate monuments. Images are all around us with one that seems to have people quite divided — the Confederate flag.
I often have a sense of curiosity when I see this flag flown on people’s front porch, flag pole or on their car. I wonder if the person …
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A conscious bias against the Confederate flag
Physician

Hardly a week goes by without hearing about another case of police brutality. Many times, seemingly unnecessarily lethal force has been used, and these incidents have sparked protests across America. Each case is unique with differentiating circumstances, but the result…
Hardly a week goes by without hearing about another case of police brutality. Many times, seemingly unnecessarily lethal force has been used, and these incidents have sparked protests across America. Each case is unique with differentiating circumstances, but the result is all too often — death. Many people have grouped these incidents together concluding that white officers have unnecessarily killed black men. This has initiated and reinforced mistrust of the …
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Cops and doctors have the same problem: People don’t trust them
Physician

Recently, another local family buried their young adult child due to a drug overdose. Sadly, this same story is playing out daily across the nation. Upon reading the headline, I paused to think about an encounter leaving work one Friday…
Recently, another local family buried their young adult child due to a drug overdose. Sadly, this same story is playing out daily across the nation.
Upon reading the headline, I paused to think about an encounter leaving work one Friday evening. As I was walking in the dimly lit street to my car, I found a small group of shadows huddled over something lying in the adjacent alley. Once closer, I saw that …
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Heroin is a public health emergency. The time to act is now.
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