Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Doctors sometimes don’t inform patients of bad news. Why?

Physician

April 22, 2015

Doctors and patients bond over time. Information exchange, education and sharing of expertise are critical activities that add to the effective practice of medicine.

Delivering bad news is, unfortunately, an unpleasant part of a physician’s job. Honesty, empathy, and clear communication are essential to delivering news to patients and their families — even when the news is unpleasant or unexpected. While communication is an integral part of the practice of medicine, …

Obamacare re-enrollment: What can patients do?

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Policy

April 9, 2015

As the Obamacare machine continues to grind forward, many patients have re-enrolled in a second year of coverage. While most have not had to use their insurance (the young and healthy crowd), others have found their newly minted coverage to be far less than promised. High deductibles, and up front out of pocket expenses, forced many covered by the exchanges to avoid seeking regular preventative care. Prevention was one of …

Less time, more patients: The perverse incentives of medicine

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Policy

March 27, 2015

As the Affordable Care Act continues to impact millions of Americans through its second year of implementation, many things have become clear to both patients and health care providers alike: nothing is as it seems. While the ACA has provided health care to millions of previously uninsured Americans, it has also robbed many patients of their doctors and has forced others into higher premium, lower service plans. Even those with …

What does it take to collaborate in health care? Here are 3 ideas.

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Education

March 11, 2015

Recently, I had the honor and pleasure of introducing my book, Women and Cardiovascular Disease, in London. During the event, I was able to meet with many of my European colleagues from both the media as well as the health care space. I spoke with countless bright and motivated attendees who are excited to be part of a wave of change in cardiac care for women. We identified many ways …

The Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid bait and switch

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Policy

January 26, 2015

As we enter year two of the Affordable Care Act, we have seen many issues arise during implementation. Through both executive order and executive memorandum, President Obama has unilaterally changed the law more than 100 times in order to advance his political agenda.

When it became important to publicize enrollment and increased coverage of the uninsured, the president, and the ACA provided for an increased payment scale for patients with Medicaid. …

4 things we can learn from Stuart Scott

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Physician

January 12, 2015

Stuart Scott revolutionized the sportscasting industry with his unique style and likable demeanor on ESPN. Mr. Scott recently passed away after an 8-year battle with recurrent appendiceal cancer. Mr. Scott was a devoted father and put his relationship with his two daughters above everything else. He was a sensational broadcaster and was passionate about his craft. He inspired many young athletes …

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4 things we can learn from Stuart Scott

Surprise! Dr. Oz’s recommendations are not supported by evidence

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Physician

January 4, 2015

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Dr. Mehmet Oz, also known by many as America’s doctor, is a very influential face within American medicine. An accomplished cardiac surgeon and Columbia University faculty member, Dr. Oz has impressive academic credentials.

However, in the last year, Dr. Oz has received significant criticism for claims he has made about nontraditional medical treatments on his nationally syndicated television show where he has …

Why we must lower the cost of researching new drugs

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Meds

December 4, 2014

In a controversial study, Tufts University’s Center for the Study of Drug Development estimates that the cost to bring a new drug to market exceeds nearly 2.6 billion dollars. The study, which was 40 percent funded by industry has been criticized for over estimating these costs in favor of industry and misrepresenting some cost estimates. While we will not know fully the extent of the methodology of the study until later …

Apple Watch and HealthKit: A new age of virtual health care

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Tech

November 8, 2014

apple watch

The practice of medicine and health care in general has become an electronic and increasingly mobile interaction. Patients are better informed, more engaged, more connected and have a much greater virtual presence. In fact, according to Pew Research, the fastest growing demographic on Twitter are those who are in the 45 to 65 age bracket. Nearly 50 percent of all …

Ebola: We need to act, rather than respond

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Conditions

October 14, 2014

Thousands of people have travelled from West Africa to the U.S. in the last 6 months. While the CDC and others throughout the Obama administration continue to reassure everyone that the U.S. is 100 percent prepared for an outbreak, potential cases and exposures continue to surface all across the country.

In Dallas, the first confirmed case of Ebola has passed away. Even more concerning is the fact that the patient initially …

The health care turf battles: It’s time to work together

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Physician

September 1, 2014

MedPage Today recently tackled a very controversial issue in medical practice. The piece explored the ongoing battle between dermatologists and allied health professionals (AHPs) over the performance of dermatologic procedures. As independent NPs and PAs begin to bill for more and more procedures (thus potentially talking revenue away from board certified dermatologists) specialists are beginning to argue that the AHPs are practicing beyond their scope of practice.

According to the Read more…

The health care turf battles: It’s time to work together

Using technology to improve medication compliance

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Meds

August 17, 2014

It is clear that patient compliance with prescribed medications is critical to success in the treatment of any chronic disease process. In addition, patient engagement and co-management of their disease has been proven to improve outcomes. A new study from the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that any changes in the appearance of a medication may result in a decrease in compliance; when a pill looks differently patients often simply …

Correcting the physician shortage isn’t an easy solution

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Policy

July 31, 2014

There is no doubt that Affordable Care Act has changed the landscape of medicine in the U.S. Now, private practice is becoming a thing of the past. Financial pressures, increasing regulatory requirements, electronic medical records and outrageously complex coding systems are forcing long time private physicians to enter into agreements with academic centers and large hospital systems in order to survive.

As a result, medicine today is more about increasing patient …

Fitbit in health care: Is more data better?

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Tech

July 21, 2014

For scientists and researchers who are developing new treatments for disease, Data is power. For patients, Data can mean empowerment. Devices that track health indicators are readily available. These devices can track heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar and even respiratory rate and body temperature.

In the Wall Street Journal, the medical applications of the Fitbit device are explored. The Fitbit is a basic pedometer that tracks movement, steps taken, calories consumed …

Embrace the age of digital medicine

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Tech

June 16, 2014

As a child, I often watched science fiction movies and television shows wondering how much would become reality in my lifetime. From space travel in Buck Rogers and Star Trek to time travel in Back to the Future, I often imagined growing up in a world where the impossible became probable. Bionics and the repair of human tissues was captivating and the Six Million Dollar Man became a hit series.

Now, much of what was thought to be …

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Embrace the age of digital medicine

For physicians, the applications of tablets are endless

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Tech

June 6, 2014

Medicine is becoming mobile. Physicians, nurses and other health care providers must be able to quickly assimilate and react to an overwhelming stream of data. Tablet technologies, such as the iPad, have been incorporated into the workflows of many clinics, emergency rooms and hospitals. Medical schools and residency programs are quickly adapting the technology for teaching. While tablets do present some …

The salaries of health executives: What can doctors do?

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Policy

May 29, 2014

Health care reform is a reality. The ACA and its associated mandates have forever changed the landscape of medicine in the U.S. today. The Obama administration touts the goals of reform as providing affordable, cost effective, high quality care for all Americans. Certainly these are noble and lofty goals: But have we completely missed the mark?

Today, many remain uninsured and the majority that have signed up for the exchanges are simply …

Digital health and its role in the changing health care landscape

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Tech

May 21, 2014

The digital age of medicine is upon us. Recently at the opening plenary session at the annual Heart Rhythm Society meetings, we heard Dr. Eric Topol and others tell us that we must embrace social networking in order to engage patients and improve care. The Affordable Care Act has now changed the landscape of medical practice in the US: We must do more to focus on preventative care and work harder to curtail costs. …

The traits of effective medical leadership

Kevin R. Campbell, MD

Physician

May 9, 2014

As physicians we are trained to assimilate data, analyze and interpret findings, and make the correct decision — every single time. Often these tasks must be performed very quickly and in emergency settings. For those who perform invasive procedures, decisions are often made “on the fly” and can have significant consequences.

In addition to our clinical duties, physicians are now thrust into executive roles as well. Managing practices, budgets, government mandates …