Scott Abramson, MD
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Latest articles
Physician voices
A rabbi asks his students a question: "Where does God dwell?" One student answered, "Heaven." Another answered, "We are only human; we cannot possibly know where God dwells." "No," the rabbi replied. "God dwells wherever we choose to let God…
A rabbi asks his students a question: “Where does God dwell?” One student answered, “Heaven.” Another answered, “We are only human; we cannot possibly know where God dwells.” “No,” the rabbi replied. “God dwells wherever we choose to let God in.” Might not the same question be asked about gratitude? Where does gratitude dwell? And the answer may be the same. Gratitude dwells wherever we choose to let gratitude into …
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A physician’s three lessons on gratitude in medicine
Physician voices
This is a famous teaching in the Talmud, which in the Jewish faith is the commentary on the Hebrew Bible. Why would the holy book of the Jews make such a proclamation? It turns out this is about arrogance. It…
This is a famous teaching in the Talmud, which in the Jewish faith is the commentary on the Hebrew Bible. Why would the holy book of the Jews make such a proclamation? It turns out this is about arrogance. It is about humility. The “best doctors” may also be the most prideful. Their arrogance may prevent them from realizing they need help. If they do realize it, their pridefulness may …
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Why “the best physicians” risk burnout and isolation
Physician voices
Perhaps almost as important as our history-taking, our diagnosis, and our care of patients are the words we use to communicate that history-taking, that diagnosis, and that care. Scenario one: the not so good A while ago, I happened to…
Perhaps almost as important as our history-taking, our diagnosis, and our care of patients are the words we use to communicate that history-taking, that diagnosis, and that care.
Scenario one: the not so good
A while ago, I happened to witness a family hospital conference about their dad’s new diagnosis of cancer. There were ten family members present, all very devoted and concerned, though not particularly medically sophisticated. With much compassion and …
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How doctors’ words can make or break patient care
Physician voices
"Bring me flowers now while I'm living. I don't need your love when I'm gone. Don't spend time, tears, and money on my old breathless body. If your heart is them flowers, bring 'em on." These are the words of…
“Bring me flowers now while I’m living.
I don’t need your love when I’m gone.
Don’t spend time, tears, and money on my old breathless body.
If your heart is them flowers, bring ’em on.”
These are the words of that great philosopher and country music singer, Tanya Tucker. A friend of hers had died, and someone suggested they bring flowers for the deceased. Tanya thought about this a moment. As she reflected on …
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The heartbreaking lesson about life, love, and the “doctor hustle”
Physician voices
When I was a teenager, I worked summer nights at the Funtown Amusement Park on the south side of Atlanta, Georgia. After work, as I drove home to the north side of Atlanta, I had to pass through "Cabbagetown." In…
When I was a teenager, I worked summer nights at the Funtown Amusement Park on the south side of Atlanta, Georgia. After work, as I drove home to the north side of Atlanta, I had to pass through “Cabbagetown.” In the early 1960s, during the days of segregation in the South, Cabbagetown was a shantytown neighborhood inhabited by tough, white folks who worked at the nearby Fulton Cotton Mills. On …
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What my patients taught me about faith
Physician voices
Howera is a twenty-nine-year-old Ethiopian woman. She saw me in the neurology clinic for headaches. Two years previously, she had come to America to join her husband. Since her arrival, he beat her physically and abused her sexually. Being a…
Howera is a twenty-nine-year-old Ethiopian woman. She saw me in the neurology clinic for headaches. Two years previously, she had come to America to join her husband. Since her arrival, he beat her physically and abused her sexually. Being a stranger in a strange land and not speaking English, she suffered in silence. Finally, she could take it no longer. She ran away. For the past six months, she had …
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Healing in a new land: the power of community and kindness
Physician voices
Don't blame others for the burned-out road you are on: It is your own "Ass-Phalt." OK. I know that sounds harsh. We, physicians and other clinicians suffer under the demands of irrelevant EMR guidelines, insensitive hospital administrators, and tyrannical medical–big…
Don’t blame others for the burned-out road you are on: It is your own “Ass-Phalt.”
OK.
I know that sounds harsh. We, physicians and other clinicians suffer under the demands of irrelevant EMR guidelines, insensitive hospital administrators, and tyrannical medical–big pharma dictates. However, all these are “external” forces. They are not our “phault.” But what about the “internal” forces, forces that may be, in some way, our “phault” (or at least under …
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Repaving your path: How clinicians can prevent burnout by embracing core values
Physician voices
Here is a challenge: Review the schedule of patients you have seen today. As you recall each patient, ask yourself this question: Did I genuinely feel compassion towards my patient in that encounter? I will be brutally honest with you…
Here is a challenge: Review the schedule of patients you have seen today. As you recall each patient, ask yourself this question: Did I genuinely feel compassion towards my patient in that encounter?
I will be brutally honest with you (and myself). For me, on many days, that figure is maybe, at best, about 5 percent.
It’s tough. We are running 30 minutes late. Three irritated waiting room patients yearn for our …
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The myth of compassion fatigue
Physician voices
When we physicians discuss "work-life balance," we often imply that our dedication to our work is so consuming and imbalanced that we end up sacrificing time with our families. To achieve a better balance and promote a healthier family life,…
When we physicians discuss “work-life balance,” we often imply that our dedication to our work is so consuming and imbalanced that we end up sacrificing time with our families. To achieve a better balance and promote a healthier family life, we strive to limit our work hours to make more time for our home lives.
I wonder if the reverse can also be true. When our home life becomes overwhelming or …
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The secret life of physicians: work, home, and the battle for balance
Physician voices
A friend of mine recently went into the hospital for a surgical operation. Afterward, she told me about a conversation she had with her doctors. Meeting with her surgeon and her anesthesiologist before surgery, this retired lifelong Sunday school teacher…
A friend of mine recently went into the hospital for a surgical operation. Afterward, she told me about a conversation she had with her doctors. Meeting with her surgeon and her anesthesiologist before surgery, this retired lifelong Sunday school teacher couldn’t resist the temptation to give them both a Bible lesson. “Let me ask you, doctors,” she inquired, “who do you think performed the first surgery?” As the doctors pondered …
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The impact of religious-spiritual values on individual lives
Physician voices
Your plane is about to take off. Like most folks, you are just a little anxious about flying. It is very rare, but you know a lot of bad things can happen to the machine that carries you at 30,000…
Your plane is about to take off. Like most folks, you are just a little anxious about flying. It is very rare, but you know a lot of bad things can happen to the machine that carries you at 30,000 feet above sea level. Consider this: Would you rather the mechanic who inspects your aircraft be absolutely conscientious to every minute detail, be exquisitely perfectionistic in his examination of the …
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Why this doctor prefers perfectionist physicians
Health policy
KevinMD contributors, virtually without exception, have asserted the solution to events like the horrific tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, is "gun control." Allow me to present an alternative viewpoint in the interest of diversity of opinion. First of all, I favor…
KevinMD contributors, virtually without exception, have asserted the solution to events like the horrific tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, is “gun control.” Allow me to present an alternative viewpoint in the interest of diversity of opinion.
First of all, I favor reasonable gun restriction laws. But sadly, I don’t think that will solve the problem. Look at the city of Chicago. It has one of the strictest laws on gun control in …
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Gun control vs. violent criminal control
Physician voices
Does this scenario sound familiar? You bring your car into the dealership for routine servicing. The service representative (patch on his shirt says his name is "Bob") checks your car history. He tells you they will do the routine service…
Does this scenario sound familiar? You bring your car into the dealership for routine servicing. The service representative (patch on his shirt says his name is “Bob”) checks your car history. He tells you they will do the routine service check, but he also recommends the “manifold inspection,” a “carburetor cleaning,” and a “transmission flush.” Now you have no idea what the hell a manifold is or does, but you …
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Are you a part of “The Upsell” in health care?
Physician voices
“How many lives did you save today, Dad?” That is what my kids would ask me, rather sarcastically, many years ago, when they were young and when I arrived home late, missing our game of backyard basketball. They knew I…
“How many lives did you save today, Dad?”
That is what my kids would ask me, rather sarcastically, many years ago, when they were young and when I arrived home late, missing our game of backyard basketball. They knew I was a neurologist. And, of course, they knew I didn’t exactly save lives since, as I had explained to them many times, my job consisted of giving folks lots of medications …
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Where does the joy and meaning in medicine dwell?
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