This patient reinforced a simple but important lesson

Education
January 14, 2017

My first week on call, I got called in for a code blue. This patient happened to be the sickest patient on our unit. He had a tumor on his brain stem that was affecting his vision, hearing, swallowing, and breathing, so he had received a tracheostomy and gastrostomy tube as most palliative patients in his situation do. After a series of neurosurgeries, he was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments. …

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This patient reinforced a simple but important lesson

Taking care of patients who stop caring about themselves

Education
February 13, 2015

It’s been a long day, and you just want to decompress. My boyfriend tells me about his day. I get to hear about the insane amount of reading he has to do for graduate school, or about the occasional annoying customer he’s had to deal with at his part-time job as a bank teller. When it’s my turn to decompress, I usually gripe about a patient or two from the …

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Taking care of patients who stop caring about themselves

When should insurance cover body contouring?

Conditions
September 7, 2013

Today in clinic, I interviewed a formerly morbidly obese woman. She has lost almost 300 pounds since undergoing gastric bypass surgery a few years ago, a presentation that has become increasingly common. She was here to see the plastic surgeon for her four week follow up appointment, status post abdominal skin flap removal.

See, after losing a ton of weight, loose skin remains, especially in places like the arms and abdomen.  …

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When should insurance cover body contouring?