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Hospital medicine

5,188 articles · Since 2004

Articles, page 27

Physician voices

The bittersweet post-COVID life for this physician

This week, I opened my planner and came across a list of my goals for Spring that I’d written back in early January: attend a Latin dance festival; get my blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu; travel. These sorts of activities…

This week, I opened my planner and came across a list of my goals for Spring that I’d written back in early January: attend a Latin dance festival; get my blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu; travel. These sorts of activities open my mind, allowing me to make progress in areas of my life outside of medicine. Maybe that list was a tad ambitious at the concept stage, for my plans …

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The bittersweet post-COVID life for this physician

Physician voices

The Intern: an excerpt from a novel

An excerpt from The Intern. Room 12 was at the west end of the pediatrics ward and to the right, at the far side of an alcove few patients ever entered—and none left. Maggie paused at the corner, reaching into…

An excerpt from The Intern.

Room 12 was at the west end of the pediatrics ward and to the right, at the far side of an alcove few patients ever entered—and none left. Maggie paused at the corner, reaching into the recess where the nurses stowed the food cart, and tucked away a couple packages of graham crackers into the pocket of her coat. She had never …

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The Intern: an excerpt from a novel

Conditions and diseases

What happens to health care workers after the coronavirus?

Webster's Dictionary defines trauma as a "disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe emotional stress." An article in MarketWatch describes the reality of a doctor after being on the frontlines in Wuhan for two months: Li is mentally and…

Webster’s Dictionary defines trauma as a “disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe emotional stress.”

An article in MarketWatch describes the reality of a doctor after being on the frontlines in Wuhan for two months:

Li is mentally and psychologically at a loss for what to do next. He can’t sleep or eat, he often feels dazed, and sometimes, seemingly out of nowhere, he weeps.

Nurses have described …

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What happens to health care workers after the coronavirus?

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Conditions and diseases

What it’s like to be a frontline physician with COVID-19 patient

It was the middle of March when I came back to my work shift. I got the news my floor would be COVID-19 floor that meant all patients coming to the ER with COVID-19 symptoms would be placed solely under…

It was the middle of March when I came back to my work shift. I got the news my floor would be COVID-19 floor that meant all patients coming to the ER with COVID-19 symptoms would be placed solely under my supervision.

I was all ready for it — at least I knew the challenges I was going to face.

The number of patients getting admitted to rule out COVID-19 kept on …

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What it’s like to be a frontline physician with COVID-19 patient

Conditions and diseases

Residents are being sent to fight a war with no protection, no power, and no voice

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Three resident physicians died last week from COVID-19 and are the first known deaths of medical trainees in the United States. Dr. Chris Firlit, a 37-year-old oral surgery resident from Detroit, died from complications of COVID-19. He leaves behind his…

Three resident physicians died last week from COVID-19 and are the first known deaths of medical trainees in the United States. Dr. Chris Firlit, a 37-year-old oral surgery resident from Detroit, died from complications of COVID-19. He leaves behind his wife Sylvie and three children, Alexander, Viktor, and Katerina. Sadly, we know residents like Dr. Firlit will not be the only ones to lose their lives in this pandemic. Unbeknown …

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Residents are being sent to fight a war with no protection, no power, and no voice

Conditions and diseases

The individuals who inspire this resident physician in COVID-19 era

As a resident physician keen on academia and research, I have many doctors and scientists who I aspire to be more like. As a future-driven person, I am constantly awed by various inspirational, well-educated, and even better-poised men and women…

As a resident physician keen on academia and research, I have many doctors and scientists who I aspire to be more like. As a future-driven person, I am constantly awed by various inspirational, well-educated, and even better-poised men and women who have changed our society and the world. But today’s situation is different. Today’s situation makes my inspirations quite different from that of a typical young physician.

As a resident doctor, …

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The individuals who inspire this resident physician in COVID-19 era

Conditions and diseases

Doctors shouldn’t feel ashamed for wanting to protect themselves or their family

A troubling type of social media post I’ve recently seen from providers (often not directly taking care of any COVID-19 patients) is one of excitement at the prospect for the medical community coming together to defeat this invisible foe. This…

A troubling type of social media post I’ve recently seen from providers (often not directly taking care of any COVID-19 patients) is one of excitement at the prospect for the medical community coming together to defeat this invisible foe. This mentality seems to say that as health care providers, we should all rush to the frontlines as it’s a commendable action. Maybe these sentiments are posted because morale is low, …

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Doctors shouldn’t feel ashamed for wanting to protect themselves or their family

Physician voices

The shift from a junior to a senior resident

For physicians, residency is the most critical time for growth in clinical and surgical skills, professionalism, and medical knowledge. Your residency training — for better or worse — shapes your future career as a physician. Your surgical technique, clinical decision…

For physicians, residency is the most critical time for growth in clinical and surgical skills, professionalism, and medical knowledge. Your residency training — for better or worse — shapes your future career as a physician. Your surgical technique, clinical decision making, and bedside manner are all, to some degree, a reflection of where you trained.

Interestingly enough, there are only two residency years with formal titles — the intern and chief …

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The shift from a junior to a senior resident

Conditions and diseases

Even during a global pandemic, the human connection remains present

As I drove into work this week, I felt the elephant standing on my chest with its heavy foot in the pit of my stomach. Amidst this current global pandemic due to COVID-19, I reminded myself to breathe. The idea…

As I drove into work this week, I felt the elephant standing on my chest with its heavy foot in the pit of my stomach.  Amidst this current global pandemic due to COVID-19, I reminded myself to breathe. The idea of getting closer to the hospital made the adrenaline surge through my anxiety-ridden heart.

I think back to a time many years ago, when I was a pediatric resident, preparing to …

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Even during a global pandemic, the human connection remains present

Physician voices

I am a hospitalist and I love my job

About a year ago, I had an interesting encounter on my way back home to Texas after visiting my parents. I was casually chatting with an older female acquaintance as I got situated on the plane. She asked me what…

About a year ago, I had an interesting encounter on my way back home to Texas after visiting my parents. I was casually chatting with an older female acquaintance as I got situated on the plane. She asked me what kind of medicine I practice. This woman is in medicine, not a physician, but knowledgeable about the varying specialties. I told her that I was an internist working as a …

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I am a hospitalist and I love my job

Conditions and diseases

Health care workers are here for you. Do your part to keep them safe.

The front desk staff member who checks you in at your primary care physician’s office is 64 years old with a history of hypertension and coronary artery disease. She unexpectedly became a widower five years ago and is planning to…

The front desk staff member who checks you in at your primary care physician’s office is 64 years old with a history of hypertension and coronary artery disease. She unexpectedly became a widower five years ago and is planning to work until the age of 68 to secure adequate retirement savings. She is worried about contracting SARS-CoV-2 from a patient as they check-in despite being vigilant about her personal hygiene …

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Health care workers are here for you. Do your part to keep them safe.

Conditions and diseases

A resident physician’s reflections on COVID-19

As I change out of my scrubs in the resident lounge bathroom, I am exhausted and numb. I put on sweatpants and a T-shirt, taking care of folding my scrubs to avoid touching the dirty spots. I wipe my phone…

As I change out of my scrubs in the resident lounge bathroom, I am exhausted and numb. I put on sweatpants and a T-shirt, taking care of folding my scrubs to avoid touching the dirty spots. I wipe my phone and keys with an antibacterial and antiviral hospital wipe, and place them into my bag. I hang my white coat on a wall hook in my workroom, my stethoscope in …

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A resident physician’s reflections on COVID-19

Physician voices

Physician burnout is a patient safety issue

He was supposed to be the first patient of the day — not the last. He started as a "no-show" on an already overbooked afternoon office schedule. A gift of sorts, I thought, making clinic a little bit easier and…

He was supposed to be the first patient of the day — not the last. He started as a “no-show” on an already overbooked afternoon office schedule. A gift of sorts, I thought, making clinic a little bit easier and a tiny bit quicker. But Jim showed up hours later in my waiting room. The front office staff asked if I was willing to squeeze him in, presenting me a …

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Physician burnout is a patient safety issue

Conditions and diseases

Where are the medical students during the pandemic?

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Not in hospitals. Not in the clinics. Not spending an hour suturing a laceration, so the resident is available to help others. Not reminding the team that it's the day, and we should consider stopping the antibiotics. Not presenting on…

Not in hospitals. Not in the clinics.

Not spending an hour suturing a laceration, so the resident is available to help others.

Not reminding the team that it’s the day, and we should consider stopping the antibiotics.

Not presenting on the latest COVID-19 treatment updates during rounds.

Not writing the history and physical for the 4th admission the morning  – or for that matter, the progress notes and discharge summaries that are piling up.

Not …

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Where are the medical students during the pandemic?

Conditions and diseases

No time to grieve: fears of a resident physician during the COVID-19 pandemic

I work at a hospital that, like many others, has taken significant steps to prepare for a surge of COVID-19 cases in the next days to weeks. Many of our residents were sent home while assigned to elective services where…

I work at a hospital that, like many others, has taken significant steps to prepare for a surge of COVID-19 cases in the next days to weeks. Many of our residents were sent home while assigned to elective services where we are “nonessential,” to reduce our risk of exposure and deepen the bench of back-up providers. As I sit at home, preparing for what’s to come, my mind keeps wandering …

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No time to grieve: fears of a resident physician during the COVID-19 pandemic

Conditions and diseases

Relax documentation requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced several measures guiding the care of patients during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Another important action that will immensely help the health care workers at the forefront is to reduce the documentation requirements…

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced several measures guiding the care of patients during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Another important action that will immensely help the health care workers at the forefront is to reduce the documentation requirements for all patients. Health care workers should be unshackled from endless documentation, freeing up their time and resources to take care of the increasing number of …

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Relax documentation requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic

Conditions and diseases

A message from an emergency physician to those in business

I'm a medical doctor. Day to day, I focus on the practice of emergency medicine. I've never considered myself an alarmist. Actually, I've been trained to be calm in the face of tragedy. Many of my friends in business are…

I’m a medical doctor. Day to day, I focus on the practice of emergency medicine. I’ve never considered myself an alarmist. Actually, I’ve been trained to be calm in the face of tragedy. Many of my friends in business are concerned that the medical community and politicians are overreacting to the novel coronavirus. They are worried that the economy is being sacrificed to save a few people. Comparisons to yearly …

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A message from an emergency physician to those in business

Conditions and diseases

A message to administrators from physicians: Lead, follow, or get out of the way

We represent the front lines in this ongoing crisis, and we are disheartened by not only the lack of support but overwhelming greed from just about all of you. We have kept our mouths shut and practiced medicine, providing excellent…

We represent the front lines in this ongoing crisis, and we are disheartened by not only the lack of support but overwhelming greed from just about all of you.

We have kept our mouths shut and practiced medicine, providing excellent patient care, while many of you became incredibly wealthy on the backs of our hard work. Many of you have not touched or cared for a patient in years; some of …

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A message to administrators from physicians: Lead, follow, or get out of the way

Conditions and diseases

What’s going to happen? What’s going on? I wish someone could tell me. 

The waiting room is empty, and I take signout on five patients. The patients that typically line the hallways waiting for beds, for stress tests, for MRIs all stayed home. The familiar drunks still get their blister-packed turkey sandwiches. There’s…

The waiting room is empty, and I take signout on five patients. The patients that typically line the hallways waiting for beds, for stress tests, for MRIs all stayed home. The familiar drunks still get their blister-packed turkey sandwiches. There’s a trickle of patients onto my side: a middle-aged woman who lost vision and a prematurely grey man clutching his distended belly that tightens like a drum as I lay …

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What’s going to happen? What’s going on? I wish someone could tell me. 

Conditions and diseases

Thoughts from the COVID-19 front lines

I am an internal medicine physician directly taking care of patients admitted to the hospital who are COVID-19 positive or those who are being tested for COVID-19. Last week, my hospital created a special team dedicated to taking care of…

I am an internal medicine physician directly taking care of patients admitted to the hospital who are COVID-19 positive or those who are being tested for COVID-19. Last week, my hospital created a special team dedicated to taking care of these patients. During that time, the hospital was eerily quiet: the ED no longer had patients lying in stretchers, and the inpatient medicine teams were carrying half of the patients …

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Thoughts from the COVID-19 front lines

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