A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.
A few weeks ago, my partners and I held a “going away” dinner for one of our partners who retired in late March. It was a great evening. We reminisced, discussed how medicine has changed over the …
Practice models may change, but relationships with patients endure
There is an assumption that is creeping into discussions about medical education, just like primary education: that memorization is outdated and doesn’t matter in the Internet era. That’s a mistake. The goal of education is to create an expert thinker. Memorization is at the core of that endeavor.
Practicing medicine requires constant problem solving. Every patient is different and requires a bit …
Despite the Internet, doctors still have to memorize. Here’s why.
On Monday, June 1st, I awoke with a mixture of butterflies and excitement. Every 30 minutes I checked online to see if it was up. My heart pounded every time I clicked the refresh button. Finally, around noon, there it was — my first piece of medical writing, published on KevinMD.com.
In medicine, we often present objective facts. We …
Calling attention to the disparity in surgery: Here’s what I learned
I recently read an article written by a human physician about her personal feelings and other people’s reactions to her decision to quit practicing medicine.
The author frames the article around how her choice was made after she recognized how detrimental her career was to her own health. The irony of a doctor abandoning her profession because it was causing …
The darker side of being a doctor
I recently delivered a keynote in St. Louis to 600 health care leaders from a health system with 20 hospitals, 600 clinics, and 30,000 employees. They told me not to be afraid of the 12-foot-tall version of myself following me around stage. No problem. I’m one of the few people who has never been frightened by public speaking. The larger the audience …
A physician speaker shares 7 essential tips
Many times I have been approached to tell my story of being part of a physician family. Where would I begin? How does one cover respect, love, trust, commitment, resilience, frustration, loss and longing in one brief message? It isn’t done. I’ve decided to give you as brief an overview as I can, then, if there seems to be interest in any particular aspect, I can expand on that element …
There is no longer a doctor in my life, but I’ll always be part of a physician family
An excerpt from Clinical Trials: How Successful Doctors Navigate the Constantly Changing Medical System to achieve Financial Well Being.
There is a common assumption that following a successful medical career, the logical next step is to sail off into the sunset and enjoying a life of luxury. This may be the case for some, but what do you …
These are the things doctors need to think about before retiring
I took ten years off to play in rock bands before I applied to medical school. So when, at 31, I found myself drowning as I drank from the fire hose of medical school information, I knew I had to make a change.
I discovered the concept of high-yield and it seemed like the answer to my prayers. It is a simple …
A physician respects the low-yield. See how that changed her life.
The Medscape Physician Compensation Report puts primary care physicians at the bottom of the heap, with a median earning of less than $200,000 per year in 2014. What if the largest insurer of older Americans took those numbers to heart and decided to give primary care a pay raise of 25 percent, in recognition of and better support …
Medicare is paying for chronic care management! Here’s what you need to know.
I would think that when physicians decide where to set up practice, there are things that they would want to think about other than how much money they’ll make. Yet if one reads Medscape’s current list of the best and worst places to practice, it would appear that money trumps everything else (although Medscape said it also considered factors like “cultural attractions”). What Medscape apparently did not …
The best places for a doctor to practice: It’s more than money
The insurance company insisted that they would be saving money in the end. So they sent the PA (physician assistant) to my patient’s house. They didn’t take into consideration that I was just there a week before. Or that I made home visits on a regular basis. In fact, they didn’t even inform me about the appointment.
My patient later told me …
Doctor saves patient from harm after her insurer tries save money
My daughter was born, three months premature, during my third year of residency. Following a harrowing three months in the NICU, we joyfully welcomed her home. After eight blissful but isolating weeks, I was eager to return to the wards. I happily reunited with colleagues and patients, but I also deeply missed being home. During quieter moments, I daydreamed about stroking …
Work-life balance in medicine: Your best is more than enough
Question from a reader: “What are your feelings about when a patient breaks up with you? I love love my doc, but …”
Patients “break up” with me all the time. Well, not all the time, but it’s not uncommon. There are many reasons, some of which are under the patient’s control, and some which are not. Moving across the country is …
So you want to change doctors. Here’s how to do it right.
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I often wondered what got me here. I am a reader. Give me a book, an apple and a bus ride home and I was lost in the words. Send me to school and make me create 3×5 word cards for hundreds of new words and I was hooked. Then off to high school where science gave me a new vocabulary. …
The dwindling of the medical lexicon. It matters.
I’m a family physician in Eugene, Oregon — a sweet town where folks are pretty darn friendly. I still do house calls. Patients often surprise me with gifts. And nearly every appointment ends in a hug.
Kindness is contagious.
I like to return the favor. So every few weeks I celebrate “patient appreciation day.” I thank patients with balloons and chocolates. Why? For …
Did you forget to thank someone? It’s not too late.
Racism and prejudice are endemic in America. Many of us reflexively answer, No, if we are asked if we are prejudiced. I don’t. I say yes.
While I do my best to give everyone a fair shake, I grew up in a white suburban family in the latter decades of the last century. My friends, my parent’s friends and all those we …
Racism in physicians: It’s not a black or white issue
This piece will likely draw ire from many, but I do not intend it to be inflammatory. I write it to explain why Bruce Jenner’s recent, and very public, transformation into Caitlyn shouldn’t necessarily make us feel all warm, fuzzy, and optimistic. This is not meant to insult or degrade any individuals who are transgender or merely confused about their own …
Why I’m not celebrating Caitlyn Jenner
Statistics from the Pew Research Center indicate that the majority of people use the Internet to find information on health. As online resources improve and proliferate, this fraction will continue to climb higher. There is no doubt that patients see the Internet as one tool to learn about a condition, diagnose themselves, or read about the range of treatment alternatives. Patients understand that knowledge is power. So how should patients …
How patients can use Internet research when seeing a doctor
As first-year family medicine residents, our patient care experiences really run the gamut, since our training truly encompasses “cradle to grave” care. With the exception of most pediatric care, the issue of narcotic prescribing and addiction is seen in all specialties, as well as frequently in continuity clinic where we care for our own primary care patients. As dangerous as opiate …
Prescribing pain medicine: Most new physicians aren’t ready
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, was my first physician role model when I was a kid. She had full scope of practice in the Wild West, and what kid doesn’t like a good Western? But it wasn’t until later in high school that I started considering a career in medicine. A great biology teacher sparked my love for science. That, coupled with my passion for helping others, made medicine seem like …
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