Primary Care

Embracing the Asclepion: a call for authenticity in medical symbolism

Physician

August 4, 2023

At the heart of the City of London sits an imposing building with massive brass front doors. Emblazoned and embossed on both doors is a symbol – the Caduceus, which in the U.S. is associated with medicine and health care. But why is it on the doors of the Bank of England, the second-largest repository of gold in the world?

Historically, the Caduceus was the staff of Hermes/Mercury, the patron of …

Painful physician burnout truths

Tomi Mitchell, MD

Physician

August 4, 2023

Every week, there is a new article or blog about physician burnout. According to Business Wire, nearly half (49 percent) of U.S. physicians reported burnout in 2023, up slightly from 2022 (45 percent). It’s the same ideas rehashed repeatedly – doctors are worn out, drowning in paperwork, suffering due to insurance restrictions, and considering early retirement. Even more tragically, some doctors are dying by suicide. It is estimated that …

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Painful physician burnout truths

Examining the changing definition of medicine in health care

Rebekah Bernard, MD

Physician

August 4, 2023

An excerpt from Imposter Doctors: Patients at Risk.

On December 17, 2020, television network WGN America featured the book Patients at Risk: The Rise of the Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant in Healthcare in a news segment entitled, “Families sound alarm on medical transparency after deaths of their children.” …

A physician versus his state medical board [PODCAST]

Alan Lindemann, MD & The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 2, 2023

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Alan Lindemann, an obstetrics-gynecology physician, exposes the overlooked side of state medical boards. Join us as we shed light on the damage done to physicians and patients. Discover the need for transparency, accountability, and improved oversight to …

Transform your life with 10 powerful tips for health and happiness

Alicia J. Little, MD, PhD and Christine J. Ko, MD

Physician

August 2, 2023

Separately, we discovered many of the same helpful tips that neither of us learned in a combined fifty-six years of education and training; we have each found comfort, sustenance, and direction from them. When we recently discussed wellness in our department, Alicia shared resources she had found useful in navigating the stressors of physician life. Christine was reluctant to talk about the subject at all, and together we found commonalities. …

The impactful relationships of female physicians

Angela Walker, MD, Sylvia Morris, MD, MPH, Diane Boykin, MD, Leah Matthews, MD, MPH, and Jessica Osborn, MD

Physician

August 2, 2023

An excerpt from The Game Plan: A Woman’s Guide to Becoming a Doctor and Living a Life in Medicine.

Relationships are complicated for many women and can have an even greater complexity for the female physician whose life and time is scheduled for upwards of a decade during medical school and …

Inside the world of family medicine: a patient’s eye-opening account

Michele Luckenbaugh

Conditions

July 30, 2023

Today’s health care system is in a state of drastic flux. Gone are the days of private practice family doctors, the “Marcus Welby, MDs,” who stood ever-ready to heal the sick and comfort the disillusioned. They were the sole decision-makers in the care of their patients and had the welfare of their patients at the forefront. Now, the corporate blanket has fallen upon the field of medicine, oftentimes blurring the …

The wisdom of words: Thank God it’s Friday!

Diana Londoño, MD

Physician

July 28, 2023

“Thank God it’s Friday.”

So many of us say it often. This resonates with many, as there is even a restaurant franchise with that name that has $2.5 billion in sales. Clearly, they are tapping into something that echoes what many think (even if they have what feels like a 73-page menu which, on Fridays when you are especially tired, can seem overwhelming, but I digress).

However, if we dig a little …

Understanding the hidden effects of burnout on physician families [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

July 25, 2023

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Join Amna Shabbir, an internal medicine physician, as she shares her personal journey and reflections on physician burnout and its impact on family dynamics. Amna opens up about her early exposure to burnout through her mother’s experiences …

The persecution of pain management doctors

L. Joseph Parker, MD

Physician

July 25, 2023

The call came in during a busy workday. My comprehensive primary care clinic had been built over a decade of hard work and had a general practice clinic staffed by a very capable former surgeon and several nurse practitioners, as well as a pain management program and an addiction treatment clinic. We also had several counselors on staff. I immediately recognized the voice on the other end of the line …

The struggle is real for patients and doctors

Kim Downey, PT

Conditions

July 21, 2023

If you are a patient, we all are at some point. Undoubtedly, you have experienced some of the difficulties patients face today in getting approved for and receiving medical care in a timely fashion. From scheduling doctor visits to undergoing tests, procedures, obtaining medications, and even surgeries, the process can be challenging.

It’s easy to be tempted to blame your doctor for the long wait times to schedule an appointment, the …

5 tips for ending office visits on time

Jennifer Shaer, MD

Physician

July 17, 2023

The visit is winding down. You’re getting ready to go, hand on the doorknob, saying goodbye. And then you hear, “Doc, one more thing.” Or perhaps you’re more familiar with the patient who has a laundry list of issues all to be addressed in the fifteen-minute appointment slot.

These visits have in common that they are both certain to back you up. Have multiple in the day, and you are …

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5 tips for ending office visits on time

Discover the power of direct primary care and patient-centric solutions [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

July 15, 2023

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Join Paula Muto, a vascular surgeon, and Jeffrey Gold, a family physician, as they discuss the state of the health care system. Explore the evolution of primary care, the challenges of fragmented patient care, and the impact …

Physician burnout is a threat, no different from the spread of a virus—here’s how to fix it

Ben Kornitzer, MD

Physician

July 15, 2023

Few problems in health care are more vexing or persistent than physician burnout. It’s a problem that poses a serious threat to patient care, no different from the spread of a virus or the impact of cigarette smoke. And it has only gotten worse since the pandemic.

Burned-out physicians are less effective as healers. They don’t connect as well with patients, undermining the therapeutic benefits of a close clinician-patient relationship. They …

How preventive medicine physicians can fix the broken system [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

July 12, 2023

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Join us as we speak with Donna Grande, CEO of the American College of Preventive Medicine. We discuss the urgent need to overhaul the broken health care system in the U.S., addressing issues such as the high …

The case for eliminating recertification by the ABIM

Brian Hudes, MD

Physician

July 12, 2023

The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) has long been responsible for setting standards and ensuring the competence of internal medicine practitioners. However, the practice of mandatory recertification has faced increasing scrutiny and debate within the medical community. This article explores some of the key reasons why eliminating recertification requirements imposed by the ABIM could have significant benefits for physicians and patient care.

Lack of evidence for improved patient outcomes

One of …

Chinese chicken congee for the soul: Aligning care with cultural context

Cherry Au, MD, Christine Tsai, MD, and Mandy Che

Physician

July 11, 2023

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial group in the United States, with 18.9 million currently in the U.S. and a projected 35.8 million by 2060 with many Asian Americans being immigrants. A study of over 6,700 Asian Americans, Hispanics, African Americans, and Caucasians revealed that Asian Americans were least likely to feel that their physician understood their background and values, and compared to Caucasians, Asians were less …

What do doctor and nursing burnout, the COVID pandemic, and the Easter Bunny have in common?

Anonymous

Physician

July 11, 2023

Question: What do doctors and nursing burnout, the COVID pandemic, and the Easter Bunny have in common?

Answer: Not a damn thing.

For the past few years, any article on medical labor shortages, disgruntlement, or changes in employment, such as the rise of travel nurses or locum physicians, invariably cited the same cause: COVID.

But to get to the real cause of what’s going on, you have to go further back. Much further …

What Lucille Ball and Einstein can teach us about overcoming burnout

Miguel Villagra, MD

Physician

July 10, 2023

In the demanding health care industry, physicians are frequently susceptible to burnout. The constant pressures, long hours, and emotional toll can be detrimental to one’s health. To support physicians on their path to wellness, we have compiled a collection of motivational quotes that can change their perspective and help them achieve their goals. In addition to these powerful quotes, we’ve included suggestions for cultivating growth and overcoming burnout. Discover the …

How observing patients’ walks can reveal hidden ailments

Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD

Physician

July 9, 2023

On the first day of class, one of my medical school professors limped in, stopped, and then proceeded to teach us specifically what ailment a patient has that causes their limp.

He went on to explain, “By the time you finish this didactic course in orthopedics, you will be able to diagnose a patient’s problem just by watching them walk!”

At the beginning of each class, the professor would limp in and …