Preventing amputations and saving lives starts with bringing PAD into the 21st century
There’s a condition that is crippling Black and brown communities at a disproportionate rate and causing 400 amputations each day in the U.S. That may sound scary, but the most frightening part? A new consumer survey found that 70 percent of Americans have never heard of the most common vascular disease, peripheral artery disease (PAD) – PAD kills more people than three of the top cancers (breast cancer, …
Optimizing IUD placement: prescribed medications and timing tips
I’ve been inspired by a recent New York Times article that came out about IUDs, better known as intrauterine devices, and how painful and horrible some of the experiences for women have been over the years. Since writing some of these thoughts, I saw that a Cosmopolitan article recently chimed in on the topic. I figured it was time for me, as a medical professional, to share my thoughts on …
AI’s role in simplifying communication [PODCAST]
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We sit down with Carlo Mahfouz, a technology executive and author, to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care communication. Carlo delves into AI’s historical roots, its recent acceleration …
Practicing patience with patients
Patience is a notoriously hard skill to master. When working in health care, your patience is constantly tested, a lesson I have repeatedly learned in my time as a medical assistant in a large orthopedic surgery practice. Whether it is taking the time to reexplain instructions to a patient when I know am running behind in clinic, waiting on hold with another doctor’s office to obtain pertinent information regarding a …
GLP-1 medications like Wegovy are effective metabolic health tools for teens with insulin resistance
Lizzie is a 13-year-old with a great sense of humor.
She tells it like it is, especially to her Mom, Jackie, who admits to being a bit of an Almond Mom (the parent who is stuck in a weight-focused diet culture). Jackie leads a very healthy lifestyle and has never had to deal with being overweight. Jackie is different from other Moms I work with because she isn’t telling me that …
Embracing imperfection: strategies for growth and self-compassion [PODCAST]
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Join Caissa Troutman, an obesity medicine physician, as we delve into the intricate relationship between self-perception, mistakes, and personal growth. Caissa shares insights on how our beliefs about perfectionism shape our reactions to …
Post-delivery complications: a glimpse into obstetric care
The red climbs up.
She just delivered, and the arm of my gown. It seeps under the glove, soaking the cuff.
She’s still bleeding.
No worries – I call for the postpartum hemorrhage meds in the order I’ve memorized and used successfully hundreds of times before.
It’s always stopped before.
I trust my training.
She peers over the side rail toward her baby, trying to look past her partner and the nurse and the baby nurse …
Elite access vs. public scrutiny: Medication disparities exposed
A recent New York Times opinion piece detailed a lack of available pain medications. While the DEA claims that it is not purposefully restricting legitimate medication availability, even the names of its own operations belie this statement. On Halloween 2023, the DEA launched Operation “Bottleneck,” serving immediate suspension orders to six large pharmaceutical supply companies. These companies were accused of having failed to account for “a million doses” of …
The Supreme Court must consider science, not pseudo-science, in public health rulings
Measles is on the rise in more than a dozen states, an alarming surge for a vaccine-preventable disease eliminated in the United States nearly 25 years ago. Meanwhile, young women exposed to relentless unscientific deception by social media algorithms are abandoning hormonal contraception in favor of significantly less effective methods that result in more unwanted pregnancies. In Louisiana, women with nonviable …
Youth are changing perceptions of death: Here’s what they want you to know
There is a diary entry of mine (Sparks) from when I learned that the pandemic would last longer than we initially thought. 17 years old at the time, I described my feelings of fear at the thought that I may die. “I don’t know if there’s even a point to planning for the future anymore.” I go on to write that whenever I don’t get a response from a loved …
Navigating the spiritual crisis in modern medicine [PODCAST]
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We’re joined by Dike Drummond, family physician and founder of TheHappyMD.com. Our discussion delves into the spiritual crisis facing employed physicians, where the idealism that once inspired them to pursue medicine clashes with …
How psychiatry fails trauma survivors
Psychiatry has a duty to be trauma-informed, given that 50 to 60 percent of the general population, and around 90 percent of people with severe mental illness, have a lifetime history of at least one traumatic event. Yet the mental health system often falls short.
Consider involuntary hospitalization in a psychiatric unit. Losing one’s freedom can be traumatic for anyone and triggering for those with past trauma of nonconsensual experiences. …
The essential human element in AI integration
In the ever-evolving health care landscape, the synergy between human expertise and artificial intelligence (AI) is not just beneficial—it is essential. As we stand on the brink of a technological revolution, it is crucial to recognize that the integration of AI in health care should enhance, not replace, the human touch. This article explores the indispensable role of health care professionals in an AI-driven environment, emphasizing why the human element …
Navigating self-judgment with compassion
Earlier this week, I made a stupid mistake, and that mistake cost us our dental and vision insurance for the year 2024.
You see, I had my COBRA from my old job that I had planned to keep, as the kids still had braces, and switching midway apparently resulted in non-coverage. So, I spent a lot of time researching it and setting it up so we would retain the dental component. …
AI in medical practices [PODCAST]
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Join Robert Murry, chief medical officer at NextGen Healthcare, to delve into the transformative power of artificial intelligence in rural medical practices. Robert, also known as a country doctor practicing in the picturesque …
Too many older adults are taking risky sedative medications
A recent investigation in Quebec uncovered a concerning trend: benzodiazepines — medications commonly used for sleep or anxiety — are being overprescribed. This investigation has prompted the Quebec College of Physicians to closely examine the usage of these medications.
But this issue extends beyond Quebec’s borders; across Canada, these medications are being prescribed at alarming rates.
Benzodiazepines and other sedatives are often prescribed to older adults aged 65 and up for …
Saving lives with naloxone: perspectives from the frontline
According to a recent report by the Stanford-Lancet Commission on the North American Opioid Crisis, “more than 600,000 people in the USA and Canada have died from opioid overdose since 1999, and a staggering 1.2 million more are estimated to die due to overdose by 2029.”
The opioid crisis has reinforced hard lessons learned in earlier health crises. Chief among those is that we need multiple strategies if we are going …
Overparenting: Finding solace amidst criticism
An excerpt from A Schizoid at Smith: How Overparenting Leads to Underachieving.
“Work always lacks effort,” “Just no interest whatsoever,” “Inattention,” “Disturbance,” “Silly conduct,” the teachers’ remarks read. All those criticisms could have defined your scribe’s output.
They are rather the report card marginalia of a class clown. Another outstanding pupil with an alleged 29 detentions in one year and an unbidden nuisance in class exhibitionism. No contemporary would have ever …
Charting efficiency secrets [PODCAST]
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Join nurse practitioner Erica Dorn as we delve into practical strategies to enhance charting efficiency. From leveraging smart phrases and templates to setting boundaries with patients, Erica shares valuable tips to streamline the …
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