Good to keep handy when travelling to China.
November 2006
All Stories
Are medical specialists biased?
Of course they are, says this doctor:
Now, it's a mathematical certainty (and simple common-sense) that the more the tests you perform, the higher the likelihood that at least one will be abnormal. If you perform a panel of over 20 tests for any woman, at least one (or even more) are going to be "abnormal". This condition, when the result of the test is abnormal, but the patient ...
A doctor gives a woman 300mg of IV Phenergan for nausea
This is a lethal dose. An osteopathic surgeon (not exactly sure what that is - a DO perhaps?) had to change his name due to the 110 other malpractice suits against him.
Racial differences in end-of-life care
A study suggests that black patients are more likely than white patients to prefer life-sustaining care when confronted with an incurable illness or serious mental and physical disabilities.
Hospitals banning cellphones for profit?
Recent studies have demonstrated the safety of cellphones in the hospitals. Banning them forces patients to pay the hospital for telephone access:
But it reveals that Health Service authorities have prohibited their use after signing deals with private telephone providers.
These firms, which have installed bedside entertainment systems under the Government's 'Patient Power' policy, have made millions by charging up to 75p a minute for incoming calls ...
An 11 year-old boy with leukemia is selling ad space on his forehead
He wants to raise money for the Bone Marrow Registry:
The sixth-grader said many people have visited his Web site but there have been no bidders.
"I hope that people start bidding on it now, before it ends Dec. 6 and that's all I can hope for," Pedraja said. "Bidding will not only help you by advertising, it will also help save a bunch of lives."
Confessions of a phlebotomist
Some stories from the hospital "vampires":
It never seems to amaze me in the winter, people walk in with the big, bulk coat sit in the draw chair, and then say "oh, do I have to take my coat off?" how do you expect me to get the blood, I love to say, "no keep the coat on, it may take me 15 times to hit the vein, but ...
An EMT punches a psychiatric patient
No matter what the circumstance, this is not allowed.
Physicians and conflict of interest: Patients don’t care
A vast majority just want to get better:
Medical and professional societies have increasingly urged doctors to reveal all such conflicts of interest so patients can judge whether their doctor may have more than their health at heart. But perhaps because they are already overwhelmed by the challenges of their disease, most patients said they did not need to know those details and trusted that rules were in place ...
So, does $41 billion help with wait times in Canada?
Uh, they don't seem to know.
Hooray New Hampshire!
First state to offer the HPV vaccine free to girls 11 to 18. It's nice to be in the Granite State.
A health risk of prayer
Praying-induced oromandibular dystonia:
This general kind of problem is called "focal dystonia". It's the involuntary fluttering of muscles that one ordinarily controls masterfully. It arises, somewhat mysteriously, in a few extraordinarily unlucky people who perform "a highly stereotyped and frequently repeated motor task". It's what happens in writer's cramp, and in the eyelid twitching known as blepharospasm, and very occasionally in certain specialised professions. Doctors have seen it in ...
Importance of a second opinion
Eye-opening stat. More than half of breast cancer patients had their treatment plan changed after being reviewed by a tumor board:
Researchers looked at the records of 149 consecutive patients referred to the U-M Cancer Center's multidisciplinary breast tumor board for a second opinion. The patients had already been diagnosed with breast cancer after having undergone initial evaluation, breast imaging and biopsy, and they already had a treatment ...
"Everyone wants to be a plasticologist"
More doctors are leaving their fields for cosmetic medicine. Blame Medicare and third-party reimbursement for this:
Five years ago, cosmetic medicine was primarily the domain of plastic surgeons, facial surgeons and dermatologists "” medical school graduates who undergo several years of training in facial skin and its underlying anatomy. But now obstetricians, family practitioners and emergency room physicians are gravitating to the beauty business, lured by lucrative cosmetic ...
UK’s P4P from the front lines
Dr. Crippen says doctors are in a no-win PR position:
My pay has gone up approximately 25% over the last two years. That extra money has been earned by hitting government targets. The targets were set by the government, not by us, and mostly have little to do with health care, but a lot to do with "process" and bogus but quantifiable "healthcare achievements".
We told the government at ...
Better than the real thing?
Pillowy SSRIs:
(via Unbounded Medicine)
Goodbye Google Answers
Google Answers announced that it is shutting down. This 4-year old service comprised a passionate community of 800 or so researchers answering questions of all varieties.
Although I haven't been an active researcher recently, it is where I got my "start", so to speak. It opened up web-related avenues for me, ranging from Med Help to this blog you're reading.
So, thanks Google Answers ...
P4P in UK leads to an increase of 30% in physician salary
Can this be a viable way to increase primary care compensation, thus re-attracting medical students to the field?
Health care today: Payment and fear of malpractice takes priority
Well, it definitely isn't like it used to be:
The first question I get asked when I pursue medical treatment is who is your insurance company and the responsible party. There is no one who is willing to give you any simple advice or reassurance for fear of being blamed for wrongdoing or sued for malpractice. The doctor that I had for 25 years, all my adult life, recently quit ...
Instant first aid
Some good tips when an ER or doctor isn't handy, like rubbing an onion on first-degree burns.
Kevin Pho, MD
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How I approach ovarian cancer screening with patients
Ovarian cancer screening clearly touches a nerve. No one doubts that ovarian cancer is a devastating diagnosis, often found when the disease...
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Why more primary care doctors are referring patients to specialists
According to a recent study from the Archives of Internal Medicine, primary care physicians are referring more patients to specialists than ever...
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Should Google censor anti-vaccine claims?
One of the reasons there is such a movement against vaccines is the democratization of information, perpetuated by search engines like Google....
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Radiologists who cheat on their board exams: Who’s to blame?
In a widely circulated CNN article, many radiologists have been found to cheat on their board exams: "Doctors around the country taking an...
Physician
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Why an anesthesiologist would be needed for organ donation
I've only had to declare death a couple of times. Once in a three-year-old and once in an adult. In each case...
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5 ways to avoid a misdiagnosis
Billionaire Teddy Forstmann had been diagnosed with a serious form of brain cancer. There’s a tragic twist to the story: according to...
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Benefits of the Medicare Adult Wellness Visit
One of the things I love about family medicine is that I get to care for people of all ages. I almost...
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Cancer has a way of teaching us poignant life lessons
I just finished reading George’s recent post on Evelyn Lauder, who recently passed away from ovarian cancer, and am still stirred by...
Patient
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In love there is a life giving force
Here is a toast to the miracle of love. Not to the romantic, chocolate, dance club nightlife type of love. Not warm...
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How to get ready for death
No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet...
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The long term cost of a pain in the neck
One morning this May, I woke up with a stiff neck. I applied hot and cold therapy all day and took an...
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Preparing for your visit with someone in hospice care
Visiting someone who is dying or critically ill is an experience many of us will have in the course of our lives....
Policy
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AMA: Advocating for Medicare, military and fiscal responsibility
A guest column by the American Medical Association, exclusive to KevinMD.com. This week, I’m joining hundreds of physicians and medical students in Washington, DC...
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A critical look at value driven health care
Everyone in the world is talking about “value-driven health care.” Or so it might seem if you pick up a medical journal...
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Surviving the new landscape of physician reimbursement
CNN recently posted an article titled "Doctors Going Broke." It described several cases of independent physicians who are near bankruptcy although they once...
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Doctors lobby Congress to repeal the SGR
One of the things that I like most about my job is engaging with ACP’s physician leadership—the internal medicine doctors who dedicate...
Tech
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There is a patient attached to that implantable defibrillator
As a follow-up to my post on why patients with implantable defibrillators should have access to their device’s data, I am going...
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The pitfalls of email communication with patients
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal reviewed the emerging role of email in healthcare, arguing that doctors should more aggressively...
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Why adoption of EHRs is a transformational event for physicians
Paul Conslato, MD, director of clinical affairs for Lancaster General Medical Group, recently was quoted in the PAMED Better Health Network eZine...
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Why EMR is a dirty word to many doctors
Don’t get me wrong, EMRs (electronic medical records) are inevitable. Over the long-run they are almost certainly good for physicians, patients and...
Social Media
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Using Twitter to deliver health improvement messages
I have decided to spam for public health. Phone calls, text messaging, and even apps have been shown to help improve health...
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Addressing comments on your medical practice’s Facebook page
Does your medical practice allow anybody to post links and comments on your Facebook page? The short answer is yes. We do....
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The Internet is where patients go for pre-visit consultations
As a physician, technology cannot replace you, but it can make you more efficient and effective. This was the message from Richard...
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5 ways doctors can benefit from professional connections
Looking ahead to the next several months, I’ve found myself frequently wondering how many physicians will make this their year to take...
