Earlier this week, we facetiously found how how sex was used to teach CPR.Now, the American Heart Association is turning to rap to teach CPR basics in its Be The Beat campaign.classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="344" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0">(via SCOPE)
May 2010
All Stories
Chronic migraines changed this patient’s life
by Diana E. LeeWhen I start to think about all the things I want to do, I end up feeling like my life is on hold, waiting for some miracle to come along and make me better. There was a time when I believed I would get better. Now I'm not so sure.I was just getting started in my career in 2003 when my migraines exploded from periodic to chronic. ...
Allergy drug recommendations for patients on a budget
Ahhh spring.The lovely blooms unfurling. The trees budding.It's enough to make a girl get tears in her eyes.And sneezes in her nose.And itching on her face.Yes, it's allergy season again -- but what can you do to make yourself more comfortable without emptying your wallet?1. Avoidance. Close the windows. Make someone else cut the grass. Stay inside. (Yes, I hate this one too- let's move on.)2. Neti pot or other nasal saline rinsing. LOVE ...
Ethics of futile care
The bioethics community has been working on defining the concept of medically futile care for more than a quarter of a century, yet the debate continues. The way in which the current notion of medical futility becomes folded into the proposed healthcare reform bills is at a critical point.Sophisticated medical technology that is at once life-saving, life-prolonging as well as death-prolonging has created populations which, in the past, would have ...
House, M.D. physician technical advisor interview
by Ryan DuBosar“House, M.D.,” is the least realistic medical drama on television. That doesn’t bother Lisa Sanders, ACP Member, one of the show’s technical advisors.The lead character, Gregory House, MD, verbally abuses patients, goes overboard ordering tests and above all, he’s “a jerk,” Dr. Sanders said. But after all, it’s television, and the former CBS news producer turned med student turned Yale professor understands the difference between reality and good ...
A speeding ambulance may not benefit patients
How fast should an ambulance go?The stereotypical speeding ambulance with sirens blaring is the image that most conjure up.But recent data suggests that transport speed may be overstated.In a fascinating piece from Slate, emergency physicians Zachary F. Meisel and Jesse M. Pines examine that very question. They cite a recent study from the Annals of Emergency Medicine, which concluded that a fast transport speed didn't necessarily save lives:
The ...
Patients with dementia and when they should stop driving
A common clinical problem in aging is when should driving a motor vehicle be discontinued. When does driving become a significant safety hazard as cognition and motor skills decline?The American Academy of Neurology recently published a Practice Parameter update: Evaluation and management of driving risk in dementia. This important review provides clinicians and family members with assistance in making an accurate and timely decision.The authors of the guideline review ...
Father of a patient with a sudden brain hemorrhage
She was 50. Prior to being transported to our ER, her only complaint had been for non-traumatic elbow pain over the past two weeks. She was on no medications and had no significant medical history.She was at home, preparing to visit her doctor for a scheduled visit, when she collapsed. Because she didn't drive, her elderly father had planned on swinging by to pick her up. He had just called ...
Diabetes prevention can be led by health insurance companies
Whether I'm wearing my health policy hat or seeing patients in the office, one condition continues to surface as a source of concern and frustration.Diabetes, one of the nation's most serious and costly health burdens, now affects almost 25 million people in this country -- a conservative estimate. Another million new cases are diagnosed each year.Three years ago, the American Diabetes Association estimated the total diabetes cost in the U.S. ...
Official state microbe of Wisconsin
Wisconsin has selected Lactococcus lactis as its official state microbe:
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: SECTION 1. 1.10 (3) (t) of the statutes is created to read: 1.10 (3) (t) The bacterium Lactococcus lactis is the state microbe. SECTION 2. 1.10 (4) of the statutes is amended to read: 1.10 (4) The Wisconsin Blue Book shall include the information contained in this section ...
Patient handoffs increase medical malpractice risk
Patient handoffs increases the risk of medical errors.It's a phenomenon during residency, as doctors are mandated to leave the hospital after a defined number of hours. But it's also prevalent outside of an academic setting, as more institutions use hospitalists for their inpatients.This increases malpractice risk.Perhaps the biggest problem with hospitalists is the transition during discharge, when the patient is handed back to the primary care physician's care.Various ...
Ritalin and Adderall to improve college grades
I watched 60 Minutes on CBS recently, and was surprised to hear how many college students are using stimulants like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall) to get better grades.These drugs are amphetamines, and Schedule 2 drugs that require a written prescription, cannot be faxed or called into pharmacies, and are considered to have high abuse and addiction potential by the FDA. They have the same type of effect on the ...
End of life blogging benefits and the questions it raises
With Eva and Alicia, both women were very young, 25 and 28, respectively. And for anyone who knows the history of American bioethics will realize young women, severe illness and dying seem to bring about a intense focus of cultural awareness (see Schiavo, Cruzan, Quinlan).It struck me how the open sharing of the decline of their health towards death may signal a cultural revolution ...
Female genital cutting complications
by Todd NealeClinicians should actively persuade families not to participate in the ritual cutting of female genitalia, the American Academy of Pediatrics urged.However, the organization suggested that legislatures and doctors might ultimately consider legalizing ritual "nicks" to satisfy cultural or religious demands without more serious and problematic cutting.The centuries-old practice, which is illegal in the U.S. and several other developed countries, carries with it a host of physical and psychological ...
Defensive medicine starts early in residency training
Part of a resident’s job is to learn the ropes in preparing for independent practice. While you’re a resident, you get the benefit of having someone looking over your shoulder to critique you as you determine how you are going to manage patients.I frequently tell residents that different attending physicians practice medicine in different ways. Some practice defensive medicine more than others, some prescribe antibiotics more than others and some ...
Are da Vinci surgical complications the fault of the robot?
The daVinci surgical robot is a multi-million dollar device that more hospitals are using for urologic and gynecological surgery.I wrote previously on the topic, saying that robotic surgery is, in part, driven by patient demand.The Wall Street Journal had a scathing piece on the robot a few weeks ago, exposing the relatively high complication rates at a small New Hampshire hospital.The issue comes down the training, or lack thereof, ...
ACP: Can medical societies interact ethically with commercial entities?
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.by Steven Weinberger, MD, FACP
The Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) recently developed its “Code for Interactions with Companies,” which outlined the principles that should guide relationships between medical societies and commercial entities, including pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers. Although a subsequent editorial in the New ...
Why primary care doesn’t appeal to this medical student
I try to read as much as I can of everything floating around the medical blogosphere. I think the most recurrent topic I come across is why current medical students aren’t choosing to go into primary care.It’s a great topic that relates to health care reform, making it ripe for medical bloggers to comment on relentlessly. Probably the most often cited reason is low reimbursement for primary care (read: primary ...
Children with DNR orders and the liability risk for schools
by Crystal PhendWhen children with complex chronic diseases have do-not-attempt-resuscitation orders in place, schools should honor them, the American Academy of Pediatrics urged.More children with diseases that may involve sudden and potentially fatal attacks are attending school due to legal and societal trends over the past decade, according to a statement in the May issue of Pediatrics.While these requests are honored in hospitals and nursing homes, schools may find it ...
Burnout is common to teaching violin and practicing medicine
by Lisa Chu, MDI went to medical school and know something about what it’s like to work in clinical environments.I’ve recently started reading blogs and articles about “physician burnout” and I can’t help but notice that there’s a lot of blame being placed on “the system”. Doesn’t this kind of storytelling just reinforce that physicians are victims? I’d like to see physicians adopt a way of thinking that will enable ...
Kevin Pho, MD
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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...
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Doctors: Don’t be ashamed about going bankrupt
Are doctors really going broke? According to this piece from CNN Money, some are: "Doctors list shrinking insurance reimbursements, changing regulations, rising...
Physician
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Patients will understand an honest mistake if the doctor tells the truth
It was 1976 and I was a junior resident in urology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. I was assigned...
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Diagnosing an illness is an art
Diagnosis is the foundation on which all care and treatments rest. If the diagnosis is wrong, most probably so is the treatment. ...
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Physicians have a natural role as advocates
As physicians, we are often called upon to be advocates for our patients. Sometimes they have no other person to turn to....
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Our society expends huge sums on futile care
Mike was a runner, outdoors-man, and fitness nut. This was not so much as for health reasons as for "feeling good", but...
Patient
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How will the Baby Boomers age and die?
I love listening to life stories. As a hospice chaplain, I loved sitting with our patients and their loved ones engaging in...
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Patient engagement is the holy grail of health care
For health care professionals, patient engagement is the holy grail of health care. It is the key to patient adherence – a...
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Why do doctors delay hospice referrals?
This is a response to Deb Discenza's article requesting a one page informational sheet informing a patient about hospice or palliative care. This would...
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How touch can calm patients
So, Megen at Not Nurse Ratched wrote post recently about therapeutic presence. The following passage really caught my attention: "Question is: are...
Policy
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A lack of incentive for medical schools to train primary care doctors
A social media movement is happening before our eyes with action starting to take shape. The #occupyhealthcare movement has begun within to...
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What should be the stated aim of health care in America?
The triple aim of health care, as defined by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is: improving the experience of care, bettering...
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How Moneyball applies to healthcare
The storyline is familiar. An organization is challenged to achieve better results without spending more money. An executive is committed to obtaining...
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The problem of insurance gaps in cancer patients
Why are cancer organizations waiting until it starts to rain before they suggest buying an umbrella? “Join my Medicare Advantage plan and...
Tech
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Repetition is the curse of the doctor-patient engagement
How many times as a doctor do you ask the same questions over and over again as part of the routine process...
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Why the prognosis of patients is difficult
Many clinical decisions in older persons are dependent on life expectancy. For example, as life expectancy declines, cancer screening is likely to...
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Innovative technologies can markedly enhance safety
“To Err Is Human” is the title of the now famous book from the Institute of Medicine on patient safety published about...
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Google knows more about certain diseases than physicians ever will
Professor Gunter Dueck, is a calm and eloquent german mathematician who’s also the CTO of IBM Germany. He studied mathematics and philosophy...
Social Media
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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...
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Twitter Is my third office location
The physician’s decision to first dive into social media can be stress-inducing. Issues of time management, maintaining professionalism, and determining a return...
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The impact of social media on a physician assistant
The impact of social media on medicine could arguably be compared to the impact of the industrial revolution on the human condition....
