Palliative care is plagued by misunderstanding

Physician
July 26, 2024

During a recent palliative conference, the discussion turned to the challenges of translating our work to the public and our colleagues. Despite the growth of our field and increasing access, there remains major confusion about palliative care and hospice. Much of the misunderstanding originates from within the medical profession. Having worked in the palliative care and hospice arena for nearly two decades, I have seen many examples of the confusion …

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Transforming patient care with cultural values in direct primary care [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 25, 2024
YouTube video

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Join Maryal Concepcion, a family physician, as she shares her inspiring story of transitioning from a traditional health care role to direct primary care (DPC). Discover how the values of social harmony and …

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It’s time to pass federally mandated paid parental leave

Policy
July 25, 2024

“You’ve got some guts starting your residency pregnant!” I was that intern.

It was June 2011. A few months earlier, on Match Day—the day when the National Residency Matching Program releases results to applicants seeking residency in a specialty of their choice in the U.S.—I had found out that I’d gotten into my first-choice hospital residency program in pediatrics. I started my residency four months pregnant, and one of my attendings …

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Revitalizing rural health care with technology and policy

Physician
July 25, 2024

As a physician who grew up in a small town in central Illinois, I’ve witnessed firsthand the decline of rural health care in America. The hospital where I first became interested in medicine is now half its original size, merged with a larger health system, and struggling to stay afloat. This story is all too common across rural America, where health care access is becoming increasingly scarce, and the challenges …

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Time to educate the psychiatric patient

Conditions
July 25, 2024

The initial psychiatric interview of a patient is often a crucial part of the developing relationship between patient and physician. Establishing rapport, reaching a diagnosis, discussing treatment options, and formulating a plan, are the main frameworks of the interview. There remain, however, increasing pressures to reach the final diagnosis, often from patients and caregivers on initial meetings with providers that can lead to rushed or overlooked symptoms. Where, then, does …

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How international medical graduates shape U.S. health care [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 24, 2024
YouTube video

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Join us for a conversation with George M. Abraham, former president of the American College of Physicians (2021-2022) and a professor of medicine. We’ll explore the vital role of international medical graduates (IMGs) …

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Not all healers wear scrubs or lab coats: Paying homage to our modern-day Santa Claus

Physician
July 24, 2024

Terminology has changed over the years.

When I was in training (1996-2000), we were called physicians. Nurses were called nurses. Nurse practitioners (NPs) were called nurse practitioners. Physician assistants (PAs) were called physician assistants. Patient care assistants (PCAs) were called patient care assistants. And the suits were just that … the suits. They kept the lights on and the doors open. They didn’t provide any direct …

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Healing in a new land: the power of community and kindness

Physician
July 24, 2024

Howera is a twenty-nine-year-old Ethiopian woman. She saw me in the neurology clinic for headaches. Two years previously, she had come to America to join her husband. Since her arrival, he beat her physically and abused her sexually. Being a stranger in a strange land and not speaking English, she suffered in silence. Finally, she could take it no longer. She ran away. For the past six months, she had …

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10 essential tips for doctors: Mastering contract negotiations

Physician
July 24, 2024

Negotiating a contract can be daunting, but it’s a critical skill every physician must master. When I received my first contract, I was overwhelmed by the legal jargon and the sheer number of clauses. It wasn’t just about the salary; it was about securing a fair and comprehensive agreement that would set the stage for my entire career. Through trial and error and a lot of research, I’ve gathered these …

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Ignored and misdiagnosed: the truth about hernias in women

Conditions
July 23, 2024

When actress, model, and reality star Denise Richards came into my office, she had been suffering from chronic pelvic pain for years. Doctor after doctor had given her the same advice: ignore it.

It’s just a hernia.

By the time Richards consulted me, she was experiencing more than just a hernia. It was four: two inguinal hernias and two femoral hernias, all needing immediate repair.

Richards’ situation is far from unique.

In case after …

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Essential safety strategies in anesthesia: anticipation and prevention of complication

Conditions
July 23, 2024

One of the best safety strategies in anesthesia is the anticipation and prevention of complications and errors at every step of preparation. An intact intravenous drug delivery system is essential for almost every anesthetic plan. In this article, we will specifically discuss the intravenous drug delivery system, focusing on its vulnerabilities, strategies for preparation against potential complications, and error prevention. We visualize this concept as an educational endeavor and as …

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Inside the heart of an internal medicine doctor [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 22, 2024
YouTube video

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In this episode, we delve into the profound emotional experiences of Ryan McCarthy, an internal medicine physician. Ryan shares heart-wrenching moments from his practice, including the day his heart metaphorically rolled off his …

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How weight loss drugs are creating a medical dilemma

Meds
July 22, 2024

On my outpatient clinical rotations last year, I saw ample management of heart disease and smoking cessation counseling. I also saw the annual physicals and checkups. But what surprised me was how many patients were on medications that were just now becoming more mainstream. I’m sure you’ve heard of one in particular—Ozempic. But it wasn’t just Ozempic. There was also Wegovy and Mounjaro. These medications, in the family of semaglutides, …

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2024 MGMA DataDive: Unveiling key trends in physician compensation

Finance
July 22, 2024

The wait is over! The highly anticipated 2024 MGMA DataDive, a federally recognized gold standard for physician compensation data, has finally arrived. This comprehensive analysis offers unparalleled insights into physician and advanced practice provider (APP) compensation, making it a crucial resource for staying informed in today’s health care landscape. While some may consider it the current “gold standard,” it is essential to remember that even the best data sets can …

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The truth about medical lawsuits: What the numbers reveal

Physician
July 22, 2024

For two years, I have used this venue to expose medical malpractice litigation as a serious threat to society and the medical profession. From your responses, I conclude that patients and doctors are ready for a paradigm shift. Two elements are essential: rational decision-making and stakeholders like yourselves who care. I have the decision-making model, and you have the desire. However, you are paralyzed by hopelessness.

Meanwhile, 85,000 medical malpractice lawsuits …

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Revolutionizing migraine treatment: the untold story of beta-blocker nasal sprays [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 21, 2024
YouTube video

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Join us for a conversation with John C. Hagan III, an ophthalmologist, as we delve into the innovative use of beta-blockers for treating acute migraines. Discover the journey behind the discovery of Timolol’s …

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Big business and surgery: Who belongs in your operating room

Physician
July 21, 2024

My deep dive into this topic started after examining a New York Times article regarding the abuse of medical technology within my specialty of vascular surgery. The knowledge this article presented, along with my love of innovation and acquisition of an MBA focusing on entrepreneurship, prompted further probing into the field. Ultimately, my work led to an editorial in the periodical The Vascular Specialist and, subsequently, a TEDx …

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How to support physician wellness during the toughest times

Physician
July 21, 2024

Michael Foti, MD, and Tushar Bhagat, PhD, recently reached out to me, each expressing that we are committed to the same goal: well-being for others, especially physicians. I paired them up for an episode of my YouTube channel, where they poignantly shared their journeys to becoming advocates for physician wellness. Through their work, they are creating synergistic loops of feeling better! Here are their stories:

Michael Foti, MD: 

At a time when …

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Breaking the stigma: obesity and perimenopause [PODCAST]

Podcast
July 20, 2024
YouTube video

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In this episode, we sit down with Caissa Troutman, an obesity medicine and family physician, to delve into the pervasive stigma and shame associated with obesity and perimenopause. Caissa shares her personal experiences …

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The truth behind the U.S. doctor shortage: Is it intentional or not?

Policy
July 20, 2024

My friend and colleague, Alex Berezow, wrote a piece titled “Is the U.S. doctor shortage intentional?” The writers at ACSH share their work before publication to get feedback, and in the case of Alex’s latest, we disagreed. While much of what he wrote is factual, without the nuance of the setting, it fails to tell the entire story. So here is not so much my rebuttal but the rest of …

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