Unmasking wage disparity in health care: the truth behind the Elmhurst Hospital physician strike

KevinMD
May 22, 2023

The streets surrounding Elmhurst Hospital in New York City have become the staging ground for over 150 resident physicians striking for pay parity. The future of the medical profession is forced to grapple with a persistent issue long evaded – wage disparity.

Elmhurst Hospital, a critical pivot of public health and a notable battleground during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, now sits as the epicenter of a different kind …

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Unmasking the brutal reality of gun violence in America: a call to action for unity and meaningful change

Policy
May 22, 2023

On the night of April 28, 2023, in a sleepy community 50 miles north of Houston, Texas, bullet-riddled bodies of five human beings, including an eight-year-old boy, lay lifeless, cut down in the most gruesome way. Their only sin was asking for a night of peace, but their request was met with the deafening sound of gunfire from a neighbor brandishing an AR-15. This senseless tragedy is yet another grim …

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How electronic health records preserve patients’ legacies in the words of oncologists

Physician
May 22, 2023

It’s 10 p.m., do you know where your doctor is? I chuckle to myself, recalling a familiar public service announcement of the past meant to remind adults about the whereabouts of their children. I know exactly where I am at this typical hour, sitting in front of a glaring computer screen trying in vain to clear out my inbox in our practice’s electronic health record (EHR) and “win the game” …

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Family physicians unite at the U.S. Capitol, seeking congressional support for Medicare reform and health care transformation

Policy
May 22, 2023

Picture this: Hundreds of family physicians and future family physicians arriving on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to share the top challenges they face and to ask their leaders to make a purposeful investment in primary care. They’ve earned the right to make this request through the hard work, long hours, and comprehensive care they’ve offered patients and their families across the country. They served on the front lines …

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Unlocking the secret to more time and energy: How saying no can change your life as a doctor

Physician
May 22, 2023

I am someone who consistently makes New Year’s resolutions. I find New Year’s to be a great time to reassess how all the aspects of my life are going and whether they continue to align with the direction I want to take.

In previous years my resolutions have ranged from the cliche “going to the gym and losing weight” to listening to a podcast every day, exploring my city, or learning …

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Navigating the complexity of “first do no harm” in modern medicine

Physician
May 21, 2023

“First do no harm” is the opening line of the Hippocratic Oath, and virtually everyone is familiar with it, as it is quoted on every TV medical drama at least once a season. We tend to think that the oath was highly influential in medical training and practice when it was written circa 400 BCE. Still, it had limited applicability, as it only applied to students trained in Hippocrates’ style …

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A tiny step to reduce physician burnout

Finance
May 21, 2023

At least one commentator has opined that “physicians aren’t burned out. They’re abused.” That is an extremely accurate diagnosis. No matter how many mandatory meditation sessions physicians are required to attend during their lunch hours, they remain overworked, overstressed, and unhappy with their careers.

Although there is no easy fix, there are issues that can be addressed in the physician employment agreement that can ameliorate the horrible working conditions foisted …

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Unlocking the power of autism: How accommodations and acceptance can benefit us all

Conditions
May 21, 2023

For a growing percentage of our population, autism is a part of everyday life. How we support and empower children with autism speaks volumes about our society’s ability to be inclusive, productive, and fair.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a perfect time to celebrate people with autism and elevate our awareness about this complex group of neurodivergent individuals who enrich our lives every day.

Here’s how we all can better …

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Restoring our connection to the cosmos: a vital step for healing our minds, bodies, spirits, and planet

Physician
May 21, 2023

How do we balance the desire to stay connected with the cosmos with the demands of modern life?

Our internal life is often mirrored by our external world. It is no surprise that the health of our bodies and our planet is under fire. Mental health illnesses, including active addiction, depression, and anxiety, are increasing along with the number of unnatural forest fires, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels. How we …

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Uncovering the medical mystery behind Lazarus’ resurrection [PODCAST]

Podcast
May 20, 2023
YouTube video

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!

In this episode, we delve into the story of Lazarus, a man who died and was raised from the dead by Jesus Christ. Our guest is William Lynes, a urologist who takes a clinical approach to this …

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Why is being a patient a difficult pill to swallow?

Physician
May 20, 2023

While being treated for an aggressive hematologic cancer, the former head of a department of medicine at a large teaching hospital told me he wished he could hang a sign on his headboard, reading P-I-P: Previously-Important-Person. Despite extraordinary achievements, skills, credentials, and status, being a patient made him feel like an amalgam of parts; limbs, bodily fluids, organs, and orifices, all now suspect, some more wayward than others — and …

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A unique method for managing chronic bowel conditions, treating fecal impaction, and preparing for colonoscopy procedures

Conditions
May 20, 2023

Fecal impaction and severe chronic constipation can have significant consequences on patients’ mortality, morbidity, psychosocial well-being, and health care costs. It is especially prevalent among the elderly and individuals with neurogenic bowel disorders. The condition can lead to life-threatening complications like bowel obstruction, intestinal perforation, fecal incontinence, and urinary retention.

Traditional treatments for fecal impaction and severe constipation include lifestyle changes, fiber supplementation, laxatives, suppositories, enemas, and digital stimulation. However, …

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The 4 stages of suicidal ideation: a physician’s experience with burnout and self-compassion

Conditions
May 20, 2023

I am a physician, a urologist, and a survivor of multiple suicide attempts related to physician burnout. In dealing with my psychopathology, I experienced a devolution in my mental status, culminating in suicidal behavior. I can remember the exact moment when I acknowledged that suicide was a possible solution to my problems. At one moment, I felt revulsion at the idea of suicide but crossed over to accept it. This …

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Mastering career transitions in the medical field: tips from a health care attorney [PODCAST]

Podcast
May 19, 2023
YouTube video

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!

In this episode, our guest Amanda Hill, a health care attorney, shares insights on navigating career transitions in the medical profession. Whether you’re burned out, seeking new challenges, or dealing with personal or health issues, leaving …

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How embracing mistakes and finding self-compassion can bring more joy and growth into your life

Physician
May 19, 2023

How do we react to them? For ourselves or maybe when kids make them. We will all make them, so we might as well make the best of it and realize they are learning and growth opportunities.

I was recently a guest on the podcast Thrive State which I was so excited about because I am a huge fan of the host and the podcast. It has many followers on social …

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Finding hope and relief: a physical therapist’s journey with chronic pain and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)

Conditions
May 19, 2023

The day Ann entered my clinic, I had already been practicing pain management for over ten years. A 40-something physical therapist, she had a warm smile, a positive attitude—and chronic pain in every part of her back.

Twenty-five years earlier, Ann had been inspired to go into physical therapy to help her family members who suffered from severe chronic pain to the point of disability. However, to her dismay, upon graduating …

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Stop saying you “are OCD” if you don’t have OCD

Conditions
May 19, 2023

When people (especially women) are highly organized, hyper-focused, and efficient they often label themselves (or are labeled by others) as OCD. In essence, “being OCD” is a superpower that leaves us with clean houses, well-manicured appearances, and detail-oriented work products. A person might even flaunt their “OCD personality” as a positive in an interview. But, saying you “are OCD” takes away from the very real anxiety that people who “have …

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Revolutionizing physician work: Embracing location-independent careers and professional micro-corporations for autonomy and success

Physician
May 19, 2023

There was a time when one doctor worked one job in one geographic location where he/she was altruistically dedicated to serving a population in the practice of medicine.

For years this idea of working one job in one location was anchored within the private practice model which then gave way to the traditional employment model. The latter offered a parallel promise of a stable and long-term medical practice in one location—with …

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