When doctors are poor explainers

--------------------------------------------------------------- Here are the stories you missed on KevinMD. Thank you for your continuing readership. --------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsors This [interactive eBook]( follows patient William Jones as he enters the ED with chest pains, weakness, and palpitations -- illustrating how a communication platform improves his experience and streamlines care team collaboration. [See how](. A [recent poll of nearly 9,500 health care providers]( shows they are very concerned about the recent U.S. measles outbreak. An infectious disease specialist discusses why there’s [significant reason]( for this concern. [We've talked to practices just like yours]( to learn how they leverage engagement solutions to increase revenue, empower and improve the relationships with their patients. [Learn what they had to say](. See how Vail Health has transformed clinical communication from manual, paper-based processes to [automated workflows](. The end result? Information at care team members’ fingertips, and real-time situational awareness of what’s going on with every patient on the floor. [Watch now](. A personal subscription to [ClinicalKey]( equips you with the latest and most in-depth clinical knowledge, because you want to deliver unparalleled patient care. [Discover the power of ClinicalKey today](. --------------------------------------------------------------- KevinMD Plus: Apr 15, 2019 [When doctors are poor explainers]( A physician, like anyone, can be a poor explainer of things for several reasons, but foremost among these is the tendency to use medical jargon. This is not a problem unique to doctors. When I take my car in for repairs, I often must ask the mechanic to explain what is wrong in a way […] [Could patients be their own scribes?]( One day while on shift in the emergency department, I looked out into the waiting room at the dozens of people waiting to be seen. Many had been waiting for hours. Some looked bored. Others appeared agitated by the long wait time. One thing that nearly all of them had in common, though, was the […] [A medical student’s reflection on burnout]( From the moment we begin medical school, we strive to achieve the best we can. That ranges from getting good grades to filling our CV with community work and research experience. With the increasing competitiveness of residency programs, this can be aggravating. The striving, although needed, keeps sucking our energy, our souls, and sometimes our […] [Health insurance company denials make no sense]( We do most of our colonoscopies in our ambulatory surgery center (ASC), which is attached to our office. We are proud of the work that we and our staff do every day and are grateful for the outstanding feedback that we consistently receive from our patients. Some insurance companies will not cover procedures in our […] [Screening elderly men for prostate cancer: More harm than good?]( Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer don’t die of the disease. Between 2011 and 2015, 112.6 per 100,000 men per year were diagnosed with prostate cancer in the U.S., but only 19.5 per 100,000 men per year died of the disease over that same period of time. That is still far too many deaths. But […] --------------------------------------------------------------- [Thousands of physicians are browsing this job board](. They love its selection of over 12,000 openings across the U.S.. [Physicians are finding opportunities they almost missed](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [6 steps to tackle student loan debt in residency]( If you’re like me, or one of the millions of med students with student loan debt, you need a plan on how to repay it. Learning about the different loan servicers, repayment plans, and complex financial terms can be a bit daunting. As a graduating med student, I understand your plight. Here are some simple steps […] [5 things you may not know about cancer risk]( There is still a lot we don’t know about cancer. A diagnosis or even the thought of a future diagnosis can be scary. And what about your cancer risk? Many patients ask me “If a close family member has cancer, does that mean I will too?” Through hereditary cancer assessments, we are now able to […] [5 ways to address the issues of direct-to-consumer health products]( Health products are increasingly moving from the realm of the medical professional to the consumer. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) versions of teeth alignment kits, genetic tests, hearing aids, heart-rhythm monitors, neurostimulation devices, and mental health tools are already on the market, causing professional organizations of dentists, geneticists, audiologists, cardiologists, neurologists, and psychiatrists to grapple with challenges to their authority and practice. So far, questions […] [Fleece pajama bottoms in the ER]( Can someone please tell me the exact moment when fleece pajama bottoms became the fashion sensibility of America? I can’t pinpoint the moment exactly, but several years ago I began to notice that many of our ER patients were presenting for treatment wearing nice fluffy fleece bottoms. Men. Women. Old. Young. These fleece bottoms seemed […] [These are the only 3 reasons to file a tax extension]( There are only three valid reasons to file an extension on your taxes, which changes your required filing date from April 15th to October 15th. Unfortunately, I see many people who have filed an extension incorrectly or for the wrong reason that end up getting billed by the IRS for interest and penalties. There is no […] [Your 401(k) is not a piggy bank]( Many people look at their 401(k) like it is a piggy bank. Since they often don’t have any other savings, when they need a lump sum of money for a large purchase, the only account they have with a decent balance is their retirement account. Since most people are not saving outside of their retirement […] [A medical student grew up without health insurance. Here’s why that matters.]( I’m constantly awed by the fact that I get to be part of one of the best hospitals in the world, especially because as a kid, I grew up without health insurance. These were the days before the Affordable Care Act; there was no penalty for going without health coverage. As a non-citizen, I was […] [How the influence of a grandfather affects this physician]( I remember Grandpa Larry’s visits remarkably vividly. He would lumber into the house hunched over, grunting loudly and reeking of cigarettes. He was unshaven and haggard, with wild grey-black hair streaking out horizontally from the sides of his head. He would rock and turn uncomfortably until he could find a chair, then once seated would […] [MKSAP: 62-year-old woman with a sun allergy]( Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians. A 62-year-old woman is evaluated for a “sun allergy,” manifesting as a rash on her scalp, eyelids, upper back, and knuckles. This started 2 years ago, but is less pronounced over the winter months. Medical history is unremarkable. Her only medication […] [What are the top non-clinical physician jobs and salaries?]( This article is sponsored by Careers by KevinMD.com. When considering a career in the medical field, many people only think of physicians and nurses who work in clinics, give shots, and diagnose patients. However, there’s a wealth of other career opportunities in fields related to health care which are classified as non-clinical positions. A new physician […] [As a cardiologist, I’m concerned that California isn’t very heart healthy]( California is often perceived as a state where healthy habits abound — with a yoga studio on every block and kale salads on every plate. Unfortunately, I know in my daily practice as a cardiologist that this is far from the truth and that diseases due to poor diet and lifestyle are abundant here in […] [Was she a doctor? Or was she a hack?]( Separating fact from fiction had once been her favorite activity. Going over research with a fine-toothed comb, she caught the inaccuracies that riddled popular culture like unruly strands of hair. It came down to this simple algorithm: there were things that could be proven and things that could not. In other words, there were things […] --------------------------------------------------------------- If a friend sent you this email and you want to subscribe, go to [KevinMD](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 345 Hudson Street New York NY 10014 USA [Unsubscribe]( | [Change Subscriber Options](