Finding emotional presence in a dehumanizing system: a physician’s journey

Here are the stories you missed on KevinMD. Thank you for your continuing readership. --------------------------------------------------------------- Here are the stories you missed on [KevinMD](. Thank you for your continuing readership. --------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsors [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. In the decade ending in 2021, between $2.4 and $3.5 billion, or 8 to 11 percent, of all medical malpractice losses incurred by physician-focused insurers stemmed from [social inflation](. Rising health care costs in the U.S. have put certain medicines financially out of reach for people who need them. [Learn how more affordable biosimilars]( can help improve access for patients. --------------------------------------------------------------- KevinMD Plus: Feb 27, 2023 [Finding emotional presence in a dehumanizing system: a physician’s journey]( Virtue and self-sacrifice were supposed to be my protection. As a first-generation immigrant, the necessity of hard work had long been ingrained like a birthmark. I never questioned the belief if I overworked and overprepared, I would fulfill my responsibilities, be accepted, and become worthy of happiness. By the time I finished medical training, I [...] [The rise of direct pay: a solution to the fragmented, impersonal and costly medical system]( It used to be easy. You didn’t worry about your health care or how to pay for it. You had a family physician who cared for you in the office and the hospital. They coordinated every aspect of your care, including working with consultants. And after discharge, they would resume caring for you knowing what [...] [Healing clinician-associated trauma: a call for connection]( Our modern existence is a state of perpetual disconnection. Earbuds in. Staring down at our screens. Avoiding eye contact. Disconnected from each other and ourselves, we go about our lives in adult parallel play. Numbing any hint of uncomfortable feelings with more Netflix or scrolling. The social, political, and health consequences of this existence have [....] [A tale of medical malpractice, the legal system, and a fight for justice]( I have been fortunate in my forty-five-year medical career never to have been sued for the care I delivered to a patient. I attribute this, in part, to being a family physician and having ongoing relationships with my patients and, in part, to being willing to admit to my mistakes if I make them and [...] [Nursing for change: Prioritizing Black nurses’ health and well-being]( As we spend February reflecting on Black Americans’ history, humanity, and contributions, let’s also consider how to improve the systems and structures that impact Black lives moving forward. We can start with health care. Retention and recruitment are challenging, especially for nurses from underrepresented groups in nursing, according to the American Association of Colleges of [...] [The hormone nomenclature debate: Is a name change the key to patient safety?]( In the latest issue of Clinical Endocrinology News, I found an interesting article reporting a proposal to change the name of a hormone. The rationale for the proposed change was “patient safety.” In 2009, a patient with known panhypopituitarism was admitted to a U.K. hospital for elective surgery. Diagnosis included panhypopituitarism with diabetes insipidus. The [...] [Certified, but denied: the impact of board certification on patient care [PODCAST]]( Catch up on old episodes! In this episode, we’re joined by Emmanuel K. Konstantakos, an orthopedic surgeon, and Jeff Morris, an attorney and CEO of the American Board of Physician Specialties. They discuss the ongoing debate about physician board certifications and the role of monopolistic practices in limiting patient [...] [Building trust with patients: the power of credibility, trustworthiness, and likeability]( An excerpt from The Mumbo Jumbo Fix: A Survival Guide for Effective Doctor-Patient-Nurse Communication. When advertising agencies launch a new ad campaign, one of their popular strategies is the testimonial. As consumers, we see testimonials all the time in both print and electronic media. The spokesperson may be a familiar celebrity or an unknown personality but [...] [Saving lives, one heart at a time: the fight against women’s heart disease]( Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease killed 314,186 women in 2021. This means that approximately one out of every five female deaths was due to heart disease, with the worst mortality burden on African American women. [...] [Voices unheard: the plight of patients and clinicians in the health care system]( “The practice of medicine is an art, not a trade; a calling, not a business; a calling in which your heart will be exercised equally with your head.” – William Osler I hear a voice in the still of the night when all the sounds of the world have been hushed. It should be a [...] [Candy weed: no protection for marijuana child poisoning]( Timmy’s eyes were rolling side to side in his head as his limp body did not respond to his mother’s calling. He was rushed to the hospital and admitted to the ICU. The 4-year-old ate one of his mother’s cannabis-infused, rainbow-sherbet-flavored gummies and ended up with marijuana poisoning and in a coma. There is no [...] [From CV to career: How to enhance your medical portfolio [PODCAST]]( In this episode, we’re talking about how to stand out from the crowd in a competitive job market for physicians. Our guests, Aaron Morgenstein, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, and Claire Unis, a pediatrician, will discuss how to enhance your portfolio with individual content to [...] --------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsors Join All Global Circle and receive an [exclusive bonus of up to $50](. Share your professional opinions and insights by participating in our surveys and earn honoraria. Learn actionable ways to [transform your documentation]( to improve clinical communication and optimize your quality metrics and reimbursement. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Breaking down the broken medical system: a physician’s eye-opening experience with patient neglect]( I am asking my fellow medical professionals to give a sincere show of hands: How many of you are terrified of your fate should you become the patient? The prospect of navigating the medical system as a patient should strike fear in your heart, especially if you cannot advocate for yourself (although the system will [...] [The ICU experience that changed a young doctor’s perspective forever]( As a healthy 30-year-old intern with an infant, I never expected to land in the ICU on a random Thursday at 10 a.m. As I prepared to start my first precepted thoracentesis at the VA, I suddenly began to experience double vision. Assuming it to be a weird manifestation of anxiety, I politely stepped out [...] [Unlocking the power of graphic medicine: the key to improving health literacy]( According to the Office of the Surgeon General, only about 12 percent of the U.S. population has suitable health literacy skills. Health literacy is the repertoire of knowledge we fall back on to comprehend medication instructions, understand our risks for certain diseases, and make decisions regarding our own well-being. Wading through a convoluted medical system [...] [What does an ENT doctor know about childbirth?]( An excerpt from Fifty Years a Doctor: The Journey of Sickness and Health, Four Plagues and the Pandemic. I went to medical school for four years. I was a medical intern for one year and a surgical resident for one year. And finally, an otolaryngology resident for three years. My medical license permits me to [...] [From stroke to strength: one person’s story of overcoming challenges]( My story began in the early morning of November 17, 2021, and resulted in a re-birthing of who I am and what I’m becoming. I had a massive stroke that caused paralysis of my right side and left me unable to speak. I was life-flighted to the hospital where I work, and suddenly, I became [...] [Moving beyond weight-centered approaches in childhood obesity [PODCAST]]( In this episode, we sit down with guest Wendy Schofer, a pediatrician, to discuss the current state of childhood obesity and the need for a change in approach. Over the past two decades, the prevalence of children being diagnosed as overweight and obese has [...] [Does ageism lurk behind mandatory retirement for physicians?]( Several years ago, a good friend and colleague – the chairman of a psychiatry department – notified people about his retirement in a department newsletter. He wrote, “I sent out a letter to the alumni and adjunct faculty that I will retire on June 30 [2021]. I had decided five years ago that when I [...] [The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act]( Nebraska has taken another step towards effectively banning abortion and criminalizing the practice of medicine. I want to try to clarify that this bill is not supported by the medical community. It does not seek to improve the lives of Nebraskans. In truth, this bill is not what it seems, and I hope you will [...] [The power of listening: a poem from a chronic pain patient to their doctor]( Per the CDC, 11 to 40 percent of Americans struggle with chronic pain. All physicians must treat patients with chronic pain, whether they are spine surgeons or primary care physicians. It is a disease we can not escape. We do not have a one-time pill to fix chronic pain. Unlike other diseases, we do not [...] [Breaking free from corporate medicine: one doctor’s quest for ethical care]( An excerpt from If I Betray These Words: Moral Injury in Medicine and Why It’s So Hard for Clinicians to Put Patients First. In late March 2021, during a lull between the third and fourth waves of the coronavirus pandemic, I drove to the small town three hours west of the Mississippi River where a [...] [Miscommunication leads to misunderstandings: the tragic consequences of misinterpreted sobriety]( At her first visit, still lightly jaundiced, Jennie wanted to talk about a liver transplant. I told her that she had to be sober for six months before they would consider putting her on the list. She told me proudly that she had been sober for three weeks. “How are you doing without alcohol?” “Going [...] --------------------------------------------------------------- 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](