Family Physicians Blogs 
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This page shows you the most recent publications within this specialty of the MedWorm directory.
Patient preferences may not be rational, but they are not irrelevant
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Everyone in our industry — policymakers, clinicians, healthcare facility administrators, public and private payers, technicians, pharmacists — shares concerns about the state of healthcare in the U.S., each of us from a slightly different viewpoint.The thread that joins us all is that one day each of us will be a patient.As its title suggests, patients are central to almost every provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Act), and we stand to benefit from more patient-centered, high quality, safe healthcare from our providers.Read the rest of Patient preferences may not be rational, but they ...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 4, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Policy Health reform Patients newtag Source Type: blogs
A doctor reflects on his TED talkEmail this article to a colleague.
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I had performed this procedure dozens of times before. It was routine. I stand under the bright lights, I take a deep breath, I wait for my hands to stop shaking, and then, I begin.This time was different, though. The lights were blinding, there were lots of people watching, and there were TV cameras. Oh, and the guy performing before me was a Grammy winner. This was one of many talks I’ve given, but this was different because it was my first TEDx talk.Read the rest of A doctor reflects on his TED talk on KevinMD.com.Category: Physician | Tags: Specialist | 1 comment (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 4, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Physician Specialist newtag Source Type: blogs
Fringe — Episode 11 (Season 4): “Making Angels”Email this article to a colleague.
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A very good B-plot, a mind-numbing A-plot. Neil should have visited me before I saw this episode to put me out of my misery.
The Plot: A man recently diagnosed with melanoma, but given a good chance of survival, is found dead, with mysterious bleeding from his eyes. The Fringe Team is called in to investigate. During the autopsy, Walter discovers that the victim was killed with a strange mixture of chemicals that shouldn’t act as a poison, yet they do. He concludes, with logic bizarre even for Walter, that it was impossible for someone to discover this toxin on their own — that they must have learned it from someo...
Source: Polite Dissent - February 4, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Scott Tags: newtag Source Type: blogs
Why we need to go from e-patient to i-patientEmail this article to a colleague.
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I found a recent Associated Press article on an aspect of the new health care law that many of us may have overlooked. It requires consumer-friendly summaries of what insurance plans cover, a provision that now seems to be at risk. The insurance industry is up in arms about implementation costs and added regulatory burdens. (There’s a good story at NPR, which includes a link to an example of what the language would look like.)Read the rest of Why we need to go from e-patient to i-patient on KevinMD.com.Category: Patient | Tags: Cancer, Health IT, Health reform, Patients | 1 comment (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 3, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Patient Cancer Health IT Health reform Patients newtag Source Type: blogs
Identical twins with different ideas about healthcareEmail this article to a colleague.
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Jack and John are identical twins, but have varying interests in life. One day Jack, 43-years old, decides he has had enough of these headaches and calls his family doctor and asks what he should do. He is told that his doctor can see him in 4 days and to take some over the counter ibuprofren. And to definitely go to the ER if the headaches worsen.Read the rest of Identical twins with different ideas about healthcare on KevinMD.com.Category: Policy | Tags: Health reform, Neurology, Primary care | 1 comment (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 3, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Policy Health reform Neurology Primary care newtag Source Type: blogs
Experiencing an uninvited giftEmail this article to a colleague.
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It’s been five years since she was told she was cancer free. Today she was told it was back, and the future was quite grim.My job was to make sure she understood how to properly take the medication that would reduce the swelling around the tumor so radiation could start as soon as possible.That was my job. Clinically speaking it wasn’t the most challenging or difficult issue of the day as I scanned her file. Then I went to speak with her.Read the rest of Experiencing an uninvited gift on KevinMD.com.Category: Physician | Tags: Cancer | 3 comments (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 3, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Physician Cancer newtag Source Type: blogs
A Gentle Landing PlaceEmail this article to a colleague.
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65 years. We've been married 65 years.I take a seat in the chair next to the bed and wait quietly. The nursing home is strangely inactive so early in the morning. The sun has begun to rise and light washes over the grassy prairie outside the window. An elderly man is sitting in the recliner beside me. He leans over to hold his wife's frail hand. She lays unconsciously next to us. As I imbibe the scene, it becomes rapidly apparent that I have little to offer as a physician. My stethoscope is impotent, my medical knowledge is transparently thin.I stand and begin my physical examination. Not out of medical necessity, but more...
Source: In My Humble Opinion - February 3, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Source Type: blogs
How the CA-125 became a $50,000 blood testEmail this article to a colleague.
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What could be so simple as a blood test?A quick prick with a needle, a wait of a day or two for results and a discussion with the doctor about those results. In the words of our vaunted politicians, it would be an “up or down vote” on whether there was anything to deal with.That was the thinking of my wife’s physician when she ordered a test called the “CA-125.” At the time, it was popular as a screening test for ovarian cancer, a disease that had painfully and prematurely ended my wife’s mother’s life. My wife felt fine, so an abnormally high level could indicate the presence of a small (read curab...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 3, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Conditions Cancer newtag Source Type: blogs
Why EMR is a dirty word to many doctorsEmail this article to a colleague.
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Don’t get me wrong, EMRs (electronic medical records) are inevitable. Over the long-run they are almost certainly good for physicians, patients and the healthcare industry.However, their origin and the ulterior motives currently driving their adoption is sowing the seeds of their failure. First, what is actually happening out there? The most recent CDC data would seem to be encouraging for EMR adoption, with EMR use (finally) passing 50%.Too bad there is more to the story.Read the rest of Why EMR is a dirty word to many doctors on KevinMD.com.Category: Tech | Tags: Health IT, Health reform | 23 comments (Source: Kevi...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 2, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Tech Health IT Health reform newtag Source Type: blogs
Why patients with implantable defibrillators deserve their dataEmail this article to a colleague.
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The objective of Measure 12/15 of Meaningful Use regulations of the HITECH act which refer to electronic health records, states that eligible professionals “provide patients with an electronic copy of their health information (including diagnostic test results, problem lists, medication lists, medication allergies) upon request.” A patient’s implantable defibrillator consists of a diagnostic test of the patient’s rhythm as well as of the implanted device itself. I do not see a distinction between data derived from these devices and other diagnostic tests.Read the rest of Why patients with implantable defibrillato...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 2, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Tech Health IT Heart Specialist newtag Source Type: blogs
Understanding the pain of fibromyalgiaEmail this article to a colleague.
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Many healthcare professionals find fibromyalgia difficult to believe as “a real disease” and most of all difficult to handle, and to be honest it is not so difficult to see why. Doctors and other healthcare professionals have learned how to search for diseases based on the specific symptoms the patients present, but fibromyalgia – and several other chronic pain syndromes – do not fit into that model.The patients are presenting a broad spectrum of subjective symptoms and feelings that can not be objectified. A patient presenting a pain problem must in general be examined for the reason for the pain based on the loca...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 2, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Conditions Rheumatology newtag Source Type: blogs
Vacation?Email this article to a colleague.
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I knew Leslie my whole life. A friend of my parents, she remembered the day I was born. So I felt a slight sense of trepidation when she asked me to be her doctor. But how could I refuse?I have always been cognizant of the pitfalls of taking care of family and friends. I constantly worry that personal feelings will blur the lens of objectivity. On the other hand, I could see where my loved ones would enjoy knowing that their doctor has extra "skin in the game".Little did I know that a few years later Leslie would be gone, and I would find out in the worst way.*I couldn't help but sigh as I sat down to the large stack of pa...
Source: In My Humble Opinion - February 2, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Source Type: blogs
How a doctor uses Google to market and recruit patientsEmail this article to a colleague.
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When I relocated my radiation oncology practice from Jacksonville to Tampa, Florida, I had to figure out how to compete against urologists in a market that was radically different from the one I had left. Unlike their peers in Jacksonville, Tampa urologists owned their own radiation centers, guaranteeing I wouldn’t receive referrals from them.Read the rest of How a doctor uses Google to market and recruit patients on KevinMD.com.Category: Tech | Tags: Cancer, Radiology | 8 comments (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 2, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Tech Cancer Radiology newtag Source Type: blogs
Lo, There Shall Come a GroundhogEmail this article to a colleague.
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Time for a classic post:
Happy Groundhog Day!
Tags: groundhog comics (Source: Polite Dissent)
Source: Polite Dissent - February 2, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Scott Tags: newtag Source Type: blogs
3 best practices for both physicians and patients to treat diabetesEmail this article to a colleague.
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As diabetic patients and their physicians continue to work together to combat this metabolic disorder, researchers and medical organizations are uncovering new ways to fight this illness. With 26 million Americans currently battling the disease and 79 million already diagnosed with pre-diabetes, this disease poses a serious threat to our society and our overall healthcare system.With these startling statistics in mind, the Northern States Ambulatory Research Network (NORTHSTAR), a practice-based research network composed of primary care providers in North Dakota and led by Charles Christianson, MD, joined together with The...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 1, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Conditions Diabetes Endocrinology newtag Source Type: blogs
Top stories in health and medicine this morning, February 1, 2012Email this article to a colleague.
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This series is brought to you by MedPage Today.1. Both Sexes Enjoy Statin Benefits. Statins cut cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in both men and women.2. Support by Mom Raises Kids’ Brain Volume. Maternal support and nurturing in early childhood can boost development of a brain region crucial for memory, stress, and emotion regulation.3. WellPoint to Boost Pay for Primary Care Docs. One of the nation’s largest insurers, WellPoint, has announced it will begin paying primary care doctors more money for participating in a care coordination program.Category: News | Tags: | No comment (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 1, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: News Source Type: blogs
Tuesday PSA: You Can Help Superman When You Help the Special Olympics!Email this article to a colleague.
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Click on the image for the full PSA
I’ve got nothing negative or snarky to say today, I think the Special Olympics are a great organization and I’ve had a great time every time I’ve helped them (and apparently I helped Superman as well).
More PSAs
Tags: comics psa superman special olympics (Source: Polite Dissent)
Source: Polite Dissent - February 1, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Scott Tags: newtag Source Type: blogs
How adopting an EHR is like treating cancerEmail this article to a colleague.
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EHRs are not ready for prime time. EHR benefits are questionable and there are documented instances where patients’ deaths were directly attributed to an EHR. EHRs are cumbersome and slow. They are unnecessarily complex and built on very old technology. The people who build EHRs have no concern for the end user and therefore EHR usability is pretty abysmal. And EHRs are expensive to buy and expensive to maintain, not to mention that they can completely derail your practice through loss of productivity. The fact that some users seem to do well with their EHRs, and even derive some joy from using them, is not a valid count...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 31, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Tech Cancer Health IT newtag Source Type: blogs
Are physicians addressing the root causes of health problems?Email this article to a colleague.
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While in residency, I took care of a toddler who was hospitalized following an anaphylactic reaction. During a diaper change at home the child suddenly developed lip swelling and severe difficulty breathing for no apparent reason. The child was urgently brought to the hospital by ambulance and initially treated in the emergency room. By the time I met her on the inpatient floor her breathing and swelling had significantly improved. The first thing I noticed, however, was the child’s bumpy and irritated red skin which was covered with a thick layer of ointment. While I examined her she would claw and scratch at her skin...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 31, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Physician Pediatrics Primary care newtag Source Type: blogs
Analyzing what the President said about health careEmail this article to a colleague.
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President Barrack Obama delivered a 6,944 word State of the Union address to the American people. Of the speech, less than .01% was devoted to healthcare, which is remarkable considering the major changes in healthcare that are on the horizon if Obamacare survives a challenge in an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case. During the speech, there were only three sentences that mentioned healthcare.The first was this: “I will not go back to the days when health insurance companies had unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny you coverage, or charge women differently from men.”Read the rest of Analyzing what the President sa...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 31, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Policy Health reform newtag Source Type: blogs
The D WordEmail this article to a colleague.
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My daughter has begun to use the D word.When I die, people will walk on me?Even at the age of four, she knows that the dead are buried in the ground. More questions follow rapidly. She thinks that if a grandparent doesn't show up to pick up her classmate from school one day, he must have died. The same if someone goes on vacation for a week. Her statements are crude but yet shockingly honest. Unfettered by the complexities of the adult mind, she is free to explore unencumbered. There is no guilt or embarrassment in her voice. Our conversations lack the fear and angst that so often cloud this kind of discussion amongst grow...
Source: In My Humble Opinion - January 31, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Source Type: blogs
Be aware of your food choices, especially when pregnantEmail this article to a colleague.
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I come back into the exam room, keeping my best poker face, sit down and turn to face her. She’s on the edge of her seat, nervous and barely able to contain herself, maybe not even sure which answer she wants.“Congratulations,” I say. She lets out her breath and smiles, huge.“Thanks!”Read the rest of Be aware of your food choices, especially when pregnant on KevinMD.com.Category: Physician | Tags: OB/GYN, Obesity, Patients, Primary care | 1 comment (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 31, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Physician OB/GYN Obesity Patients Primary care newtag Source Type: blogs
Top stories in health and medicine this morning, January 31, 2012Email this article to a colleague.
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This series is brought to you by MedPage Today.1. Epidural Plus Fever During Labor Put Baby at Risk. A temperature spike during labor with epidural analgesia may indicate serious risks for the baby in an otherwise low-risk delivery.2. Child Safety Takes a Back Seat During Carpooling. Parents who generally have their children use booster seats in the car are not consistent in their use of booster seats when carpooling.3. Stopping Steroids Safe After Kidney Transplant. Patients who stopped taking the immunosuppressant prednisone soon after a kidney transplant avoided steroid-related side effects without putting their new org...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 31, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: News Source Type: blogs
House — Episode 10 (Season 8): “Runaways”Email this article to a colleague.
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House shows some heart in tonight’s episode, unfortunately, he seems to have left his brain at home.
A teenager presents to the Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital clinic complaining of some difficulty breathing. All she wants is an inhaler for her “asthma” but House correctly recognizes that she is homeless and the man with her isn’t really her father. What really piques his interest is when she starts bleeding from her ear. He mentions that this is a sign of a skull fracture, but can find no fracture — or any other cause of the bleeding — so he admits her to his service. The team’s initial diagnoses ...
Source: Polite Dissent - January 31, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Scott Tags: newtag Source Type: blogs
House Challenge — Week 10Email this article to a colleague.
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This week, Roxana wins with 9 points. Harvey, Little apple, rileyjo, Rouge Rogue, Silvina and TheJester were second with 8 points.
Overall, James H retains the lead with 46 points. Dr. R moves back up to second with 44 points. Nextsundayad and Roxana are tied for third with 42 points. wkmaier is fifth with 40 points. If you have 35 or more points, then you are in the top 10%.
Click here to see the full scoreboard. (Source: Polite Dissent)
Source: Polite Dissent - January 31, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Scott Source Type: blogs
How changing patient workflow can make using an EMR funEmail this article to a colleague.
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One day, about 5 years into using the electronic medical record in my practice, I came to the realization that I wasn’t having fun anymore. I was sitting throughout most of every office encounter facing a computer screen, my back to the patient on the exam table across the room. The joy of face to face interaction with people, the real reason I went into medicine in the first place, had been replaced with the more pressing urgency of data entry.Read the rest of How changing patient workflow can make using an EMR fun on KevinMD.com.Category: Tech | Tags: Health IT | 3 comments (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 30, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Tech Health IT newtag Source Type: blogs
Natural language processing in EMRs can improve disease trackingEmail this article to a colleague.
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Years ago, if you were elderly, had diabetes, high blood pressure, low back pain, needed a yearly flu shot and came to see this electronic health record-enabled physician (now with the nom de plume “Disease Management Care Blog”), you would have had your diabetes, high blood pressure and low back pain reassessed, you would have been given a flu shot and, for good measure, the DMCB would have tossed in a discussion about the unpleasantness of getting screened for cancer. After the indignity of your physical exam, the DMCB would have typed its clinic notes into the EHR. Then the DMCB would have [click!] opened ...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 30, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Tech Health IT newtag Source Type: blogs
How algorithm driven medicine can affect patient careEmail this article to a colleague.
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Whenever someone is scheduled for an operation, the assigned nurse is required to fill out a “pre-op checklist” to ensure that all safety and quality metrics are being adhered to. Before the patient is allowed to be wheeled into the OR we make sure the surgical site is marked, the consents are signed, all necessary equipment is available, etc. One of the most important metrics involves the peri-operative administration of IV antibiotics. SCIP guidelines mandate that the prophylactic antibiotic is given within an hour of incision time to optimize outcomes. This has been drilled into the heads of physicians, heal...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 30, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Physician Surgery newtag Source Type: blogs
The SwayEmail this article to a colleague.
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My son's hands are moving back and forth quickly over the finger board of the violin. The bow bounces back and forth rhythmically. Like most every day, he is painstakingly practicing. He moves from one piece to the next, pausing to make adjustments. When he's done, he turns the pages back and starts again.Eight months ago he stared at the gleaming instrument. For the first few weeks he practiced his plucking. Then, in no time, he was bowing. Now he plays a plethora of songs and learns something new each lesson.The sounds coming from his violin are becoming less squeaky. The melodies are more constant and the clarity of eac...
Source: In My Humble Opinion - January 29, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Source Type: blogs
A PittanceEmail this article to a colleague.
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I glanced quickly at the papers on my desk. I had a few minutes between patients, and the biller had placed the statement neatly on top of a pile of labs. The word denial stood out amongst the jumble of letters on the page. I read further.Claim denied due to duplication of care. Services payed already to emergency physician.I shook my head in disbelief.*The notification that John was in the emergency room came blinking across my screen. Of course, he hadn't called me to say anything was wrong. I looked down at my watch. I could be out of the office and in the emergency room in five minutes.I ran down the steps and pushed m...
Source: In My Humble Opinion - January 28, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Source Type: blogs
Repetition is the curse of the doctor-patient engagementEmail this article to a colleague.
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How many times as a doctor do you ask the same questions over and over again as part of the routine process of taking a history from your patient? And how often as a patient do you have to answer those same questions each time you see a new doctor? How long does this take, given that doctors and patients both complain that there is too little time for the modern consultation to cover all the bases to the satisfaction of both parties?Read the rest of Repetition is the curse of the doctor-patient engagement on KevinMD.com.Category: Tech | Tags: Health IT | No comment (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 28, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Tech Health IT newtag Source Type: blogs
Patients will understand an honest mistake if the doctor tells the truthEmail this article to a colleague.
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It was 1976 and I was a junior resident in urology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. I was assigned to a rotation in pathology where my job was to process specimens taken at surgery, dictate a gross description of the specimen and then place the specimens into the cassettes that would be used to make the permanent sections. I was transferring a prostate biopsy, approximately 0.5mm x 10mm, and it slipped from the forceps and was washed down the drain of the sink. I searched for the tiny sliver of tissue and even took the drain trap apart but could not locate it. I felt terrible and told the director o...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 28, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Physician Malpractice Specialist newtag Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 58-year-old woman with acute left-sided flank painEmail this article to a colleague.
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Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.A 58-year-old woman is hospitalized for acute left-sided flank pain. She has had fever and night sweats for 1 month and a 9.1-kg (20-lb) weight loss over 6 months.On physical examination, temperature is 37.7 °C (99.8 °F), blood pressure is 135/88 mm Hg, pulse is 88/min, and respiration rate is 18/min. Heart sounds are normal. There is an early diastolic low-pitched sound after the S2 with a diastolic murmur at the apex. There is tenderness of the left costophrenic angle. The abdomen is soft with normal bowel sou...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 28, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Conditions Cancer newtag Source Type: blogs
Fringe — Episode 10 (Season 4): “Forced Perspective”Email this article to a colleague.
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An average episode of Fringe that had too much bad science (and math) for me to truly enjoy. I guess we need some mediocre weeks to let us enjoy the good ones.
The Plot: Emily is a teenager who occasionally catches glimpses of someone’s pending death. She quickly sketches the scene she sees in her sketchbook, rips out the page, and then hands it to the victim. She’s essentially Cassandra, and her warnings of imminent death do no good to the victim. They do bring her to the attention of the Fringe Team, especially Olivia, who is still coming to terms with the Observer who told her that she had to die.
Emily gives the F...
Source: Polite Dissent - January 28, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Scott Tags: newtag Source Type: blogs
Diagnosing an illness is an artEmail this article to a colleague.
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Diagnosis is the foundation on which all care and treatments rest. If the diagnosis is wrong, most probably so is the treatment. Diagnosing an illness is an art. A diagnostician needs to be one part scholar, one part detective, and four parts artist. He has to be a good listener, open minded, and capable of assimilating a large amount of sometimes confusing data into an accurate picture of a disease process. A diagnostician must also be humble, capable of seeking help and counsel from multiple sources.Read the rest of Diagnosing an illness is an art on KevinMD.com.Category: Physician | Tags: Primary care | 3 comm...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 27, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Physician Primary care newtag Source Type: blogs
The magic of learning medicineEmail this article to a colleague.
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Discussion veers from myocytes to cardiac output and stroke volume.The world, through the student’s eyes, is inflamed with passion and opportunity. The reality of doctoring is a distant dream. Hope peals back layers of fear and loss of confidence. Reward is imagined as a handshake, a return to health, and gentle guidance and counseling.And there is no better place to be.Read the rest of The magic of learning medicine on KevinMD.com.Category: Education | Tags: Medical school, Residency | 3 comments (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 27, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Education Medical school Residency newtag Source Type: blogs
Patient engagement is the holy grail of health careEmail this article to a colleague.
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For health care professionals, patient engagement is the holy grail of health care. It is the key to patient adherence – a prerequisite to achieving better outcomes, fewer ER visits and hospitalizations and more satisfied patients. It is easy to recognize an engaged patient – they do what their health care providers recommends …what their health care team knows what is right for them.Read the rest of Patient engagement is the holy grail of health care on KevinMD.com.Category: Patient | Tags: Patients | 7 comments (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 27, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Patient Patients newtag Source Type: blogs
In Memory Of A Wonderful FriendEmail this article to a colleague.
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He was my guy. You know, my financial guy. The kind of guy that everybody loves when the market is up. When the market is down....well you know what I'm talking about.He took me out of pity. The meager sums I saved were nothing near his average client. I was well below his minimum. But we had a common friend. And he liked me and my wife. We were his kind of people. Bargain shoppers. We bought low and sold high. Over the years we talked every few months. He would take my wife and I out to dinner in the early days. Later, he would come to the house and entertain my children before we could chase them off to bed and talk fina...
Source: In My Humble Opinion - January 27, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Source Type: blogs
Physicians have a natural role as advocatesEmail this article to a colleague.
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As physicians, we are often called upon to be advocates for our patients. Sometimes they have no other person to turn to. At those times, in particular, we evaluate their health in the context of relationship, family, and workplace. Having practiced family medicine for so many years, and now in counseling medicine, I have had the responsibility of advocating for my patients with their health insurance companies, within their families, and with their employers. I take this responsibility very seriously.Read the rest of Physicians have a natural role as advocates on KevinMD.com.Category: Physician | Tags: Patients, Primary c...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 27, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Physician Patients Primary care newtag Source Type: blogs
Top stories in health and medicine this morning, January 27, 2012Email this article to a colleague.
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This series is brought to you by MedPage Today.1. Prostate Surgery Plans Often Change After MRI. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate changed the surgical plan in more than one in four patients undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP).2. Men More Likely Develop Mild Cognitive Problems. Men are more likely than women to develop mild cognitive impairment (MCI), with and without memory problems.3. Mass. Health Plan Works, but Cost Still an Issue. Healthcare reform in Massachusetts — a.k.a. Romneycare — has resulted in a higher percentage of residents with medical insurance a...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 27, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: News Source Type: blogs
The Internet is where patients go for pre-visit consultationsEmail this article to a colleague.
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As a physician, technology cannot replace you, but it can make you more efficient and effective.This was the message from Richard Satava, MD, who spoke on the future of surgical technology at the recent Seattle Surgical Society Annual Meeting. Dr. Satava’s speech was fascinating as he laid out the future for robotics, remote surgery, internal locomotion actuators, molecular imaging biosurgery, etc. I looked over my shoulder a couple of times to make sure that I had not mistakenly joined a Star Trek convention.Read the rest of The Internet is where patients go for pre-visit consultations on KevinMD.com.Category: S...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 26, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Social media Health IT Patients newtag Source Type: blogs
Our society expends huge sums on futile careEmail this article to a colleague.
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Mike was a runner, outdoors-man, and fitness nut. This was not so much as for health reasons as for “feeling good”, but he did hope that it would help him avoid illness. It was worrisome when he started with some belly cramping and noticed some blood streaks in his stools. It took about a month until he could be scheduled for a colonoscopy. The news was shocking. “There’s a cancer in the bowel, and you need an abdominal CT scan ASAP.” The scan brought even more serious news, “Mike, your cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, the liver, and to the lungs. It’s an advanced cancer ̵...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 26, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Physician Cancer Palliative care newtag Source Type: blogs
Superman Versus the MeaslesEmail this article to a colleague.
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The Mayor of Metropolis summons Superman because he needs his help. It must be some major problem, right? Like a failing dam, a fire at a hospital, or an orphanage perched atop an EPA super-fund site, right?
Nope. The mayor has the measles, yet still wants to attend the City Council meeting. Truly a problem requiring all the abilities of the Man of Steel (sorry, orphans, try to enjoy the searing pain from the toxic waste).
This is Superman, so he must have a brillaint plan to “beat those measly measles,” right? Wrong again. No shrinking down and battling the evil virus and its zombified cells. No jumping forw...
Source: Polite Dissent - January 26, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Scott Tags: newtag Source Type: blogs
Will Anybody Care?Email this article to a colleague.
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There are certain habits I'm not proud of. Certain things that are better left unsaid. But there's no embarrassment in the radio station that I have chosen to grace my ears each morning as I drive to work. That's right, I have ditched the top forty dance music, escaped the salacious morning DJ's, and landed on something more sublime. My dial is set to 91.5, national public radio. There's something about the reporting style, the ebb and flow, that draws me in. The content is superb; the stories informative. My car becomes a haven of calm and warmth in the midst of the frigid Chicago winter. So when I heard the name of my ho...
Source: In My Humble Opinion - January 25, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Source Type: blogs
I learned the value of listening to the patientEmail this article to a colleague.
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William Osler famously said (among other things): “Listen to the patient. He is telling you the diagnosis.”I was doing my obstetrical rotation as a first year family practice resident. I had done nearly 100 deliveries and was feeling more confident in my skills and knowledge than was justified. Although this rotation did not involve actual care for the recently delivered newborns, I loved pediatrics and frequently stopped by the nursery to see the babies whose deliveries I had attended or assisted and always chatted with the parents about their new children.Read the rest of I learned the value of listening to the...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 25, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Physician OB/GYN Pediatrics newtag Source Type: blogs
Myths and misses about Alzheimer’s DiseaseEmail this article to a colleague.
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Mark Twain, the American author and humorist once said, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” In my experience as a geriatrician, I’ve encountered many misunderstandings about this degenerative neurologic disease that devastates both patients and their families. Countering these can help patients, families, professionals, and all those who have someone in their lives with Alzheimer’s disease.Read the rest of Myths and misses about Alzheimer’s Disease on KevinMD.com.Category: Conditions | Tags: Geriatrics, Neurology | No comment (S...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 25, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Conditions Geriatrics Neurology newtag Source Type: blogs
Top stories in health and medicine this morning, January 25, 2012Email this article to a colleague.
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This series is brought to you by MedPage Today.1. Enzymes Show Early Heart Damage in Diabetes. A highly sensitive troponin test revealed evidence of subclinical heart damage in patients with hyperglycemia but no known coronary artery disease or heart failure, with particularly high enzyme levels in those with diabetes.2. Time in ER Sends Infection Back to Nursing Home. An emergency department visit may triple the risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections for nursing home residents.3. Serious Allergic Reactions Unlikely After Vaccination. Anaphylaxis following immunizations was a rare occurrence among children and...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 25, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: News Source Type: blogs
The New Knockout GasEmail this article to a colleague.
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The doctor is working hard to “pull them thru” by…doing what, exactly? Putting a warm washcloth over their eyes? Tucking them in?
Now, I’m no expect on knockout gases, but I think I could do better than that.
Scene from The Three Eccentrics from Batman #21, (February-March 1944).
I like the way there’s a list of rules on the back wall. I can only imagine what they say: “No roughhousing,” “No running with scissors,” “Wash your hands before returning to work”
Tags: comics medicine batman robin doctor hospital knockout gas (Source: Polite Dissent)
Source: Polite Dissent - January 25, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Scott Tags: newtag Source Type: blogs
Repeated experiences of shaming are not good for a young childEmail this article to a colleague.
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The little boy, who looked to be about two, darted away in a fit of giggles. His young mother, who seemed thoroughly worn out and exasperated, ran after him, grabbed him by the arm and said in a harsh whisper, “You must stand here!”We were on line waiting to board a Southwest Airlines flight. For those of you not familiar with the Southwest system, there are no assigned seats. Rather, when a passenger obtains a boarding pass, a number indicates a place in line. Then before boarding, passengers line up according to the number they have been given. It is a very well organized system, but doesn’t necessarily...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 24, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Physician Pediatrics newtag Source Type: blogs
Why more primary care doctors are referring patients to specialistsEmail this article to a colleague.
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According to a recent study from the Archives of Internal Medicine, primary care physicians are referring more patients to specialists than ever before. In fact, the rate almost doubled in the 10-year period between 1999 and 2009.This drives up the cost of care, as specialist consults tend to be more expensive than primary care visits. Furthermore, specialists tend to order more advanced diagnostic tests.Read the rest of Why more primary care doctors are referring patients to specialists on KevinMD.com.Category: Pho | Tags: Primary care, Specialist | 5 comments (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 24, 2012 Category: Family Physicians Authors: Kevin Tags: Pho Primary care Specialist newtag Source Type: blogs
