Filtered By:
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog
Management: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excelle

This page shows you your search results in order of date.

Order by Relevance | Date

Total 16 results found since Jan 2013.

What to do if you want to be a cruise ship doctor
In 2013 I began searching for ways I could change my career to reduce my workload, but not give up medicine altogether. During that time I took a cruise and looked at various jobs I could do on a cruise ship. One of the jobs I was qualified for, I thought, was to be a Cruise Ship Doctor. After talking with the ship’s doctor to find out what it was like to be the doctor on a ship, I realized that I would enjoy that life. When I arrived back home I sent in an application to a cruise line. I was promptly informed that general surgeons were not qualified to be a ship’s doctor. They only accept physicians who practice emerg...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - May 25, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/cory-fawcett" rel="tag" > Cory Fawcett, MD < /a > Tags: Physician Practice Management Primary Care Source Type: blogs

Plastic surgeon quits and couldn ’t get a job at Chick-fil-A
I just got off the phone with Paul, a highly-sought-after plastic surgeon in New York. “I don’t want to be a doctor anymore,” Paul says. “What else can I do? I have lots of restaurant experience. I’ve worked in 15 restaurants during my life. It’s not easy, but I could do it. I did research on chains and franchises, and I chose Chick-fil-A. Three months ago I applied to be an owner/operator. I got through the first application and got declined the second round of applications. They are extremely picky. Nearly 20,000 apply, and only a few are chosen.” I’m shocked he was declined. “It wasn’t a crushing blo...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/pamela-wible" rel="tag" > Pamela Wible, MD < /a > Tags: Physician Surgery Source Type: blogs

Practicing humanistic, patient-centered medicine requires doctors to stifle their humanity
This article originally appeared in STAT News. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - April 2, 2017 Category: Journals (General) Authors: < a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/jennifer-adaeze-anyaegbunam" rel="tag" > Jennifer Adaeze Anyaegbunam < /a > Tags: Education Medical school Source Type: blogs

I saw how my family, including me, really felt about my husband ’s cancer
In 2000, my husband Brian was diagnosed with Stage III B Hodgkin lymphoma, which has since become a prominent part of our lives. My children and I belong to Gilda’s Club, a cancer support community. And recently, we were asked to help record a promotional video to be featured at a fundraising gala for the local chapter and on the club’s website. I’m not a “spotlight” kind of girl, and I don’t feel drawn to video cameras or speeches, but I’ve been going to two Gilda’s Club programs—a caregiver support group, and a writing group — for nearly five years. Everyone is nurturin...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - January 24, 2017 Category: Journals (General) Authors: < a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/melanie-di-stante" rel="tag" > Melanie Di Stante, RDN < /a > Tags: Physician Source Type: blogs

Listen to your patient ’s story: It’s their diagnosis
Sir William Osler wasn’t exactly wrong when he said, “Listen to your patient, he is telling you the diagnosis.” But he didn’t mean it literally. His patients did not offer up esoteric and complete medical diagnoses on a silver platter. They left him clues in plain language that he listened to carefully in order to make the correct diagnosis. He penned his words in an era when medical information was scarce among non-medical people. There was no Dr. Google, Dr. Oz or Dr. House to educate the public about diseases or medical terminology a century ago. In a way, I think doctors today have to do more filtering of w...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - December 14, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: < a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/a-country-doctor" rel="tag" > A Country Doctor, MD < /a > Tags: Physician Primary care Source Type: blogs

The complexity of the white coat
I remembered staring at the computer screen with the radiologist hoping that by staring at the images, they would change in some way. It did not seem fair that a nice lady that I was evaluating in the emergency room would be consigned to such tragic images. I was rotating through the emergency room during my second year of residency, and one of the patients had come in just for a cough, and part of her evaluation consisted of a CT scan of her chest. As one of my assigned patients, I was responsible for evaluating things from her lab reports to her imaging, and then informing her of any important findings. While I was talki...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - December 3, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Authors: < a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/chiduzie-madubata" rel="tag" > Chiduzie Madubata, MD < /a > Tags: Physician Cancer Source Type: blogs

This is why a computer algorithm cannot ever fully replace a doctor’s judgment
The past year had been a tremendously exciting time to be an oncologist, and to be a lung cancer oncologist in particular. It seems we hardly have time to get used to one newly approved agent before another one becomes available. In 2015, we have seen gefitinib (don’t I know you from somewhere?), afatinib, nivolumab (twice), pembrolizumab, necitumumab, and osimertinib all become approved or have approvals broadened to new populations of patients with lung cancer, which has to be a record for one disease in one year. It is possible we aren’t even done yet, with several additional drugs under FDA priority review. While t...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - December 15, 2015 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Physician Cancer Medications Source Type: blogs

Credulity and skepticism exist in a dynamic balance
As we grow into adulthood, each of us develops a personal comfort zone located on the continuum between paranoia and gullibility.  A few of us are highly suspicious by nature, a few are unwitting dupes; most of us are in between.  Mental health professionals are no exception, and it shows in our work.  Is a request for tranquilizers or stimulants legitimate, or are we abetting a substance abuser? When told of horrific past abuse, do we believe every word, or do we allow for possible exaggeration or distortion?  Credulity and skepticism exist in dynamic balance: Too much of either impairs clinical work. Our ...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - November 3, 2015 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Physician Psychiatry Source Type: blogs

Moving to a retirement community: What goes into a physician’s decision
Part of a series. I put down my blogging pen last fall to focus on two things. One was completing a new book: Fixing the Primary Care Crisis: Reclaiming the Patient-Doctor Relationship and Returning Healthcare Decisions to You and Your Doctor. The second was preparing to move to a retirement community. We live in a pleasant neighborhood with nice neighbors who mostly all moved in here about the same time. It seems that the Grim Reaper has stationed himself nearby. There have been recent deaths from complications of diabetes, breast cancer, autoimmune disease and lung cancer with others dealing with lymphoma, Alzheimer’s...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - July 22, 2015 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Physician Primary care Source Type: blogs

The tale of Jack and Mildred: Communication in a cancer diagnosis
That first time there was a moist sweet smell, the hiss of oxygen and pictures of grandchildren on the wall. Unopened juice containers, papers, a Kindle, the phone and some plastic table wear, crowded the bedside stand. Jack was thin, tired, and the tightness of his eyes spoke of uncontrolled pain. “Oh, I know you. You took care of my wife’s friend. You’re the cancer doc.’ “Yes, that’s me, nice to meet you, Jack.” “No offense, but its not so nice to meet you.” Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - May 19, 2015 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Physician Cancer Source Type: blogs

Radiation risk or timely diagnosis: What would parents choose?
It is so nice to be right. To summarize what I wrote almost 4 years ago, based on my experience, patients and families will accept the theoretical risk of a future cancer if it means they’ll get an accurate diagnosis. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - July 8, 2014 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Conditions Radiology Source Type: blogs

The sense of abandonment from my society
“You look nice today. People don’t come to chemo in suits very often.” The friendly and familiar receptionist mentioned as I was checking out, the always full jar of lemon flavored hard candy on the shelf between us. As I pocketed a few of the candies, I managed to swallow the nausea and metallic taste just enough to say, “Thanks. I have a job interview today.” Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - December 23, 2013 Category: Family Physicians Tags: Policy Cancer Health reform Source Type: blogs

A watershed moment in my lifetime of treating cancer patients
I have had patients and their families do strange things during a consultation.   Patients taking notes and recording what the doctor says are pretty commonplace these days, as are answering a cell phone and arguing with a spouse over what really happened while giving a history. Some patients go to great lengths to disconnect from the process, filing their nails, or flipping through a magazine.   I’ve watched babies’ diapers being changed, snacks being eaten and business conducted by text messaging.  I have probably encouraged this informality—I have a consultation room furnished with a comfortable couch and cha...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - July 26, 2013 Category: Family Physicians Tags: Physician Cancer Source Type: blogs

The problem with a negative BRCA test
There is nothing so horrifying as when your doctor is too nice to you. During my first mammogram at Kaiser Permanente, I knew I had cancer before they even told me because of the hushed voices, the pats on my shoulder, and the way, suddenly, no one cared how much time was being spent on my visit. When that happens to you before the diagnosis is official, there is nothing more panic-inducing. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - June 19, 2013 Category: Family Physicians Tags: Conditions Cancer Source Type: blogs

When it comes to handling cases, good communication helps
I saw a thoracic surgeon in the doctor’s lounge today. I have read his cases and frozens for a year or so, but never introduced myself. I still get intimidated in that man’s world of the doctor’s lounge. It’s not just me, my female partner was urged by her male recruiter to eat with him every morning in the lounge when she started seven years ago, and chit chat with the men. She said although she realized he was trying to be nice, it was excruciating and she bowed out politely after a few weeks. Walking in there is like walking into an all male club room. The thoracic surgeon was sitting around the table with a...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - May 5, 2013 Category: Family Physicians Tags: Physician Cancer Source Type: blogs