Healthcare and the Presidential Election
Several debates down and I am still waiting to see where the Presidential candidates stand on healthcare. For me, this would be a deciding factor in my vote and support. Many American patients and...
View ArticleWant to Live Longer? Get Off the Couch!
Attending the “Active Lives” conference sponsored by Harvard Medical School and The Institute of Lifestyle Medicine, the fact that more than 5 million lives could be saved by ending sedentary lives...
View ArticleMaking it Real this Holiday Season
It’s that time of the year again! Time to celebrate. Time when we eat too much, spend too much and expect too much. We share gifts with those we love. Some of us do our yearly good deeds. But, if we...
View ArticleWhere are the Women Leaders in Medicine?
The Washington Post published an article today about the relative dearth of men who sport mustaches as leaders in the medical field. It then goes on to say that, although the number small, it is still...
View ArticleWarming the Cold Streets
A crisp chill filled the air as I hurriedly walked down the street headed to warmth. In a city away from my home, I decided to grab breakfast on the way back to the hotel. As I drew near to my...
View ArticleWelcome to the New year: Welcome to the New Deductible
The new year is here and brings with it the new deductible. Over the last few weeks of December, I saw a rush of patients needing medical services and wanted to do it before their new deductible rolled...
View ArticleTaking Back Medicine: The Time Has Arrived
I walked into the exam room with great trepidation because I knew the patient was angry. He made many calls to my staff over the preceding few days expressing his ire. And, they in turn gave me a...
View ArticleWho Holds the Reins in Healthcare?
When a patient sees the doctor for whatever reason, there is an expectation about who is in charge of any healthcare decisions. Few would argue that patients and doctors should jointly make any...
View ArticlePatients are People
Patients are people. They are not diagnoses, data, clinical outcomes, metrics, or numbers. All too often those working in the healthcare industry forget that fact. The insurance industry pushes us to...
View ArticleJust Cure Cancer
For decades, researchers toiled away to find cures for cancers. And doctors on the front-lines of cancer treatment succeeded in eliminating cancer from many patients. However, there is still a long...
View ArticleLet it Snow!
Over the weekend, we were slammed with winter storm Jonas and had more than 20 inches of snow dumped on us. Most people just hunkered down in their homes waiting for the wrath of Jonas to pass. Looking...
View ArticleWhy We Should Worry About Zika Virus
News stories about the spread of Zika virus appear more and more each day. Those infected live in South America and Africa for the most part. Despite learning more about this new global virus that has...
View ArticleLost in the Healthcare System
Patients are increasingly getting lost in the healthcare system. Stories abound concerning patients who struggled to get a correct diagnosis and/or fought for the treatment they needed. While the...
View ArticleFor World Cancer Day: February 4, 2016
I looked at the pathology report and thought: Oh God! The result was not expected yet was there. I searched for any words that may have been flawed, But the report filled my heart with despair. He...
View ArticleHow Inappropriate Use of Antibiotics is Harmful
Sitting here with a terrible respiratory viral infection, I wish for a magic pill to make it go away. But, I know there is no cure for viral infections and I must wait it out. I treat many patients...
View ArticleMental Health Stigmas
Mental health is equally as important as physical health. We are not just physical beings. Disorders in mental health are very common in our society. Yet, many people try to hide. It amazes me the...
View ArticleDoctors As Chess Pieces
Healthcare represents one of the biggest expenditures in the US economy. As such, it seems everyone wants to grab a piece of the profits. Some would think that doctors would be big winners in this...
View ArticleTo Screen or Not to Screen
Recent months brought controversy regarding guidelines of several preventative healthcare screening tests, such as pap smears and mammograms. The trend is to suggest that screening is not as important...
View ArticleSaving Lives by Empowering Patients
Stepping into the healthcare system these days can be a dangerous journey. Medical errors fill the news all the time. And worse yet, patients are often denied the care they need. Many doctors, they...
View ArticleUn-hijacking Your Healthcare
Being a patient is hard these days. Navigating the corridors of the system can be mind-boggling. And when the end of the maze is reached, often the conclusion is not what the patient wishes to find....
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