An excerpt from A Caregiver’s Love Story. Whether you are the dying or the caregiver, living life to the fullest remains your goal, but somedays it’s just too darn hard. When you are so busy that it doesn’t seem you have time to take …
Category: Conditions
The importance of “I statements” in health care settings
Three nurses are at the nurses’ station. Two are talking about managing a patient’s pain, and a third, Donna, is reviewing a patient’s lab results and finding it difficult to concentrate. Which is Donna’s best statement? 1) Shhh…
Physician mental health: a guide for BIPOC physicians
In the world of medicine, the challenges faced by BIPOC physicians are multifaceted. Not only do they contend with the rigor and demands of the profession, but they also navigate unique societal pressures and systemic inequalities. Prioritizing mental …
Physician mental health: a guide for BIPOC physicians
In the world of medicine, the challenges faced by BIPOC physicians are multifaceted. Not only do they contend with the rigor and demands of the profession, but they also navigate unique societal pressures and systemic inequalities. Prioritizing mental …
Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain
She walked in with a cane, bent over like a question mark. She was in her seventies and as sweet as people in that age group tend to be. I think most of the cranky ones don’t make it that far. She was something of an emergency because her doctor …
Physicians have a hidden addiction treatment superpower
When it comes to addiction treatment, doctors have a superpower. Even if you’re not board certified in addiction (most of us are not), you possess knowledge and skills uniquely suited to caring for patients with addiction. Many professions purpor…
Navigating chronic diseases and menopause: healthier habits for aging
An excerpt from The Menopause Menu. Whether it’s heart disease or cognitive decline, arthritis or diabetes, getting older is linked to an increased incidence of many different chronic diseases. The menopausal journey adds an extra layer of health…
A new approach shifts thought patterns to improve mood
Imagine this … You’re shown a number of words one after another: “lettuce, tomato, green, head, vegetable, cabbage, carrot, food, leaf, salad, hamburger.” Then, you’re shown a different set of words: “thread, needle, shot,…
Insurance struggles in pediatric headache care
Most of the time, I enjoy my job as a pediatric nurse practitioner working with chronic headache and pain patients. I enjoy the relationships with the families, figuring out what can help manage the headaches and life issues best to allow optimal funct…
The complexities of healing and faith
As a physician, there are moments during the day when you must deliver a disheartening diagnosis to your patient: pancreatic cancer, ALS, leukemia, and unfortunately, the list goes on. The patient must face the harsh realities that are now placed befor…
