Category: Hospital-Based Medicine

What do you picture when you think of health care?

What do you picture when you think of health care? How different is that from your vision of health? Is it possible to connect these two mental images? Can they be merged directly or at by way of a bridge? When I envision health, I see images of vitali…

Anesthesia touches nearly every area of medicine [PODCAST]

“I suppose those of us between zero and ninety-three are blessed in our own way as well. We are here, swirling in a jumble of the inconsequential and consequential. We’ve enjoyed some of the world’s beauty and reserve the potential to experience …

A CEO with the keys to the kingdom. And the pharmacy.

1986. I graduated from LPN to RN. And I was immediately offered a new job. Manager of a six-bed ER. This hospital had three surgical suites — 50 inpatient beds and 2 L&D suites. This was a private Catholic hospital run by the nuns. The computer sys…

After 4,380 days, a pair of Danskos — and a calling — fall apart

My Danskos literally disintegrated last month. I was in the hospital team room, finishing up my patient notes at the end of a busy hospitalist shift. I happened to look down at the floor, and there they were: black chunks on the carpet. I thought, “Who…

COVID-19 is causing small but growing fractures in our hospitals 

It’s an odd time to be a new physician. One of the best parts about working at a hospital is the sense of friendship and professional camaraderie that you build with other doctors, nurses, therapists, medical assistants, secretaries, etc. However, in t…

Residency applications during COVID-19: a rain cloud with a silver lining for some

Like everything in life, applying for residency this year is going to be radically different. There won’t be any long cross-country plane flights, no driving across state lines, no crashing at friend’s places to save money on hotel nights. …

Facebook has become a dangerous platform for misinformation. Or has it?

I read with fascination the opinion piece published New York Times:’” But I Saw It on Facebook’: Hoaxes are Making Doctors’ Jobs Harder” because it’s a topic that’s been on my mind lately.  Particularly after I engag…

Making a career change for better work-life balance [PODCAST]

“Is it possible to have it all?  Can you have a job that you love, helping people and using your brain and hands all at the same time; plus, a family, with a spouse and children, that you are always there for?  Is it possible to have a balance be…

COVID fallout: A cancer pandemic predicted in the coming years

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of cancer screenings performed in the U.S. has plummeted. After decades of progress in detecting, treating, and preventing many types of cancers, this nation could face a “cancer pandemic” in the next ten years …

The final insult after my husband died alone

This new virus is changing everyday life-hospitals are doing their best to protect their staff and patients.  One thing I’ve learned is that they need to do a better job of communicating with families. My husband was 70 years old when he died of …