Category: Hospital-Based Medicine

Surviving my nephrectomy nightmare: the night I’ll never forget

My first post-op night after my nephrectomy was a mix of fantastical and almost devastating. I woke up in the PACU after my surgery, extremely confused and disoriented. I felt like I was trapped inside a video game, desperately trying to escape. Upon e…

Clinicians and management at odds in health care

In a survey conducted by a University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing team led by Linda Aiken, PhD, RN, of 21,050 physicians and nurses at 60 hospitals, it was found that more than 40 percent of clinicians were not confident that hospital management …

How religious freedoms impact patient care

An excerpt from The Catholic Church and Its Hospitals: A Marriage Made in Heaven? The ability of Catholic hospitals and physicians to withhold some medically accepted care from patients based on their own religious and moral beliefs is made possible by…

From 8-hour to 12-hour shifts: Exploring health care’s changing landscape [PODCAST]

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! Join Bruce L. Davidson, a pulmonary and critical care physician. We delve into the transformation of health care work conditions, from 8-hour shifts to 12-hour shifts, and how this impacts …

The challenge of seeking joy: Navigating the current health care maze

Before delving into the heart of joy’s pursuit, it’s essential to grasp the complexities faced by medical professionals in today’s health care environment. The modern health care system, with all its advancements, presents unique chal…

Tackling health care conflicts and stereotyping

Concerns about conflicts of interest and stereotyping differ in their complexity. Resolving stereotyping-related concerns is relatively straightforward. Stereotyping should be dismantled immediately, regardless of the reasons for its creation, before i…

Unlocking the potential of allied health roles for a thriving health care system

In the complex world of health care, doctors and nurses often take center stage. But behind them is a much larger team supporting the delivery of exceptional care. Allied health professionals – like radiology and surgery technicians – play an essential…

Hospital secrets that patients don’t know

“America’s health care system is neither healthy, caring, nor a system.” – Walter Cronkite. Hospitals, revered as places of healing and recovery, hold secrets and harbor mistakes that can take a heavy toll on patients. These hid…

How to stay safe as a traveling physician

There was nothing unusual about my hotel in Anchorage, Alaska, when I checked in, but when I headed down to check out the laundry facilities and saw police swarming the lobby and parking lot, I knew it was time to move. Thankfully, experiences like tha…

Surgical procedures for inpatients: Addressing socioeconomic urgencies

Inpatients require surgical procedures, raising the question of whether these procedures should be scheduled as elective or emergent. Traditionally, surgeries were deemed emergencies solely when there were physical, psychological, or rarely, spiritual …