Category: KevinMD

Convincing patients to stop cancer screening isn’t always easy

During my training to become a primary care physician, the importance of preventive cancer screening was ingrained in me. The idea of catching cancer at an early stage so we can better treat it made intuitive sense. But as I’ve learned over the years, …

What is low-value care, and why does it matter?

Doctors and policy wonks hear a lot these days about “low-value care.” What exactly is that, and should you care? The term refers to tests, medications, and procedures that add little to a patient’s health or well-being but which cost them or the syste…

Work getting you down? What you watch on TV might be making it worse.

As a trauma surgeon, it’s my job to diagnose and fix the violent destruction of the human body. One of the questions I get asked very frequently is, “How do you deal with that?” My standard answer is, “After a while, you get used to it.” And while I re…

Asking patients the right questions isn’t as easy as you think

I made my 10:20 a.m. patient wait while I told my support staff about my day off. “I was getting an ice cream when I saw a car accident. By the time I got there, it was clear that there were no serious injuries and all I did was to distract the p…

To raise future scientists, address our innate curiosity  

Michelangelo once said, “The sculpture is already complete within the marble block before I start my work.” The same insight applies to the scientific potential that resides inside young people. Curiosity is imbued within every human being since our bi…

4 reasons why this radiologist loves practicing teleradiology

Some radiologists perceive teleradiology as the “dark side” of our profession. I may have counted myself among those skeptics, but I now see the light and am happy to share a place among the converts. Most of my career has been in traditional private p…

Breastfeeding is best, but why do some countries struggle?

Breastfeeding provides ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with important implications for the health of mothers. Breastfeeding has numerous health benefits for both the …

Why millennials in medicine want a different dress code

The millennial generation is known for its desire and ability to change the status quo. As this group continues to enter and dominate the workforce, particularly as our current residents and medical students, employers are adjusting their long-held pra…

How coding is like Scrabble

One of the great nuisances in medicine is diagnosis coding. According to Medicare and insurance companies across the U.S., each and every disease must have a unique number. Everything must be quantified and recorded. Why? To facilitate analysis, number…

10 reasons why doctors get sued

The one thing doctors want to avoid like the plague is a lawsuit — a medical malpractice lawsuit. To be sued means the doctor loses precious time from work, endures emotional personal and family distress and is unable to fully invest oneself in providi…