There is something strangely captivating about the RVU (relative value unit) system in medicine. It’s as if it has become our own “precious”—a golden ring that offers power and financial viability, yet comes at a great cost. Just like the O…
Category: KevinMD
The emotional toll doctors face: a book review
For over twenty years, I’ve had a recurring nightmare: I’m back in medical training, and my patient is crashing. To save them, I must enter my medical orders into the electronic health record (EHR). The only problem is, there are no open co…
Mother, doctor, CEO: one woman’s journey to reshape health care [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! We dive into the powerful story of a physician-mother whose world changed with the onset of COVID-19. Our guest, Arian Nachat, a palliative and emergency medicine physicia…
How doctors can minimize harm: the essential duties of patient care
Primum non nocere, “first, do no harm,” is the prime directive of medical ethics for all physicians. It is also the first thing that comes into question when maleficence by a doctor is suspected. The standard of care is how any prudent and …
PTSD: Why trauma’s impact is more complex than you think
According to the National Institutes of Health, the majority of individuals experience several traumatic events in their lifetimes, but do they all develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? If you question the general populace or the media, they w…
The influence of intergenerational trauma in families of Chinese descent on perceptions of microaggressions
“Do any of you have children?” the patient’s mother asked each of my team members during rounds. I (STG), as the attending, quickly jumped in and mumbled, “Yes, I have (as a foster parent),” and redirected the conversation…
Patients vs. profits: Examining the real cost of the health care industry boom [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! We discuss the growing challenges within the U.S. health care system, from long wait times and fragmented care to the corporatization of medical services. Our guest, patie…
The urgent need for equity and accessibility in pediatric mental health care
Recently, I encountered a stark reminder of the challenges facing our mental health care system. A 16-year-old Black boy came to us at Boston Community Pediatrics (BCP) in a state of crisis, expressing suicidal thoughts and a deep sense of fear. As par…
Why rethinking cancer risk is critical to addressing rising cancer rates in young adults
I recently encountered a new patient, a seemingly healthy 25-year-old man who had just graduated from college and was working his first job. He was not a tobacco user and had no medical diagnoses, but shoulder and abdominal pain brought him to Mass Gen…
The dangerous impact of cognitive distortions on grieving
In the weeks after her mother died, Stacy’s mind was filled with thoughts about things she believed she’d done wrong and ways she’d let her mother down. “I shouldn’t have gotten so impatient with her”; “I shoul…
