As a community of physicians, I’m sure we have heard the phrase, “I just want to get well, doc,” from our patients. Have you ever wondered what does “get well” really mean to them? As a third-year internal medicine residen…
Category: KevinMD
5 steps to fix our EMR disaster
The EMR has become a focal point in the physician burnout discussion. Although I believe EMRs are a necessary evil, current iterations of them are just not good. Each click on a mouse is a prick on the many good souls that figuratively bleed until they…
When the train comes for you
I found you standing on a platform. It was a foggy, damp morning, and your vision was obscured. People came and went, some with urgency, others not so much. Some people you knew, others were strangers. Your husband was usually nearby, often holding you…
I’m sorry: Why I lost my love for medicine
I’m sorry you are sick. I’m sorry you had to wait a long time in the waiting room. I’m sorry you haven’t gotten your pain medications. I’m sorry I don’t have an answer. I’m sorry the department is busy. I’…
Moral injury in health care: What have we learned?
When we began exploring the concept of moral injury to explain the deep distress that U.S. health care professionals feel today, it was something of a thought experiment aimed at erasing the preconceived notions of what was driving the disillusionment …
Physicians are not commodities to be cut. Physicians are not waste.
Another emergency physician asked me what I think will happen if the “surprise bill reform” with a benchmark fix happens. I told her privately, but I am sharing, so everyone can understand why I am working so furiously on a seemingly boring and crass …
4 tips to become a “nice” doctor
When I was an intern, one of my attendings told me that I was “too nice.” He said it to mean that I needed to toughen up to “make it” as an emergency medicine (EM) physician, and that the alternative might be fatal. To give some context, this attending…
How online physician reviews can be fake news
Many people use reviews to help decide how to choose products and services. However, it is not widely known that an online physician review may not reflect what we think it does. I thought about sharing this information before — but now it is time. Rec…
A reflection of a physician’s firsts
Your first is always special. It is a mixture of youthful inexperience, awkwardness, anticipation, and giddiness that creates a cacophony of emotions and physical changes that is hard to describe unless you have experienced it yourself. Your repertoire…
Which retirement account is best for physicians?
Whether you are starting a new job, like me, or extending the contract at your current one, part of the process may involve signing up for retirement accounts. Most people have heard of a 401(k), but you may have other options available to you such as …
