Category: KevinMD

3 common complaints patients have

I enjoy talking to random people about their experiences with health care. As somebody who regularly travels all over the country, for both work and pleasure (I far prefer the latter), whenever I meet people in situations where you end up talking &#821…

6 ways to smooth the journey to value-based care

I have had the fortune — both good and bad — of being at the forefront of reforming physician reimbursement as an advocate for physicians. I’ve worked on models spanning private practice, group employment, faculty practice plans, and independent physic…

There’s a good reason why we don’t see patients’ joy in the office

I like to think of myself as a relatively optimistic person.  If you have ever met me in person, you might think that I have a pretty sunny disposition on life.  And for the most part, I do.  Since I write every day, however, there are times when my po…

Give millennials what they need in health care

Another study reiterates what we already know: In droves, millennials are venturing away from the traditional model of securing a primary care provider and opting not to access health care “as usual.” Still, too many physicians do little more than shak…

This isn’t just my lane, it’s my highway

On Wednesday, I did a gunshot-wound autopsy. On Friday, I was going into the morgue to perform another when I checked Twitter and saw this. Doctors across the U.S. and across medical specialties were already responding and sharing photos: their face sh…

Why your practice needs a makeover

The spaces where we live and work can exert both strong and subtle influences on the way our brains function. They can make us anxious, distracted, inefficient or tired, affecting not only our cognitive ability but also our emotional state, mental stab…

The challenge of no to arthroscopic surgery

Nearly half of Canadians aged 65 and over experience osteoarthritis in their knees. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of bones wears down over time leading to pain, stiffness and de…

The power of the tincture of time

A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. I distinctly recall during residency a much older and well-respected clinical teacher periodically opining that what was needed in a particular patient case was “a dose of …

Should doctors stay in their lane? A physician says yes.

The National Rifle Association ruffled a lot of feathers recently when it published a tweet that said that doctors should “stay in their lane” on the subject of gun control. As a practicing physician, you might be surprised to hear that I side with the…

Sickle cell is my neighbor

I was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at three months old in Haiti. The diagnosis from the doctor was followed by more tragic news; my parents were told that I was not going to live past five months. From that point on, my parents searched high and …