Category: KevinMD

The blood of patients is not a rhetorical device

Recently, social media and news organizations have been awash in the physician-led backlash to the NRA’s now infamous “stay in your lane” tweet, and consequently, awash in images of the literal blood of seriously wounded or now deceased patients. Gun c…

Why mentors are so important in medicine

This article is sponsored by Careers by KevinMD.com. After spending a decade in college and medical school, followed by internships and residency, seeking additional guidance at the beginning of your career may seem excessive. You’ve already taken dire…

MKSAP: 53-year-old woman with hypertension and chronic active hepatitis B infection

Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians. A 53-year-old woman is evaluated during a routine follow-up visit. Medical history is significant for hypertension and chronic active hepatit…

During this holiday season, be aware that some people are really suffering

It’s that time of year again when retail outlets start counting down the days to Christmas and deck their stores with holiday cheer. For many people, this time of year feels magical. Yet for others, it is a consumer competition to buy the absolute best…

Before undergoing a test, ask whether it will make a difference in your care

Recently, a physician asked my opinion if a patient needed a colonoscopy. My partner was already on the case and I was covering over the weekend. The facts suggested that a colonoscopy was warranted. The patient had a low blood count and had received b…

Hospitals are no longer an important part of the social safety net. That’s a problem.

“Admission diagnosis: causa socialis” In my training in Sweden, it was not unusual to admit patients to the hospital for social reasons: an elderly person who could no longer manage at home, a person whose social network fell apart, and so on. “Social …

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…