I’m squished in an unnaturally upright seat. My elbows slowly develop pressure sores atop rigid armrests, with my wife on one side and a semi-uncomfortable stranger on the other. I stare at my lopsided gray tray table, sporting a Styrofoam cup of…
Category: KevinMD
Not all physicians are nice
I have been representing physicians for over 40 years, and the vast majority of the people I work with are genuinely nice. Overworked, stressed, sometimes distracted – yes, but most physicians entered the profession because they were sincerely concerne…
Rising nurse practitioner burnout: charting and work-life balance
Nurse practitioner (NP) burnout is at an all-time high. Many nurse practitioners (and health care providers in general) are struggling right now, feeling mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. Many are contemplating leaving health care altoge…
Exploring changing definitions of addiction [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! Join L. Joseph Parker, a research physician, as we delve into the evolving definitions of addiction, particularly in the context of chronic pain management. Explore the historical shifts in…
We all make mistakes. Don’t let them define you.
We are human and we all make mistakes. It’s an inherent part of our nature. It’s easy to get caught up in the belief that our mistakes define us or determine our worth; however, this couldn’t be further from the truth. As physicians, …
Can ketamine and SSRIs offer a complete depression treatment?
We have a problem with current recommendations for depression treatment. Thirty-five percent of patients will not go into remission or get any relief at all from SSRIs and SNRIs. And even when it does work, it takes about six weeks to start having an e…
The “little voice” physician burnout survey
If your conscious mind is asking, “Is this what burnout feels like?” your little voice already has the answer. One of the things physicians ask me on our coaching discovery call is whether or not I think they are burned out. They want a sec…
The critical link between America’s obesity epidemic and the liver
Obesity has undeniably become the top health issue of our time, with its prevalence and impact on our bodies making headlines across health care and popular media. This isn’t merely a matter of carrying extra pounds; it’s about the multitud…
Communication in health care: lessons from a standardized patient [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! Join Esther Covington, a professional standardized patient. Esther shares her firsthand experiences, shedding light on the critical role communication, empathy, and assumptions play in medi…
Overcoming health challenges: one patient’s story
The patient was a typical one in my primary care practice, and for those of you in my field, one familiar to you as well. Jim, as we will call him, was a middle-aged, obese male with a history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, whose most c…
