Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. “Nineteen children were killed in a mass shooting in Texas. I have barely escaped the pandemonium of the pediatric emergency department to scarf down a bowl of pasta when I hear the announcement on the breakro…
Category: Public Health & Policy
How doctors should organize
Eric Topol wrote an excellent op-ed in the New Yorker titled “Why Doctors Should Organize.” I’m going to spell out exactly how they should organize. Doctors should form a nationwide class-action lawsuit against the major EHR companies…
How our sickest patients mirror the political divisions of our country
I was on service as the attending physician recently, and it struck me how closely our sickest patients in the intensive care setting mirror the political mires of our country. Usually, when I’m on service, it’s an all-consuming matter, wit…
The claims data dilemma: 4 things to consider
I recently met with leaders of provider organizations representing a range of specialties and geographies. One of the themes that came through loud and clear was their ongoing struggle to obtain claims data from their payers. As providers continue thei…
It’s time to invest in trauma-informed ACEs interventions
Last year, I witnessed the extreme consequences of untreated childhood trauma as a medical trainee rotating through multiple safety-net hospitals in Los Angeles County. I helped care for children who arrived in our emergency departments after multiple …
Health care’s band of brothers and sisters
Recently, I was sitting in the DFW airport after my son’s soccer tournament witnessing multiple flight cancellations. Travelers became upset because their plans were ruined due to “staff shortages.” I felt lucky as my flight was just …
Corruption in health care: when the mice mind the cheese
That the United States spends the most on health care is unsurprising. What’s questionable is paying so much for the worst health care system amongst high-income countries and being far behind many countries that could not be considered high-inco…
Historical lessons to improve health care today [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. “Medical advances can often stir up ethical issues, which ripple into two courts: the court of law and the court of public opinion. These news articles described a public relations nightmare brewing at the Nat…
Activism is a part of medicine and we cannot remain neutral
From a new attending and the former resident and fellow physician union president, congratulations on starting your residency! You’ve dedicated decades of your life to medicine, and your years of studying and extracurricular achievement have brou…
Abortion debates need to happen, but both sides need some ground rules
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 to uphold Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act and 5–4 to overrule Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The political temperature was already heightened because Politico released a leaked draft o…
