Over-Reliance On Tests: Why Physicians Must Learn To Trust Themselves And Their Patients
I met my newly admitted patient in the quiet of his private room. He was frail, elderly, and coughing up gobs of green phlegm. His nasal cannula had stepped its way across his cheek during his paroxsysms and was pointed at his right eye. Although the room was uncomfortably warm, he was shivering and asking for more blankets. I could hear his chest rattling across the room.
The young hospitalist dutifully ordered a chest X-Ray (which showed nothing of particular interest) and reported to me that the patient was fine as he was afebrile and his radiology studies were unremarkable. He would stop by and check in on him in the m...
Source: Better Health - July 27, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Health Tips True Stories Blood Tests Correct Diagnosis False Negatives False Positives Lab Tests Physical Exam Radiology Trust Source Type: blogs
Newly Minted Doctors Begin Their First Jobs In July: Should You Be Afraid?
Photo By Danny Kim
The short answer, in my opinion, is yes.
The long answer is slightly more nuanced. As it turns out, studies suggest that one’s relative risk of death is increased in teaching hospitals by about 4-12% in July. That likely represents a small, but significant uptick in avoidable errors. It has been very difficult to quantify and document error rates related to inexperience. Intuitively we all know that professionals get better at what they do with time and practice… but how bad are doctors when they start out? Probably not equally so… and just as time is the best teacher, it is also the ...
Source: Better Health - July 4, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Research True Stories Communications Culture Of Carefulness Don't Get Sick In July Handoffs Interns Medical Errors Mistakes Sign out The July Effect Source Type: blogs
Cartoon: Exposure Therapy For Dogs With Anxiety Disorders
(Source: Better Health)
Source: Better Health - July 2, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Humor Anxiety Disorders behavioral therapy cartoon Dogs exposure therapy Flooding Phobias Psychiatry Psychology Source Type: blogs
Why In-Person Visits Will Always Be The Foundation Of Quality Healthcare
In a recent Forbes editorial, conservative commentator John Goodman argues that the Texas Medical Board is sending the state back to “the middle ages” because they are trying to limit the practice of medicine in the absence of a face-to-face, doctor-patient relationship. He believes that telemedicine should have an unfettered role in healthcare – diagnosis and treatment should be available to anyone who wishes to share their medical record with a physician via phone. This improves access, saves money, and is the way of the future, he argues.
He is right that it costs less to call a stranger and receive a ...
Source: Better Health - May 26, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Health Policy Opinion Forbes Middle Ages Personalized Medicine quality healthcare Technology Teladoc Telemedicine Texas Medical Association Texas Medical Board Source Type: blogs
Cartoon: Why Are Hospitals So Noisy?
(Source: Better Health)
Source: Better Health - May 22, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Friday Funny Humor cartoon Hospital ICU Intensive Care Noise sleep deprivation Technology Source Type: blogs
Why Physicians Must Not Skimp On The Physical Exam
Like most physicians, I feel extremely rushed during the course of my work day. And every day I am tempted to cut corners to get my documentation done. The “if you didn’t document it, it didn’t happen” mantra has been beaten into us, and we have become enslaved to the quantitative. It’s tempting to rush through physical exams, assuming that if there’s anything “really bad” going on with the patient, some lab test or imaging study will eventually uncover it. Just swoop in, listen to the anterior chest wall, ask if there’s any new pain, and dash off to the next hospital b...
Source: Better Health - May 20, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Health Tips True Stories Diagnosis Don't Skimp Patient Satisfaction Physical Exam quality healthcare Respect Winning Confidence Source Type: blogs
Cartoon: That Moment When You Realize Your Child Took Your Emergency Training Very Literally
(Source: Better Health)
Source: Better Health - May 8, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Friday Funny 911 Calling 911 cartoon Children Emergency Training EMS Pediatrics Source Type: blogs
IDEA Labs: Medical Students Take The Lead In Healthcare Innovation
People's Choice Winning Idea: NephroZip
It’s no secret that doctors are disappointed with the way that the U.S. healthcare system is evolving. Most feel helpless about improving their work conditions or solving technical problems in patient care. Fortunately, one young medical student was undeterred by the mountain of disappointment carried by his senior clinician mentors and had the courage to tackle the problem head-on. Three years ago, Avik Som organized “Problem Day” at his medical school (Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO) and invited his professors to an unrestricted “open mic” v...
Source: Better Health - May 5, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Expert Interviews Research American Resident Project Collaboration DemoDay Engineers Healthcare Innovation IdeaLabs Medical Students Washington University School of Medicine Source Type: blogs
Cartoon: The Alternative To Botox…
(Source: Better Health)
Source: Better Health - April 24, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Friday Funny Aging Botox cartoon Geriatrics Sharpeis Wrinkles Source Type: blogs
Why Do Patients Lie To Doctors?
Popular TV doctor, Gregory House’s favorite adage about patients is: “everybody lies.” I used to believe that this was a cynical and inaccurate statement, but I had to revisit it recently when faced with a patient whose signs and symptoms were consistent with a diagnosis that she vehemently denied.
A young woman was admitted to my rehab unit with brain damage of unclear cause. She adamantly denied drug or alcohol use, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she was suffering from a genetic or autoimmune disorder that the academic neurology team had somehow overlooked. I had recently read the New York Time...
Source: Better Health - March 30, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Opinion True Stories Abandoment All patients lie Compassion Drug Abuse Gregory House Guilt Judgmental Lying To Doctors Why Do Patients Lie Source Type: blogs
Cartoon: A Typical Friday Night In The Emergency Department
(Source: Better Health)
Source: Better Health - March 27, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Friday Funny Humor Abusing the ED Emergency Medicine Failure To Thrive Misuse of ER Nursing Home Transfers Source Type: blogs
Physicians, You CAN Have It All: How To Run A Business And Also Practice Medicine
It’s no secret that physicians are experiencing burnout at an exponentially increasing rate in our progressively bureaucratic healthcare system. Many are looking for “alternative careers” as their salvation. I receive emails from physicians all the time, asking for advice about getting out of clinical medicine, since I have spent a few years outside it myself. As my own career pendulum has swung from full time clinical work to full time editorial and/or consulting work, I’ve found that the best mix is somewhere in between.
If you’re like me, you’re happiest using both halves of your brai...
Source: Better Health - March 24, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Opinion Alternative Career Path bureaucracy Burnout Drop Out Club Hospital Medicine Living La Vida Locum Locum Tenens Physician Drop Out Traveling Physician Work-Life Balance Source Type: blogs
Cartoon: Health Privacy Concerns – Real or Imagined?
(Source: Better Health)
Source: Better Health - March 20, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Friday Funny cartoon Computer EMR Hacking Health Privacy Source Type: blogs
Physicians: It Doesn’t Matter Where You Work, It’s All About The Team You’re With
Moose, A Therapy Pet In Idaho
As a traveling physician, I’m often asked if I have a favorite place to work. Since I have licenses in 14 states, I have an usual vantage point from which to compare hospitals. I know that people who ask this question presume that my answer will be heavily influenced by the town where the job is located, and all the associated extra-curriculars, environmental peculiarities (ocean, mountains, desert), and potential amenities. The truth is that very little of that is important. Over the years I’ve found that it doesn’t matter so much where you are, as whom you’re with.
As...
Source: Better Health - March 17, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Health Tips Opinion Career Satisfaction Hospitals How To Choose A Hospital Job satisfaction Newman Physicians Seinfeld Therapy Pets Source Type: blogs
Cartoon: America’s Problem With Pain Meds
(Source: Better Health)
Source: Better Health - March 13, 2015 Category: American Health Authors: Dr. Val Jones Tags: Friday Funny Humor addiction Allergic Reaction cartoon Overuse Oxycontin Pain Medication Pharmacists Source Type: blogs
