Fix the broken windows of the medical profession

--------------------------------------------------------------- Here are the stories you missed on KevinMD. Thank you for your continuing readership. --------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsors [The missing piece to your EHR]( 6 ways to bolster the benefits of your EHR by improving communications in your hospital. [Get the eBrief now](. Top diagnosis pitfalls for cardiologists? [Worrying too much about unusual or unexpected cases]( instead of diagnosis fundamentals -- and [being too focused on a cardiac diagnosis]( and missing non-cardiac issues. [Is your hospital communication system trapped in the dark ages?]( Just like a medieval page boy, pagers are annoying and inefficient. This leads to delayed patient care, frustrated providers, and potential HIPAA breaches. Learn why you need to ditch your [Page Boy]( today. [Video]( See how Peninsula Regional Medical Center reduces code call activation from minutes to seconds. [Watch now](. --------------------------------------------------------------- KevinMD Plus: Dec. 28, 2017 [Fix the broken windows of the medical profession]( I am honored to be a member of the medical profession. Being a physician is a great job and a highly rewarding thing to do. One of the aspects that I like most, unlike so many other desk or number jobs, is that you can never go home in this line of work thinking that […] [How religion helped this physician in the PICU]( I majored in history of religion in college and have always had an interest in the places various twists and turns of theology can lead people. One relatively recent wrinkle is what has been loosely termed “prosperity gospel” or “prosperity theology.” It’s built upon the basic notion good things happen to good people, and bad things happen […] [How the CPT system shortchanges primary care]( In a very unique study, researchers have tabulated how often family physicians provide patient care that is not covered with a CPT code. This is a little complex, for the non-physicians and even for many physicians to grasp, so I will provide a little more background first. CPT stands for Current Procedural Terminology, which is […] --------------------------------------------------------------- [An inspiring KevinMD keynote]( will make your event memorable. "Kevin's keynote presentation was perfect. Extremely rich in content, and a delivery that is world class." [Visit Kevin's speaking page]( to find out more. --------------------------------------------------------------- [What to do if you have high expense ratio mutual funds]( A common question from readers is what to do about an account that contains a bunch of high expense ratio mutual funds or individual stocks. The reason for having such an account varies from person to person. Maybe it was the only funds available to them in their 401(k) portfolios. Perhaps they collected a bunch […] [Here’s why direct-to-consumer drug ads need FDA oversight]( Many physicians in different fields have voiced criticisms against direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug ads. First, a 2013 survey found that 74 percent of physicians believe DTC drug ads overemphasize the benefits of the drugs and misinform patients. Steven Nissen, a Cleveland Clinic cardiologist, interviewed by Rebecca Ruiz on DTC prescription drug ads states, “It’s almost […] [During the holidays, we should take time to be a little kinder]( As I walked into the room, I see my patient lying in bed, eyes closed. His wife of 50-plus years sat in the recliner next to him grasping his right hand. The holiday season was upon us. My patient has spent the better part of the last month in the hospital. His wife was staring […] [Stop criminalizing prenatal substance abuse]( In today’s health and political discussions, opioid abuse dominates the conversation despite being only part of our country’s substance use epidemic. Prenatal substance use remains an uncontrolled public health problem with high costs to women, children, and society. Part of the problem is the difficulty in measuring the extent of the problem nationwide. Most prenatal […] [Can a bear market take away your financial independence?]( You did it! You worked, you saved, you conquered. Your investments add up to 25 times your expenses, or 30 times, or whatever your magic number is. You have achieved financial independence (FI), however you have chosen to define it. What’s that low rumbling sound I hear? Is that a bear coming out of hibernation? I won’t pretend […] [Why do people hate Obamacare?]( The Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. “Obamacare,” has roiled America since the day it was signed into law in 2010. From the start, the public was almost evenly divided between those who supported it and those who opposed it. They still are. The November monthly tracking poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 50 percent […] [Do hospitalists improve patient outcomes? The answer isn’t quite clear.]( A study published recently in JAMA Internal Medicine looked at 650,651 Medicare patients hospitalized in 2013. It showed that when patients were cared for by their own outpatient physician, they had a slightly better outcome than when the patients were attended to by full-time hospital-based specialists who had not previously known them. As an internal […] [Pass-fail in medical school. But the stress remains.]( Greetings from the library. I’m writing to you through caffeine jitters, wrapped in a scarf that doubles as a blanket. I’ve marked my territory with my things: several Apple products, remnants of oatmeal in a mason jar, a sketchbook exhibiting my best attempt drawing the inside of a skull, and the most-essential item: my planner, […] [For some happy doctors, medicine is a hobby]( “A hobby is an activity, interest, enthusiasm, or pastime that is undertaken for pleasure or relaxation, typically done during one’s own time.” – Wikipedia “A job is often defined as a regular activity pastime performed in exchange for payment.” – Wikipedia If you search “hobby” on Wikipedia, you’ll be presented with a lengthy list of […] --------------------------------------------------------------- You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the KevinMD e-newsletter. If a friend sent you this email and you want to subscribe, go to [KevinMD](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 173 Daniel Webster Highway Nashua, New Hampshire 03062 [Unsubscribe]( | [Change Subscriber Options](