How depression made this doctor a better physician

--------------------------------------------------------------- Here are the stories you missed on KevinMD. Thank you for your continuing readership. --------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsors Communication is truly paramount in delivering great patient care. See how Vail Health [cut the average time]( to reach hospitalists by 50% using a unified communication platform. [See how](. As more [measles cases]( are diagnosed in 2019, physicians should consider implementing protocols to reduce liability risks and [promote patient safety](. [Convenience is a major factor]( for younger generations when choosing a health care provider. But how can providers give them what they want? [Learn 5 ways on how you can build a practice for younger patients](. [Receiving good HCAHPS scores]( is a financial priority, as they determine a percent of Medicare payments. As a voice of the patient, the scores are also an indicator of patient experiences. [Read this guide]( to learn the 5 ways technology helps improve your HCAHPS scores. [Residents save 40% on ClinicalKey]( Access a continuously updated library of knowledge with advanced search technology, because you want to confidently answer any question that you face. [Discover ClinicalKey](. --------------------------------------------------------------- KevinMD Plus: Jun 10, 2019 [How depression made this doctor a better physician]( Residing in all of us, whether or not we feel it, is an innate zest for life. As a family medicine resident, I live with enthusiasm daily, because I am happy seeing patients, no matter my rotation. From the acute care wards to the family medicine clinic, I enjoy and relish the opportunities to sit […] [It is time to consider the health of health care workers]( As health care workers, we spend most days in hospitals, clinics, ambulances, and the like — places that are concrete containers for pain and human suffering. And we are bound to be affected by what we see, even if it isn’t apparent. Most people do not witness acute and extreme suffering on a daily basis. […] [A love-hate relationship with nursing]( If you went to go to a museum in New York City and saw a live heart encased in glass, still pumping and pulsating — it would be my heart, shredded into a thousand pieces all in disarray. But it still would be pulsating. This describes my life as a nurse. Nursing was a vacuum […] [8 tips for having a baby while applying for residency]( Being a medical student is tough, applying for a competitive residency spot is tough, and being a new mother is also very tough. I am one of the lucky women to do all three at the same time. I had my child early August of my fourth year of medical school. The fourth year of […] [Burnout prevention should be taught in residency]( I was not at all prepared for my transition from being a resident to an attending. Now that there are work hour restrictions and constant oversight during training, graduating residents seldom get a preview of what it feels like to be at the top of the decision tree. I am an OB/GYN physician, so for […] --------------------------------------------------------------- [Conference planners!]( Find vetted, handpicked physician speakers that shine on stage. Physician Speaking by KevinMD: [Your audience deserves the best](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [When gender identity confuses the electronic health record]( One little thing. Somehow, with the changeover to the latest release of our electronic medical record, something happened to some of the demographic information on our patients. Suddenly, an enormous number of patients were now labeled as choosing not to disclose their gender. When I first noticed this, it was flagged in bright yellow on […] [Here’s the secret to emergency department efficiency]( A gray-haired emergency medicine physician once provided the most succinct view of ED efficiency ever uttered. He said, “Sometimes they ask us to dig a ditch. Then they give us spoons with which to do the job.” Though cynical, it is the view of many. There really is only one problem and a single solution […] [How anti-vaxxers are just like the rest of us]( Whenever I talk about my research on how parents come to decide to reject vaccines for their children, my explanations are met with a range of reactions, but I almost always hear the same questions. What is wrong with those parents? Are they anti-science? Are they anti-expert? Are they simply ignorant or selfish? Are they […] [How to save tens of thousands of dollars on your medical school loans]( If you’re planning on applying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and spending the first ten years of your career in academic medicine or working for 501c(3) employers, this scheme could mean paying off your loans six months sooner, saving you an average of $30,000. Consolidate your loans with your loan servicer and begin one […] [Would you trust Alexa with your patient data?]( Amazon has opened a new health care frontier: Now Alexa can be used to transmit patient data. Using this new feature — which Amazon labeled as a “skill” — a company named Livongo will allow diabetes patients — which it calls “members” — to use the device to “query their last blood sugar reading, blood sugar measurement […] [When physician pay packages become hospital kickbacks]( For a hospital that had once labored to break even, Wheeling Hospital displayed abnormally deep pockets when recruiting doctors. To lure Dr. Adam Tune, an anesthesiologist from nearby Pittsburgh who specialized in pain management, the Catholic hospital built a clinic for him to run on its campus in Wheeling, W.Va. It paid Tune as much […] [3 steps to reconnect to who you are behind the white coat]( A doctor’s life is a life of service to others. In today’s medical arena that service goes beyond patient care. As early as residency training, doctors have to learn how to navigate their workflow and the energy of nurses and other team members involved in the delivery of patient care. Doctors assume administrative roles and […] [The 9 types of manipulative patients]( One of the more common complaints that I hear from medical practitioners in jails and prisons (especially new practitioners) is, “These manipulative patients are driving me crazy!” Well, to be honest, I ran into a lot of manipulative patients when I worked in the ER, as well. But it is true that many of our […] [Bringing hospitality back to the hospital: lessons from a bartender]( It was a beautiful day in southern California as I made my way along Interstate 5 en route to San Diego from Los Angeles. Seeking a venue near the ocean to get some work done on my computer and maybe a snack with my iced tea, I turned off the interstate in search of a […] [PTSD changed how this physician cared for pregnant women]( Appointments with my doctor make me nervous. That’s highly ironic, because I’m a doctor, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist who regularly deals with high-risk pregnancies. But ever since developing preeclampsia during my first pregnancy eight years ago, the thought of having my blood pressure taken triggers flashbacks and anxiety. The silver lining is that my experience […] [In our health system, who “owns” patients?]( A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com. When talking with patients – particularly those with multiple, complicated medical issues – it often doesn’t take very long to hear about their increasingly suboptimal and sometimes harrowing interactions with our health care system. Examples include inpatient experiences in which care is provided […] [The journey from hand surgeon to entrepreneur]( An excerpt from We: Ditch the Me Mindset and Change the World. We use them to greet friends, congratulate acquaintances, and embrace loved ones. To lay bricks, perform surgeries, and sculpt artwork. Everyone uses them thousands of times a day in a variety of different ways. It took me years to recognize the essential role […] [MKSAP: 35-year-old woman with constipation]( Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians. A 35-year-old woman is evaluated for constipation. She reports passage of hard stool every 3 to 4 days and associated bloating. Her symptoms have been present for more than 10 years and have progressed gradually. Trials of over-the-counter fiber supplementation and […] [A father and grandfather: A patient’s life lived in full]( “You were a Secret Service agent, Mr. Smith?” “I was indeed. For Presidents Ford and Carter.” “That’s incredible. What were they like?” “Well, President Carter would get up at 2:00 am and ask us if we’d like to go on a walk. Since most of the staff worked nights, I walked with him. We would […] [How families maintain hope of improvement, regardless of logic and science]( I’ve always thought that I’ve understood illness and mortality very matter-of-factly. You live your life, you’ll most likely end up with some medical conditions along the way, and ultimately everyone’s life will come to an end because the body is not designed to function indefinitely. And do I cry at every funeral I attend? Absolutely. […] [When should you be tested for vitamin B12?]( Two recent patient experiences prompted this post. In the Wall Street Journal, Dana Hawkins-Simons described several years of being seen by specialist after specialist for her complaints of tiredness, dizziness, ringing in the ears, palpitations, shortness of breath and “brain fog.” She finally researched her symptoms and demanded that she be checked for vitamin B12 […] [Talk with family members about their wishes long before you think you’ll need to]( I’ve been a doctor for a bit under a year now. I am a family medicine intern, working in blocks at a city hospital, wearing a lot of different hats. Sometimes I’m on the labor and delivery floor, helping new lives begin; sometimes I’m on the family medicine service, caring for ill patients who may […] --------------------------------------------------------------- If a friend sent you this email and you want to subscribe, go to [KevinMD](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 345 Hudson Street New York NY 10014 USA [Unsubscribe]( | [Change Subscriber Options](