A sober emergency physician returns to work, just in time to face the COVID-19 pandemic

Here are the stories you missed on KevinMD. Thank you for your continuing readership. --------------------------------------------------------------- Here are the stories you missed on [KevinMD](. Thank you for your continuing readership. --------------------------------------------------------------- Sponsors [New infographic]( Keeping clinicians and hospital staff safe during emergency situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, is not an easy issue to address. Here are 4 situations of clinician distress and how improved communications can make an impact. [See how](. [During COVID-19]( those who innovate and lead will succeed while those unable to do so will be [left behind](. What will it take to keep pace with changing patient expectations and fix reimbursement hurdles? [Download Updox’s data report]( to learn how telehealth and virtual care will continue to evolve to meet [health care’s needs](. [Tax planning for physicians updated with recent COVID-19 changes](. Learn how to save taxes and keep more of what you make by registering for this month’s webinars: Locum Tenens Tax Planning Strategies, Renting your Home to Your Business, and [Making the Most of Meals and Entertainment](. --------------------------------------------------------------- KevinMD Plus: Sep 3, 2020 [A sober emergency physician returns to work, just in time to face the COVID-19 pandemic]( An excerpt from Ballad of a Sober Man: An ER Doctor’s Journey of Recovery. As if I needed more reminders of my imperfections, I had Maggie and the Kidney Stone Lady, forever. Little Maggie, the cute five-year-old from early in my career who came in with her croupy cough and low-grade fever. She responded so […] [A letter to my first patient]( It was only my first week in the hospital as a third-year medical student when we met. I entered your room early Tuesday morning. Only knowing your chief concern, I knocked on your door and entered the room. You didn’t complain when I awakened you. You didn’t complain when I asked many questions about a […] [What we can learn from England about universal health care]( It’s winter in Oxford, and I’m biking to the John Radcliffe Hospital, the flagship medical center of England’s National Health Service. It’s raining, and the chain on my bike keeps slipping off the gear. “Figures — I shouldn’t have bought a bike from an antique shop.” Back in December, my school had offered to send […] [7 tips to balance family and professional needs during the pandemic]( The reality of being a medical practice owner is that we are small business owners and very vulnerable to the impact of COVID. Having previously worked in the telemedicine industry and because I am a psychiatrist, I initially felt that I was in a good position to adapt to this crisis – and this has been […] [Can what you eat worsen your ADHD?]( An excerpt from This Is Your Brain on Food: An Indispensable Guide to the Surprising Foods that Fight Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, and More. Suzy was a bright and hardworking student. However, even though she was conscientious and generally cheery, her grades began to fall during her senior year, and she started to feel […] [An ode to hospital cafeterias]( I have been nourished by cafeteria food since elementary school. I remember the public school pizza squares with its melted artificial cheese, the fruit cocktail drenched in sickeningly sweet syrup, and 2 percent chocolate milk pints—costing $1.65 per meal. In college, I enjoyed access to a wider selection, including $6.50 custom omelets and midnight mozzarella […] [Estate planning and personal finance tips for physicians [PODCAST]]( “With COVID-19 raging through the nation, and limited supply of PPE at hospitals, doctors and other critical care personnel are at high risk due to their increased and daily exposure to the virus. For health care workers, the need to plan for a possible worst-case outcome for themselves and their families has become an immediate […] [Real estate syndications: Are they a right fit for me?]( Have you been thinking about investing in real estate? There are many benefits to owning real estate, but as physicians, most of us are already busy with our full-time clinical careers. It can be difficult to find the extra time necessary to learn how to purchase and manage a real estate property. You may or […] [Where is the line between faith and medicine?]( The long debate about rationality and conformity in both medicine and religion has been intense on many levels. Some people claim science requires certainty, validity, and reliability; others believe faith and optimism are essential for scientific advancement. Some reasons for this argument might include the enormous prosecution of scientists during the Roman inquisition. However, the […] [How COVID-19 worsens digital eye strain]( While retailers have been struggling with business after lockdown, optometrists have noticed something rather unexpected. COVID-19, it seems, has caused the number of people getting eye tests to skyrocket. Pre-COVID, most people came simply because they were due. Now, the majority of people have problems, and many are seeing an optometrist for the first time. […] [A physician on the importance of taking pause]( “I’m one of the doctors taking care of your dad.” As a resident, I made this call countless times. Even more than breaking bad news to patients, I feared surprising their families at night by telephone. Nearly always, though, people were calm and certain despite the circumstances, and their response was always the same: “Do […] [Making a career change for better work-life balance [PODCAST]]( “Is it possible to have it all? Can you have a job that you love, helping people and using your brain and hands all at the same time; plus, a family, with a spouse and children, that you are always there for? Is it possible to have a balance between your work and your family […] [A post-COVID medical world]( As we navigate everyday life in the midst of battling COVID-19, our thoughts naturally migrate to what medicine might look like post viral pandemic. As the new norms of social distancing, virtual meetings, and little to no human contact continue, we cannot help but wonder will these new social norms become permanent behavior patterns? And […] [Why the pandemic is the perfect opportunity to introduce meditation to children]( As the globe continues to surf the wave of this unpredictable global pandemic in a time of technological advancement, one question seems to come up often during pediatric outpatient visits: Will the kids be OK? One thing is for certain: all this uncertainty and stress will surely impact the next generation. Experts across the globe […] [It’s time to return civility to medical discourse]( I was scrolling through Facebook when it popped up. “Live! America’s Frontline Doctors address COVID-19.” A group of physicians in white coats stood before the Supreme Court, speaking into a microphone. As I stopped to watch, I was surprised to see several familiar faces—physicians I had interacted with on various social media physician groups. I […] [Hassle-free real estate investing for busy doctors]( A few short years ago, I started to worry about my family’s financial future while vacationing. During our annual ski trip, I took a nasty fall, landing on my wrist. The pain in my arm made me take notice of just how fragile our financial situation was. As a self-employed periodontist, I asked myself: What […] [Virtual care needs to be designed for equitable usage and accessibility [PODCAST]]( “Although technology and disruptive innovation theoretically diminish systemic barriers and geographic isolation, in practice, they frequently widen chasms in access for vulnerable populations. The reality is telemedicine disproportionately caters to younger, wealthier, and more educated patients. Hospital systems need to ensure every patient has access to remote health care services, whether through offering landline phone […] [Make the time to pause during the busyness of the day to reflect upon all we have]( “The only end to pain is the graveyard.” Those words are etched forever in my mind. They underscore the hopelessness of so many throughout the world. She was 90 years old, crippled by arthritis, no family, and lived alone in a dirt floor hovel with no electricity or running water. She lived in a tiny […] --------------------------------------------------------------- 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](