Why can I trust the COVID vaccine?

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 Is your organization considering an investment in a [clinical communication solution]( The right technology can help close communication gaps and enable faster, unified communication. Read this infographic to determine which communication solution would be the [best fit for your organization](. Health care entities are [frequent targets of ransomware threats]( and should take proactive steps to [prepare for these attacks](. [No-shows and avoidance in care]( have impacts to patient outcomes and practice operations. The pandemic is causing these issues to become worse. [Download this guide]( to proactively engage patients in their health care. Get a free copy of [Money Insights for Physicians]( which teaches doctors the proven path to move from high income to high net worth! [Take the F3 Assessment]( and find out where you’re at along the path to financial freedom. --------------------------------------------------------------- KevinMD Plus: Dec 17, 2020 [Why can I trust the COVID vaccine?]( Many friends have asked for my perspective on the COVID vaccine. Answering this requires both an explanation of clinical trials and an understanding of what normally slows down pharmaceutical development. Importantly, COVID vaccines are required to go through the same process as every other pharmaceutical. These include the following: Preclinical trials. In this stage, researchers […] [This physician is retiring. Here’s his most valuable lesson.]( In a few weeks, I will be retiring. After 31 years and more than 100,000 patient visits, I will be hanging up my stethoscope. Over the years, there have been tremendous highs but also horrible lows. The latter includes having been victimized by a frivolous lawsuit where my patient suffered injuries attributed to a medicine […] [Turn 2020 into an opportunity by changing your mindset [PODCAST]]( “A few months ago, I signed up for a virtual conference for women in medicine. It’s a group of women, over 10,000 of us, who have watched me and supported me through the past two years of my career. Two years of struggle. Two years of personal and professional pain. Two years of opportunity for […] [What to consider before becoming a medical power of attorney]( If a family member or friend asked you to serve as his/her medical power of attorney, what would your answer be? Many people agree to assume this role without a second thought, but you should take some time to understand what your responsibilities as a medical power of attorney would be, why the person has […] [New Medicare documentation and payment changes starting next year that deliver relief for clinicians]( Starting on January 1, 2021, clinicians across the country can expect new Medicare rules on billing, documentation, and payment for evaluation and management (E/M) services — or common office/outpatient visits – to go into effect. These historic changes will give clinicians more flexibility in how they document visits in their patients’ medical record, reduce their […] --------------------------------------------------------------- [Thousands of physicians are browsing this job board](. They love its selection of over 12,000 openings across the U.S. [Physicians are finding opportunities they almost missed](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Primary care faces a very difficult winter]( Primary care is in trouble again. Last summer, as government assistance programs expired or wound down, primary care practices across the country were struggling to stay afloat because of lost business. By October, patient visits had rebounded in most specialties. But by mid-November, as COVID-19 surged everywhere, primary care physicians reported that they faced critical […] [When coaching physicians with wellness, don’t lead with mindfulness [PODCAST]]( “In my work with physicians and physician leaders in academic medicine, I learned that physicians are highly self-reflective and aware of the pressures they face; however, they are frequently the last to ask for help, and the first to deprioritize their own self-care. This has led to high suicide rates in the overall physician population. For coaches […] [How to make peace with purpose]( “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver, The Summer Day Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means “a reason for being.” The word “ikigai” is usually used to indicate the source of value in one’s life or the things that make one’s life […] [Understanding the business of medicine: How to pursue excellence in the medical field]( Your success in the medical field is not solely contingent upon your clinical dexterity but often results from the mastery of various industry aspects. What separates a great doctor from a good doctor is their cognizance of both the clinical and business sides of medicine. The market, risks, and trends of medical businesses are a […] [Misinformation is endemic in our society, but it is not a new problem]( Misinformation is endemic in our society, but it is not a new problem. Misinformation passed along with or without an ulterior motive has been around for as long as humans have been communicating. What is new is that digital media allows expertly designed misinformation to spread quicker and more ruthlessly exploit individuals’ preconceived notions through […] [COVID, paternalism, and the death of patient autonomy]( A year ago, if you had asked me if most doctors respected their patients’ wishes, I would have answered with a resounding yes. If you had asked me if medicine had divorced its paternalistic roots when physicians trampled over ideals like patient autonomy and non-malfeasance, I would have said yes. But that was last year, […] [How can we redefine locum tenens? [PODCAST]]( “Hiring locum tenens clinicians often proves to be more efficient, and when a position goes unfilled, health care organizations are potentially leaving millions of dollars on the table in unrealized revenues. Once in place, locum tenens clinicians can help organizations expand their service lines, provide access to specialists, relieve existing staff workload, keep the operating […] --------------------------------------------------------------- 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](