Blogs
Surgeons Still Make Preventable Mistakes
December 21, 2012 10:04 am | by Dr. Lauren Browne | CommentsWithin the past 20 years, there were close to 10,000 reported instances when a foreign object was left in a patient, the wrong surgery was performed, or the surgery was performed on the wrong patient or wrong part of the body.
Explaining The Epic Failure Of EMRs
December 19, 2012 9:31 am | by Kiran Raj Pandey, M.D. | CommentsI think there are two reasons for such seemingly epic failure. First, how we interface with an EMR. Second, how the EMR tries to impose its will on to us, instead of the other way around.
Why Physician-Led Pain Care Is Important
December 18, 2012 9:54 am | by Stanley W. Stead, M.D. | CommentsRegardless of the type of pain, acute or chronic, patients seek relief. Anesthesiologists are committed to relieving pain for patients before, during and after surgery. In addition, anesthesiologists treat chronic pain unrelated to surgery. These physicians have the additional education and training to accurately evaluate, diagnose and treat patients with chronic pain through a comprehensive medical approach.
The Unique Experience Of Operating On The Hypercritically Ill
December 17, 2012 9:14 am | by Sid Schwab, M.D. | CommentsOne thing about operating on the hypercritically ill: when you start from zero, there’s no downside: clearly, she’s going to die unless I can do something. No decision there; and, at some level, no pressure, in a perverse sort of way. Which is not to say I’m cavalier about it: I know that I’m the only hope she has. But unless I make a horrible judgment, or a monster technical error, a bad outcome is the default situation: I can’t make it worse. I think.
Let Residents Participate In Surgery
December 14, 2012 9:49 am | by Dr. Bruce Campbell, M.D. | CommentsKnowing that our system safely trains young surgeons is comforting. Someday in the not too distant future, the odds are that I will probably need surgery myself. It is great to know that the students and residents training today will be ready to safely help me when that day arrives.
Don’t Overwhelm Patients With Unnecessary Detail
December 12, 2012 11:13 am | by Peter Ubel, M.D. | CommentsIt is not an easy time to be a physician in the United States. Attempt to order an expensive test for a patient and an insurance company is likely to second guess your decision. Try upholding the bottom line for your medical practice and the government will probably start questioning whether you are overcharging for your services. To make matters worse, even patients are getting into the act.
Four Essential Elements Of True Health Reform
December 11, 2012 9:40 am | by Timothy Johnson, M.D. | CommentsI recently said I would describe the essential elements of “true reform.” I realize others might add or subtract from my list, but here it is – at least for today: Payment reform, electronic records, comparability data, and primary care.
Is Robotic Surgery The 'Laser' Of The 21st Century?
December 10, 2012 10:00 am | by Skeptical Scalpel | CommentsAn OR nurse with 40 years of experience told me that she thinks robotic surgery might go the way of the laser. Similar to the unusual complications seen with the laser, when robotic surgery goes bad, it really goes bad.
Technology Will Replace 80% Of What Doctors Do
December 7, 2012 9:46 am | by Vinod Khosla | CommentsHealthcare should become more about data-driven deduction and less about trial-and-error. That's hard to pull off without technology, because of the increasing amount of data and research available. Next-generation medicine will utilize more complex models of physiology, and more sensor data than a human MD could comprehend, to suggest personalized diagnosis.
Effectively Communicate To Maximize Patient Satisfaction
December 5, 2012 10:00 am | by Sreedhar Potarazu, M.D., MBA | CommentsPhysicians often find themselves in the difficult situation of effectively communicating important information to their patients in a finite period of time without seeming terse or abrupt. This challenge is further complicated by an evolving framework of reimbursement that is focused on rewarding doctors for both quality and performance.
Stopping Extensive Pre-Op Testing Requires Malpractice Reform
December 4, 2012 9:59 am | by Skeptical Scalpel | CommentsExtensive preoperative testing of ambulatory patients continues at the discretion of the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and probably the patient’s primary care doctor too. And the tab mounts.
Cover-Up Culture Has Slowed The Patient Safety Movement
December 3, 2012 9:44 am | by George Lundberg, M.D. | CommentsImprovement in documented actual patient safety has lagged grotesquely. Part of that retardation can be blamed upon a continuing culture of cover-up.
How To Decrease Hospital Lengths Of Stay
November 30, 2012 9:17 am | by Skeptical Scalpel | CommentsHospital length of stay is not simply a matter of the physician deciding that a patient can go home. The patient may not want to leave. There may be no support at home. There may be no one to drive the patient home. The nursing home or rehab center may not have an available bed.
Why Aren’t More People Talking About Physician Suicide?
November 28, 2012 9:42 am | by Pamela Wible, M.D. | CommentsWhat does it mean when our healers take their own lives? And why aren’t more people talking about physician suicide? Doctors have the highest suicide rate of any profession. In the United States, we lose a physician a day to suicide. That’s two to three entire medical school classes per year.
The Downside Of Afternoon Surgery
November 27, 2012 10:07 am | by Dr. Anthony Youn | CommentsSurgery team fatigue and shift changes might spell problems for afternoon surgeries, and the time of day you have surgery can affect your outcome.
