Blogs
Signs of Obsolescence
March 25, 2013 9:37 am | by Bruce Campbell, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin Otolaryngologist | CommentsOver the years, light boxes have all but disappeared from hospitals. Voice-recognition software and electronic medical records have made radiology reports available almost instantaneously. Information passes from the radiologist to the treating physicians quickly.
Robotic Surgery Controversies Simmer
March 22, 2013 9:35 am | by Skeptical Scalpel | CommentsA number of unusual and often devastating complications of robotic surgery are surfacing, which has prompted one state, Massachusetts, to issue an advisory to hospitals. Defenders of the robot say it's not the technology itself but rather the surgeons who are at fault.
Even As Superbugs Spread, No Rush To Fix Antibiotic Crisis
March 20, 2013 9:30 am | by Ben Hirschler | CommentsFixing the problem of "superbugs" will need both faster approval of last-resort drugs and new ways to guarantee rewards for companies, according to both industry leaders and public health officials who have been sounding the alarm.
Healing The Hospital Hierarchy
March 19, 2013 9:09 am | by Theresa Brown | CommentsA hospital is, by its nature, the scene of constant life-or-death situations. It’s the work we nurses, doctors and other health professionals do; we chose it. The threat of harm can jazz you up or bring you down, but what it should demand, always, is the highest possible level of professionalism. Who’s at risk when that doesn’t occur?
Let’s Do Something About The Overuse Of Blood Transfusions
March 18, 2013 9:40 am | by Skeptical Scalpel | CommentsDespite the fact that many papers have identified the problem, inappropriate blood transfusions continue in hospitals across the nation.
The Act Of Incising Human Flesh Is Never Routine
March 15, 2013 9:18 am | by Sid Schwab, M.D. | CommentsThe act of incising human flesh is one of moment, never light, never routine no matter how familiar.
Why Malpractice Reform Will Happen, Whether Lawyers Like It Or Not
March 13, 2013 9:28 am | by Wes Fisher, M.D. | CommentsHerein lies the challenge and the best hope for doctors’ liability reform going forward: diffusion of their responsibility.
Physician Burnout Is An Obstacle To Patient Safety
March 12, 2013 9:18 am | by Bob Wachter, M.D. | CommentsI’ve never been more worried about the safety movement than I am today. My fear is that we will look back on the years between 2000 and 2012 as the Golden Era of Patient Safety, which would be okay if we’d fixed all the problems. But we have not.
Medicine's Mobile Future
March 11, 2013 9:16 am | by Mike Schmidt, Editor, Surgical Products | CommentsIs wireless medicine just a passing fad, or will healthcare professionals be able to find ways to leverage powerful hardware and software tools to better prevent or treat injury and illness? Time will tell. In the meantime, we should monitor its growth and hope it realizes its immense potential.
A Positive Attitude And Cancer Survival
March 8, 2013 9:12 am | by Dr. Bruce Campbell, M.D. | CommentsFrom my vantage point, the finding that there is no correlation between attitude and survival serves as a gift for our patients and for us. Allowing people to accept their condition and honestly question their fate, no matter how they handle the challenge, might be enormously helpful for some. They don’t need to fear honest discussions.
Compensating For The Lack Of Progress In EHRs
March 4, 2013 1:10 pm | by Jessie Gruman, PhD | CommentsI know that tremendous effort and resources are directed toward solving the problem of organizing and coordinating patients’ health information, and I don’t doubt that within four or five years, this problem will fade.
Emergency Medicine: What Is It Exactly Today?
March 4, 2013 11:22 am | by David Schlueter, M.D. | CommentsA new battle is underway. This fight is not about credibility or legitimacy, but sustainability and identity. It’s about the “E.”
Five Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Go Into Medical School
March 4, 2013 9:15 am | by Brian J. Secemsky, M.D. | CommentsBefore you write that brutal retort which I may/may not deserve, some simple disclaimers before we tackle this subject: This is not a ruthless attempt to crush your dreams and passions. This is not an op-ed on our current healthcare system. This is targeted towards individuals who are considering medical school in order to practice clinical medicine. This is being written by a physician in postgraduate training.
Why Failing Med Students Don’t Get Failing Grades
March 1, 2013 9:39 am | by Pauline Chen | Comments“Grades don’t have a lot of meaning,” says Dr. Sara B. Fazio, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who leads the internal medicine clerkship at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. “‘Satisfactory’ is like the kiss of death.”
Operating On Myself: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
February 27, 2013 9:50 am | by Bongi | CommentsAs I have mentioned before, all surgeons think they are the best. Of course when we ourselves need surgery, there is a bit of a dilemma deciding who is the best qualified to carry out the procedure. So when I realized there was a strange looking skin lesion in my right inner thigh, I decided only the best would do to operate me.
