The Podcast by KevinMD

"'Doctor, it's taken so long to get this appointment with you!' This is the opening line of so many medical visits, and I find myself constantly apologizing to my patients on behalf of our system. After the pandemic-induced lull in routine medical care, we're right back where we started—doctors booked for months, patients struggling to get appointments. The difficulty with access to medical care is endemic to our entire medical system. Even before the pandemic, less than a fifth of American doctors were able to take new patients, and more than 80 percent were at capacity or over-extended. Some 16,000 medical practices closed down because of the pandemic. This is especially concerning in primary care, which is on track for a shortage of up to 48,000 physicians. It's not surprising that lack of access to primary care doctors is associated with higher mortality." Danielle Ofri is an internal medicine physician and editor-in-chief, Bellevue Literary Review, and is the author of When We Do Harm: A Doctor Confronts Medical Error. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Getting an appointment with primary care is the Achilles' heel of medicine." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"It is uncomfortable to be publically vulnerable with my story. I wish the statistics and research were enough to change the field of medicine for patients and physicians. I want people to care about the experience of their patients and colleagues enough to examine their own implicit bias and privilege without having to hear my traumalouge, but we aren't there yet. People often need to connect with an individual to reflect and consider change, so I hope you take this moment to consider creating a more inclusive, affirming health care system." Crystal Beal is a family physician. They share their story and discuss their KevinMD article, "A doctor for LGBTQ+ health needs." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"Guess what? The mouth is attached to the rest of the body. And though dentistry and medicine are typically separated from the very beginning of professional training, they are irrevocably linked for patients and have an impact on each other. Here's some foundational knowledge that will help set the stage for discussing the connection between overall health and oral health: Our mouths are teeming with bacteria – mostly the good, harmless kind – and when an appropriate hygiene routine is followed, that bacteria is kept in perfect balance to keep our teeth strong and gums healthy. When that bacterial balance is thrown off track, the results can be disastrous. Yes, cavities are one consequence, but so are yeast infections and periodontal disease—i.e., inflammation of the gums and loss of the bony levels around teeth. A quick scan through any wellness magazine and medical journal will tell you that inflammation is bad news. Researchers continue to connect it to some of the worst chronic diseases physicians see in their offices today. Our mouths are a gateway into not only our respiratory system and digestive tract, but also our bloodstreams (there are a lot of surface-level blood vessels right there), so patients' periodontal inflammation can be a harbinger of other health issues in their bodies." Cindy Roark is a dentist and health care executive. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "The connection between oral health and overall health." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"Military physicians should also realize that not all employers are equal or treat their physicians equally. Military physicians entering the civilian job market are in a 'seller's market.' They should get a reasonable employment agreement. It is important to remember that while you were serving your country, you also gained valuable experience as a physician. Do not sell yourself short!" Dennis Hursh is a physician contract lawyer. He blogs at Physicians Contracts Blog. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Military physicians leaving the military." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"While the technological boom in the health care field is not a circumstance of the pandemic, the accelerated roll-out and adoption of digital features certainly are. And rapid innovation in the health care technology field is not a bad thing in itself. Health care technology discoveries improve health care access, quality of life, patient safety, and even save lives – for example, remote patient monitoring devices and robotic surgery. Although digital health innovations have significantly impacted patient engagement by empowering individuals' autonomy over their own health, these modern health tools could yield a much greater impact if they were not primarily utilized by populations already advantaged in terms of cost, access, and quality of care." Nina Cloven is a health care administrator. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Melting the iron triangle: Prioritizing health equity in dynamic, innovative health care landscapes." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"I think we all have an inclination—at least from time to time—to judge others. No matter how experienced, compassionate, and professional we are as physicians, we're still human. I can admit that I have indeed struggled with patients like the 65-year-old morbidly obese male who complains at every visit about how hard it is to control his blood sugar levels with the medications prescribed. I want to convince him so badly about diet and exercise, but I have tried, and often, these patients don't want to hear it. Pharmacological or surgical interventions are the preferred route for many. I know I cannot magically change a patient's attitudes about their health. Nevertheless, I still believe that the best I can do for my patients is to offer them my sincere professional advice without prejudice or discrimination. If my physical presence is intimidating to some, I won't begrudge them for seeking a doctor who makes them feel more comfortable. In the end, I still believe that leading by example is essential for a physician and that I can use my personal experience to inspire positive change. After all, I am here to help." Francisco M. Torres is an interventional physiatrist specializing in diagnosing and treating patients with spine-related pain syndromes. He is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American Board of Pain Medicine and can be reached at Florida Spine Institute and Wellness. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "The importance of non-judgmental empathy." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"It might seem odd to write about what high-weight patients would like when they meet with their doctors. Don't they want what every patient wants? The answer is yes, but the fact is, they often don't get it due to implicit anti-fat bias among health professionals. In my 30-plus years of practice as an eating disorders therapist, I've heard the same laments from high-weight clients: Doctors only want to talk about weight, blame every health problem on being large-sized, always want to put them on a weight-loss diet, and advise them to get out and exercise. Clients know from experience at varying weights that they're treated differently when they're thinner from when they're fatter." Karen R. Koenig is an eating disorder therapist. She can be reached at her self-titled site, Karen R. Koenig. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "5 tips for treating high-weight patients." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"Many health care professionals go into health care to help people, no matter their race, socioeconomic status, or other identities. Even as white health care professionals start to learn about the systemic nature of racism, something that our Black and other colleagues of color have experienced their whole lives, we may still see health care as "different" from all those other systems out there that are racist. Because we care for people of all races and we think of ourselves as good people who have dedicated our lives to our profession, we don't see ourselves in that narrative. Unfortunately, health care is just as complicit as the other systems in our society. The data showing the disproportionate effect of COVID on Black and Latinx people wasn't anything new; it was highlighting health care disparities and inequities that have been there for hundreds of years." Jill Wener is an internal medicine physician and can be reached at her self-titled site, Jill Wener, MD. Maiysha Clairborne is an integrative family physician and is the co-author of Conscious Anti-Racism: Tools for Self-Discovery, Accountability and Meaningful Change. They share their stories and discuss the KevinMD article, "How the culture of health care perpetuates racism." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"I was working at an urgent treatment center, where a busy Saturday in January would be overwhelming. At one point, I hired a scribe. She was a bright young woman interested in medicine and some alacrity with computers. It was a pleasant change of pace for me. She would accompany me into the exam room under instructions to remain unobtrusive and abide by HIPAA. I found that she could record the pertinent negatives and positives on the physical exam and the review of systems. She could record the assessment and plan as well. I was then able to give the patient my full attention during their 15-minute visit. I could even maintain eye contact and have a conversation without the distraction of a computer screen demanding my attention. I could feel like a human being instead of a data entry clerk." Janet Tamaren is a family physician and author of Yankee Doctor in the Bible Belt: A Memoir. She can be reached at her self-titled site, Dr. Janet Tamaren, and on Twitter @jtamaren. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "To scribe or not to scribe? That is the question." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

"What is currently known is that monkeypox is transmitted primarily through close contact with skin lesions, bodily fluids, and respiratory droplets. Men aged between 20 and 50 years, many of whom have sex with other men (MSM), are notably included in a majority of the cluster cases, thereby indicating that sexual contact may be a significant route of transmission. The correlation with sexual activity does not corroborate increased contamination or virulence; it simply highlights that close contact and skin lesions may allow for monkeypox to spread most effectively." Divya Srinivasan is an undergraduate student. Tejas Sekhar is a graduate student. They share their stories and discuss the KevinMD article, "What you need to know about monkeypox." Did you enjoy today's episode? Rate and review the show so more audiences can find The Podcast by KevinMD. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to get notified when a new episode comes out. Click here to earn 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CME for this episode. Also available in Category 1 CME bundles. Powered by CMEfy - a seamless way for busy clinician learners to discover Internet Point-of-Care Learning opportunities that reward AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info