The Podcast by KevinMD

"In the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic, getting a flu shot has never been more important. Many people are staying indoors, wearing a mask, and washing their hands frequently. In this environment, patients ask me, "With all this social distancing, do I really need a flu shot this year?" The answer is unequivocally, "Yes!" Even the safest practices do not guarantee that a person won't catch the flu or the coronavirus. For people who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill from either the flu or from COVID-19, it is critical that they get their flu shots before the start of the flu season in the fall. A bad flu season could combine with the coronavirus pandemic in the fall and winter. And because both illnesses present with the same symptoms, it is possible that physicians will have to test sick patients for both." Grace Lozinski is an internal medicine physician and chief quality officer, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, Newport Beach, CA. She shares her story and discusses the KevinMD article, "The flu shot is more important this year than ever." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/the-flu-shot-is-more-important-this-year-than-ever.html)

"If we do not raise objections to this kind of comedy, we are teaching those around us that food allergies can be funny. It is no that surprise that data indicates kids and adults are anxious, embarrassed, and bullied due to food allergies. When we make light of anaphylaxis, we perpetuate the misleading stigma regarding food allergies. It has been my steadfast belief that in educating the greater public on the potential severity of food allergies, we will reach a point where it will be taboo to make these kinds of 'jokes' publicly. I hope for a day that it is simply unacceptable to joke about food allergies. Clearly, we are not there yet." Lianne Mandelbaum is founder, the No Nut Traveler, and can be reached on Twitter @nonuttraveler. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Food allergies are not funny." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/07/food-allergies-are-not-funny.html)

"Early in the pandemic, in thinking of and discussing possible solutions to help protect health care workers, two of my former colleagues and I recalled a device called the Surgical Smoke Evacuator (SSE), which we used extensively since the 1990s when we worked together at the University of Pittsburgh to collect and safely dispose of the papillomavirus-containing smoke and aerosol cloud generated during the laser or electrocautery removal of laryngeal, cutaneous, and genital warts (papillomas). These FDA-approved air suction devices are still in routine use today in operating rooms around the world. They have been vigorously advocated by organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). SSEs utilize a very powerful suction pump and the most effective small-particle filter, the ultra-low particulate air (ULPA filter) used in clinical medicine. ULPA filters are much more effective at trapping particles the size of coronavirus (which are only approximately 0.1-0.12 microns in diameter) than are the better-known and more commonly-used and better-known HEPA filters." Rene' M. Gonzalez is an anesthesiologist. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Surgical smoke evacuators and inertia in the time of COVID." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/11/surgical-smoke-evacuators-and-inertia-in-the-time-of-covid.html)

"The medical profession now understands that social determinants of health are probably the most important driver of a patient's overall health, and these determinants are largely the result of political decisions. Clearly, we have a professional responsibility to teach our patients the science underlying their health issues. Don't we also have a professional obligation to ensure that our patients understand the health ramifications of their political choices? If that is the case, do we not have a professional obligation to initiate a conversation about the political issues which impact our patients' health? If we fail to breach the taboo of 'talking politics' in the exam room, are we not shirking our professional responsibilities to our patients and society?" Hayward Zwerling is an endocrinologist who blogs at I Have an Idea. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Talking politics in the exam room." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/talking-politics-in-the-exam-room.html)

"Doctors help patients, and they love us for it. We fix bones, replace joints, cure killer infections, and control diabetes with insulin. We use painless scans for diagnosis. Liver, kidney, and heart transplants are now routine. Some patients get cured of lymphomas, leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and testicular cancer. Lives are prolonged for myeloma and amyloidosis. Vaccines have saved millions worldwide. We have complex technologies such as the heart bypass machine and dialysis. We replace diseased heart valves with artificial ones that work. Cardiologists permanently correct irregular rhythms using techniques that would seem natural on Star Trek. Other specialists gift infertile couples with children. For a lot of the rest, supporting evidence that it works is lacking." Robert Yoho is a cosmetic surgeon and author of Butchered by "Healthcare": What to Do About Doctors, Big Pharma, and Corrupt Government Ruining Your Health and Medical Care. (https://amzn.to/36U4sdj) He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "How I was wrong about health care." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/how-i-was-wrong-about-health-care.html)

"When it comes to social media, embrace a micromedia mindset. That means sharing entertaining, informative content that provides value. Think of yourself as the editor of your newspaper. Newspapers include various content: current events, interviews, information and research, op-eds, and more. Some of these are news-driven — like current events and information and research. Some are relationship-driven — like interviews. And some are self-driven — like op-eds. Jump into social media by sharing content in thirds. Aim for 1/3 news, 1/3 relationships, and 1/3 you. Don't start building your personal brand with too much focus on you. If you fill your feeds with op-eds, that will be hard for you to sustain, and it will ultimately turn audiences away. An important outcome of creating a personal brand is that it's yours. It will go wherever you go. If you're building a new practice, applying for a new job, jumping into the industry from medical school, or establishing your legacy, your personal brand is the path to take." Paige Velasquez Budde is CEO, Zilker Media and can be reached on Twitter @PaigeVelasquez. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "How to develop a mission-driven personal brand." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/how-to-develop-a-mission-driven-personal-brand.html)

"I write this as a caregiver, patient educator, and clinical researcher. The coronavirus pandemic has shone a spotlight on intensive care units (ICUs). Due to the rapid and continued increase in critical illness from COVID-19 infection, discussions about capacity and specialized equipment have become commonplace. Terms such as ventilators, ECMO, PPE, emergency use authorization, and proning have entered into the lingua franca. Critical care happens in the ambulance, the emergency department, and across the hospital. Ultimately the sickest and most severely injured patients end up in the ICU, or their medical providers are assisted virtually by trained clinicians (e-ICU). Before the pandemic, there were nearly 100,000 ICU beds across the U.S. COVID-19 has necessitated the creation of de facto ICUs, in repurposed operating rooms, in tents, and on ships. Non-critical care medical personnel have been deployed to meet the demand to render care for acutely ill patients." Sara L. Merwin is the co-author of The Informed Patient: A Complete Guide to a Hospital Stay. (https://amzn.to/2K8nzqY) She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Understanding critical care in the ICU: then and now." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/10/understanding-critical-care-in-the-icu-then-and-now.html)

"If I had $100 for every time I walked into a patient's room, introduced myself as the doctor, and was immediately asked, 'Hey, how old are you?' I might be able to retire right now — at the age of 28. Of course, I am exaggerating, and yet this question echoes for my baby-faced colleagues and me constantly. Whether it's simple curiosity or blatant reverse-ageism, I find this question erodes trust before it is built. I haven't yet found an agreeable way to bypass it. I usually just state my age before quickly moving on. Rarely, some congratulate me on my accomplishments given 'such a young age.' But these felicitations are like writing in the sand, which quickly wash away in the waves of emotions I begin to feel the moment they ask me that question." Sneha Shah is an internal medicine chief resident who blogs at Insights on Residency Training, a part of NEJM Journal Watch. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Does your doctor's age matter?" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/09/does-your-doctors-age-matter.html)

"With the rapid growth of modern medicine and awareness in lifestyle and environmental influences, individuals can live longer and healthier lives. Approximately 15.2 percent of the U.S. population consists of individuals 65 years and older. To make the added years of life expectancy fulfilling, older adults need to stay socially connected and involved. One key method is through the development of meaningful relationships. Through the intergenerational paradigm, researchers have recognized a mutually beneficial relationship for both older and younger generations. The focus on relationships between the young and the old has been centered around the historical and cultural bond. Traditionally, family dynamics were structured to allow elders to share their wisdom and experiences with the younger generations while also establishing the family's norms and values. However, the social and economic changes have led to family structures to be transformed from single units to more complex and involved relationships. With the different family dynamics of single-working parents and two-working parents, there has been an increase in job opportunities. For this reason, many families move to newer cities and areas where there is higher job availability to support the family's financial needs. These changes have separated the two generations and have left them both missing key relationships of life that can improve their overall well-being." Satya Moolani is a premedical student. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "The value of intergenerational relationships." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/11/the-value-of-intergenerational-relationships.html)

"Studies have repeatedly demonstrated a vast majority of pain physicians don't feel like they have adequate training in meeting the unique needs of this patient population, though most agree that such efforts are very necessary. This disconnect between demand and supply is a problem, a big one. With the current pandemic stretching many people thin financially, the last thing that needs to happen is people avoiding the hospital out of fear, not of the virus, but of the health care field itself, much like what my patient seemed ready to do. In some instances, this could be the difference between life and death. There needs to be a much larger emphasis placed on training students and even residents on how to become more aware of micro-aggressions, biases, and the struggles of the LGBTQ community. I'm not saying the changes will be evident overnight, but they won't ever happen if we aren't willing to even try." Indraneel Prabhu is a medical student. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Issues faced by LGBTQ individuals in the operative setting." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/08/issues-faced-by-lgbtq-individuals-in-the-operative-setting.html)