On the podcast Rx for Success (episode 144) I discuss my new ebook, Standing Up & Speaking Out for Patients & Doctors, as well as my role as an advisor to Vxtra Health. My interview with Dr. Cook speaks to the values that attracted us to healthcare in the first place, part of what I [...]
Patients may find themselves caught in the middle between their health insurance company and their oncologist when it comes to selecting the drugs used to treat their cancer. Why is this? The American Cancer Society explains biologic drugs (derived from living organisms such as yeast, bacteria, or animal cells) and biosimilar drugs, which behave similarly [...]
Our perfectionism is often worn like a badge of honor. It signifies our complete commitment, at times at the expense of others. Wanting to do your best job is what drives “good” perfectionism. Woody Allen quipped, “80 percent of life is just showing up.” And the other 20 percent is reserved for perfectionists. Success often [...]
An essay posted by Fareeha Kahn, MD (“A hospitalist’s struggle to find teamwork in academic medicine“), raises an important issue. The problem of lack of collaboration is not unique to academic medicine. The problem is the result of misaligned incentives. Having read the work of Harvard Business School professor Michael E. Porter, I better understand [...]
“My take on the Task Force statement is that clinical judgment should rule as to whether or not screening is indicated for glaucoma. Family history, race, diabetes, and other risk factors should be considered for such screening, especially in the face of potential asymptomatic damage. How often have doctors said, ‘If you had only come [...]
In a published statement in JAMA Network on May 24/31, 2022, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force found that there was insufficient evidence for screening for primary open-angle glaucoma in adults. They could not find a way to balance harms versus benefits for screening in general. But is this reasoning faulty? It is well known [...]
As a practicing ophthalmologist, I saw many patients who had developed blurred vision, glare, or trouble reading. These patients needed to understand that cataracts were the cause of their vision problems and how the cataracts developed and how they should be treated. I would begin the explanation by using a large, plastic eye model to [...]
For senior services, especially the vision impaired, consider caring.com. Those caring for older relatives will appreciate the links provided by this organization. Positive reviews; people who help with difficult situations that require assisted living alternatives. American Academy of Ophthalmology
Anyone can win at poker when dealt a royal flush. But what can you do when the cards you are dealt don’t appear winning at all? My answer: Make the best of what you have. Recently I learned of a colleague who sustained a broken back in an accident. He continues to work, wearing a [...]
The holidays are a time for sharing gifts and for hopes of a brighter year ahead. I want to thank those people who follow me on social media and who have taken the time to write to me. Your reaching out has been a real gift to me in my retirement from clinical practice. One [...]