Category Archives: patient care

Anonymity and Professionalism on Twitter: Room to Educate

Posted on May 25, 2011 by

A well-established medical blogger Dr. Bryan Vartabedian (aka @Doctor_V, a fellow gastroenterologist whom I recently had the pleasure of meeting at DDW 2011 #DDW11) seemed to ignite a firestorm this week amongst #hcsm tweeps with his post about a specific … Continue reading →

Posted in medical education, patient care | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Presenting on a consult service: Rules number one and two

Posted on May 22, 2011 by

As an attending gastroenterology consultant, I have heard many a presentation from medical students, residents, and fellows that start something like this: This is a 64-year old woman with Afib, hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure, osteoarthritis, cholelithiasis, and depression, whom … Continue reading →

Posted in medical education, patient care | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What do your patients fear?

Posted on May 3, 2011 by

As an academic gastroenterologist at a tertiary care university medical center, I often see patients who have failed traditional therapies that many of my colleagues in the community have tried.  Over the past several years my practice has evolved, from dealing with … Continue reading →

Posted in patient care | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

A Physician’s View about Medical Necessity

Posted on March 10, 2011 by

“Doc, do I really NEED this medication?” In my practice, I seem to hear this question (or something like it) on a daily basis.  The question is not always about a medication, maybe it’s about a lab test or a … Continue reading →

Posted in GERD, patient care | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

When the Doctor Becomes a Patient

Posted on March 6, 2011 by

Today I became a patient.  If you follow me on Twitter, then by now you know what happened.  Yes, I am embarrassed by what happened, but I’ll relinquish my HIPAA right to privacy for this moment. This afternoon I swam … Continue reading →

Posted in medical education, patient care | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Would You Like Some Cyanide in Your Herbal Therapy?

Posted on February 28, 2011 by

Like most allopathic physicians, I have no formal training in herbal medicine.  Nonetheless I tend to think that I have an open mind to non-Western therapies.  I do not discount their effects in various conditions, but they are not the … Continue reading →

Posted in CAM, gastroenterology, patient care | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Doctor as Teacher: A Life Lesson to Future Doctors

Posted on February 4, 2011 by

I do a lot of teaching.  Truth be told, it is what drew me to stay in academic medicine.  As a subspecialist, I am fortunate enough to have multiple opportunities to lecture, train, and educate in a number of venues.  … Continue reading →

Posted in gastroenterology, IBD, medical education, patient care, ulcerative colitis | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments