Words Matter to People Who Are Overweight
How a physician refers to a patient can influence how they are treated and how they feel about themselves and their doctors, which is why The Obesity Society (TOS) and four other organizations chose to kick off the annual ObesityWeek meeting with a policy statement promoting the idea that people come first, not diseases. “People-first […]
My Patient Had Declined the COVID Vaccine … Every. Single. Time.
I currently work part-time at a local HIV clinic in Atlanta. Our patient population is predominantly Black and uninsured, and sometimes ensuring their access to good care and antiretroviral treatment (ART) is more challenging than finding a politician who is 100% truthful. Since I started working there in February, I have had many conversations with […]
My Journey to the Root of Empathy
“Are there specific ways empathy will be tested in the standardized patient exam?” a medical school classmate of mine earnestly asked following a lecture years ago. I laughed, thinking that teaching empathy was impossible. As an optimistic and naive medical student, I had thought of myself as naturally empathetic. During those days, I was able […]
Our Patients Are Resilient
Patient name and other descriptors have been changed to protect privacy. Sara is a 14-year-old patient of mine. I am a clinical psychologist, and I have been treating her for about 15 months. Sara has been struggling with trauma and associated psychiatric symptoms since the coronavirus ravaged her family. This is the story of Sara’s […]
Sepsis (Septicemia) Definition, Treatment, Causes, Stages & Diagnosis
What are sepsis (blood poisoning) symptoms? What are the signs of sepsis? The adult patient should have a proven or suspected source of an infection (usually bacterial) and have at least two of the following problems to be diagnosed as having sepsis: Altered mental status (for example, altered consciousness, mental confusion or delirium) Fast respiratory […]
Gender Bias in the OR Is a Hazard to Patient Safety
It was a typical bustling morning in the pre-operative area where I was waiting for my patient to go back to the operating room (OR). I was reviewing my day ahead: after a short procedure in the OR, I had a full clinic day with multiple office procedures, and then was leaving immediately for an […]
How Is Meningitis Diagnosed and Treated? Symptoms & Signs
The treatment and care will depend on the type of meningitis the patient has and how unwell the patient is. If the doctor suspects you have meningitis, you will be hospitalized immediately for proper testing and to manage the illness. These tests include Blood tests: A complete blood count, blood urea, and creatinine levels, blood […]