Transplant Chief Was an Organ Recipient Herself
Though it wasn’t so long ago that Sara Kathryn Smith, MD, was a liver transplant patient herself, last year she became the medical director for pediatric liver transplantation at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore. Smith’s unique perspective on patient care has primed her for the role, and for advocating for the importance of organ […]
Contrary to Guidelines, 5-ASA Often Prescribed in Pediatric Crohn’s Disease
DENVER — Even though guidelines discourage the use of 5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA) in pediatric Crohn’s disease, a substantial percentage of children are still being treated with the anti-inflammatory agent, which may cause problems down the road, a researcher reported here. Of nearly 700 children diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and treated at specialized centers, 28% were initially […]
Are U.S. Healthcare Workers Better Off Unionized?
Labor unionization among U.S. healthcare workers was low in recent years, even though union membership or coverage was tied to higher weekly earnings and better non-cash benefits, researchers reported. Out of 14,298 healthcare workers surveyed, 13.2% reported union membership or coverage, with no significant trend from 2009 through 2021, according to Xiaojuan Li, PhD, of […]
More And More People Have ‘Lifestyle Fatigue.’ Maybe You Do, Too.
Even though we’re armed with COVID-19 vaccines and updated booster shots, the world is still largely in a different (and oft-worried) place compared with before the pandemic. This, experts say, can lead to a feeling of malaise — or “lifestyle fatigue,” in the words of Sean Grover, a psychotherapist who writes for Psychology Today. Lifestyle […]
Here’s What Nutritionists Order When They Get Chinese Takeout
We’ve all got our favorite American adaptations of Chinese cuisine, even though they’re often far removed from the authentic dishes found overseas. Menu items in the U.S., like General Tso’s chicken, chop suey and fortune cookies, are still beloved by many because — no surprise — they taste so darn good. “Chinese American food is […]
6 Signs Of Heart Problems That Have Nothing To Do With Chest Pain
Though chest pain is the symptom most commonly associated with cardiovascular issues, there are a range of atypical symptoms that may indicate something is wrong with the heart. High blood pressure, blood clots, arrhythmias and valve issues can trigger lightheadedness, dizziness, shortness of breath and jaw pain. Because these symptoms aren’t so obviously linked to […]
Colorado to Collect Providers’ Sexual Orientation, Ethnicity Data
Clinicians in Colorado will soon be asked — though not required — to give the state demographic information that includes their ethnicity and sexual orientation as part of an effort to build more culturally diverse provider networks. Under a rule that took effect on March 2, Colorado Options — the state’s Affordable Care Act exchange […]
A Cup of Joe to Thwart Liver Fibrosis? How About Four
High coffee consumption was linked to a lower risk for elevated liver stiffness, though no such association was seen with steatosis, researchers found in a cross-sectional study. In a dietary analysis involving over 4,500 adults, drinking more than 3 cups of coffee (versus none) was associated with a 0.9 kPa reduction (95% CI -1.6 to […]
The Xennial Women’s Health Issue No One’s Talking Enough About
Arianna Sholes-Douglas remembers the moment her body was in the grips of perimenopause ― though she didn’t recognize it for what it was at the time, despite being an OB-GYN and integrative health physician focusing on women’s health. Sholes-Douglas was performing a C-section, a surgery she estimates she had done over a thousand times, and […]
Physicians: Stop Dreading Call
Even though I completed residency almost 15 years ago, it is easy to remember the dread I experienced before taking hospital call. The sinking feeling in my stomach as the call date loomed near, the hypervigilance and terror every time my beeper went off in the middle of the night, the fear of imagined catastrophes […]