What the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light is the detrimental effect of medical misinformation. We must remember the “law of rumor” is proportional to the level of ambiguity and the importance of the spreading. When there is an overwhelming feeling of uncertainty, when people feel anxious, when the information is deemed important, and whether they believe the… Read More »
Last week I shared a post, Understanding and Instilling Trust in Our Patients, today’s post takes a deeper look at how to build that trust between patient and clinician. As we continue to focus on building patient trust, it’s necessary to recognize that one’s own characteristics play a critical role. For those times that we are dealing with… Read More »
Periodically, there are discussions regarding the critical component of trust in healthcare. Currently, the present pandemic is a prime example of the issue. Some, we observe, inherently trust science; others prefer the approach, I need to distrust you until you prove to me you are trustworthy. A third category proclaims I trust you; however, I must verify the… Read More »
FROM THE ARCHIVES! I will be re-posting some previous posts that I think are appropriate to share once again. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Changing behaviors is seldom easy. Behavioral economics and habits play a crucial role in our response, and undoubtedly, we do not fully appreciate the complexity of these issues… Read More »
FROM THE ARCHIVES! I will be re-posting some previous posts from this year that I think are appropriate to share once again. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing some previous posts that are relevant to the uncertain healthcare climate we are navigating right now… Read More »
When in conversations with others on complex topics, I am frequently perplexed when what they say seems so illogical to me and incongruent with scientific data. For instance, currently, in this pandemic, this occurrence could not be more befuddling. Throughout COVID, the amount of “anti-vaxxers,” “anti-maskers,” and those who genuinely believe this is a hoax, is frankly astounding.… Read More »
These are unprecedented times. For the first time since the pandemic began, COVID deaths per week have surpassed those of cardiac disease. Daily, the news bombards us, spouting opinions about everything from everyone, and many face economic uncertainty. Also, many of us are struggling to decide whether or not to visit family over the holidays, and we live… Read More »
As we age, cognitive impairment becomes more likely. Simultaneously, our natural living conditions increase isolation and distance from support networks, including mitigating treatments that can negatively impact mental stability. Unless we deliberately and diligently assess those we serve, we have no awareness of such needs. Although cognitive decline tends to occur insidiously, repetitive assessments are still necessary. With… Read More »
As we focus on the affordability of healthcare, some turn to high deductible health plans (HDHPs) to lower costs and as a result, creating situations where consumers are at greater risk for the cost of their care. The theory is that if I must pay out of pocket, I will be more discriminating concerning my purchases and shop… Read More »
One of our shortcomings as health care professionals is our acceptance of evidence-based medicine, especially when the data proves that abandoning practices is required. And despite robust, research cataloging practices, that add little value, such activities remain widespread at a considerable cost and increasing the likelihood to harm. As professionals, the question remains, “Why are we so slow… Read More »