4/29/2013 Surgeons get grumpy when they have their scheduled surgery cancelled, as do patients and their families. It seems unfair that when the volume of hospital patients inevitably backs up into the ER and surgical beds, that one way of coping is to cancel elective procedures. The trick to avoid this is to manage every patient in the hospital every day.
4/19/2013 It was 3:14 a.m., years ago when I was an emergency room physician. The department was empty and I, for some reason long forgotten, was sitting at the clerk's intake desk reading the newspaper when blood started dripping on it. I looked up and there stood a 16-year-old boy with his throat slashed wide open.
4/12/2013 I have been an expert participant in more than 200 malpractice and physician complaint cases. Here are some tips if you have to write a medical-legal opinion letter.
3/28/2013 Just like children are not little adults, seniors are different than middle-age and younger patients. Geriatrics is its own specialty. Here are some tips on dealing with senior patients from an old doc learned the hard way, so you don't have to.
3/20/2013 Having a medical student work with you in your practice is fun and fulfilling. You learn as much from them as they do from you. Their enthusiasm is contagious and they really get you to think about your job and your philosophy of medicine as you see it through their eyes. You learn what is new in medicine and they help sharpen your computer, iPhone and iPad skills.
3/5/2013 During my career of 40 years, I would say the biggest changes in medicine have been increasing specialization, the Internet and new technology.
2/22/2013 That's what I heard an old GP say about my generation 40 years ago. And in his own myopic view, he was right.
2/15/2013 I recently conducted a phone interview with Dr. Martin Gerretsen, founder of Sea Courses Cruises. I have taught two of his courses on Caribbean trips and loved them, especially the fun days at sea.
2/8/2013 I interviewed Dr. Naveen Tandon, a new family doctor in Cambridge, Ont., by email. He is my 94-year-old mom's physician and communicates by email. I love it.
2/1/2013 Check yourself out on RateMDs.com. It is a sobering experience. If you do get a complaint, look on it as a positive thing. It will help you improve.
1/24/2013 Now that I am 65 my patients ask me when I'm going to retire. They don't care about me, they just don't want to lose their trusty old GP. This is human nature and I am flattered they still want me. Luckily I have no intention of retiring, but I do want to ease back and enjoy life a little more.
