Do You Know When to Refer Your Patient to a Dietitian?

By Jamie Marchetti, MS, RDN, LD
August 12, 2020

During my tenure as a dietitian in a rural community hospital, I provided all the outpatient nutrition counseling for the facility. Sometimes patients sought out my guidance on their own, but most often, they were referred to me by a physician. While most referrals were made in a manner that was timely and appropriate for the diagnosis, some were not.

This post, therefore, is a dietitian’s perspective on best practices for physicians referring patients for nutrition care that can be delivered in a way that is helpful to support medical care. Continue reading “Do You Know When to Refer Your Patient to a Dietitian?” →

How Physicians Can Prepare for Emerging Trends in Health Care Delivery

By Christopher Ugo Oseh, MBBS
July 23, 2020

This trend clearly indicates the need for physicians who are both clinically and technologically savvy to provide health care in the future.

Health care delivery services have been transformed by advances in health technology, and technology-based health care seems to be gaining ground. According to a McKinsey survey taken in April 2020, the adoption of telehealth services by United States citizens increased from 11% in 2019 to 46% in 2020. Although much of this accelerated adoption has been linked to restricted health care access caused by the coronavirus pandemic, experts are projecting a further increase in telehealth service adoption post-pandemic as many clients realize they prefer to access health care remotely rather than consulting in person with their doctors in a hospital. Continue reading “How Physicians Can Prepare for Emerging Trends in Health Care Delivery” →

Disclaimer

*OPINIONS EXPRESSED BY OUR GUEST AUTHORS ARE VALUABLE TO US AT LEAN FORWARD, BUT DO NOT REPRESENT OFFICIAL POSITIONS OR STATEMENTS FROM HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL.

I Don’t Feel like a Hero: Imposter Syndrome and Perfectionism During a Pandemic

By Gail Gazelle, MD, MCC
June 25, 2020

When Jeff left his ED shift at a New York City hospital in mid-April, he felt like anything but a hero. He’d intubated three COVID-19 patients: a 63-year-old businessman, an 82-year-old woman who reminded him of his grandmother, and a 45-year-old mother of two teens. The elderly woman and the businessman were transferred to the ICU. The mother of two teens was not; she expired in the ED.

By the end of his shift, Jeff felt a crushing weight of sadness and anguish unlike anything he’d experienced in his 15 years as an emergency physician—this shift was now his new norm. Continue reading “I Don’t Feel like a Hero: Imposter Syndrome and Perfectionism During a Pandemic” →

Best Practices for Patient Engagement with Telehealth

Ted James, MD, MHCM
June 2, 2020

“In an age where the average consumer manages nearly all aspects of life online, it’s a no-brainer that healthcare should be just as convenient, accessible, and safe as online banking.”

— Jonathan Linkous, CEO of the American Telemedicine Association

Health care organizations are actively leveraging telemedicine as a natural solution to connecting with patients while addressing new social distancing realities. Honestly, I found it difficult at first to establish an effective rapport with patients using telehealth, especially for new patient consults. Many physicians report difficulty making the transition to virtual patient encounters.

The learning curve was more than I had expected, and my first few telehealth visits seemed disengaged and sterile. Not to mention having to deal with technical problems. In response, I looked for resources about making meaningful connections with patients, despite the loss of physical presence. I also looked at how to apply the basics of patient-centered communication to this new digital platform. As it turns out, you can learn techniques to become more comfortable and improve your ‘web-side manner.’ Continue reading “Best Practices for Patient Engagement with Telehealth” →

The Role of Doctors in the COVID-19 “Infodemic”

By Dr. Marwa Saleh
May 19, 2020

In late March, several news outlets^1,2ran headlines stating that hundreds of Iranians died and others went blind after drinking adulterated alcohol for protection against COVID-19—some of them were children. On a similar note, the Journal of Histopathology documented the case³of a 41-year-old American who was hospitalized after drinking disinfectant leading to the severe injury of her small bowels.

Other stories include a father who died of COVID-19 after delaying medical help because he believed that COVID-19 was just like the flu, and the couple⁵ who ingested chloroquine (not intended for human use) leading to the death of the husband and hospitalization of the wife.

The tragic incidents were the result of misinformation and these consequences aren’t rare; A WHO report⁶ in February stated that we were facing a “massive infodemic.” The hazards of misinformation are vivid—misinformation costs lives. Continue reading “The Role of Doctors in the COVID-19 “Infodemic”” →

Leading Beyond the COVID-19 Health Care Crisis

By Ted A James, MD, MHCM
May 5, 2020

The disruptive nature of the global pandemic has created a rapidly changing environment with long-lasting implications for health care far beyond the immediate crisis.

It is unlikely that we will simply revert back to normal; new ways of thinking will be required and the ability to adapt to new realities and prepare for an unknown future will mean the difference between success and failure. The challenge calls leaders to navigate uncertainty while restructuring care in an abruptly transformed health system. Continue reading “Leading Beyond the COVID-19 Health Care Crisis” →

A Double Whammy: The COVID-19 Pandemic and Burnout in Medical Professionals

By Dr. Marwa Saleh
April 9, 2020

Scientists and manufacturers everywhere are working on vaccines, drugs, and low-cost ventilators to manage the coronavirus pandemic. Governments are building make-shift hospitals in many countries. It seems like everything is being covered, everything but the one irreplaceable link in the health provision chain—health care workers. Continue reading “A Double Whammy: The COVID-19 Pandemic and Burnout in Medical Professionals” →

COVID-19: Quarantine Tips from a Dietitian

By Jamie M. Marchetti, MS, RDN, LD
March 20, 2020

As grocery store options grow sparse and many face the possibility of being quarantined to their homes in the wake of COVID-19, neither you nor your patients may be able to eat the way you normally do. As your typical foods may be unavailable or perishable, consider these tips when choosing new options from the grocery store, and share this information with your patients as well. Continue reading “COVID-19: Quarantine Tips from a Dietitian” →