Month: July 2018

(Snippets from the frontline) Scrutinizing a new hospital doctor Hospitals are a buffer between life and death. In the past, you chose your doctor based on trust and confidence in … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Escaping profiteers In almost four decades of practicing medicine, I’ve never had a patient say “Please doctor, send me to a nursing home!” Is it the … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) The homeless senior Think about it.  What would you do if you can no longer afford your home, and must move out onto the street?  What … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) An American right Hospitals compete against each other for your healthcare.  Full page ads tout their newest, cleanest, safest facility with the best doctors, latest technology, … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) One question too many It was 1980, and as I entered the ER in a West Los Angeles hospital for my medical student shift, the waiting … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Crime scene Hospitals should do no harm.  But when administrators intentionally and maliciously create a dangerous environment, the hospital is a crime scene. I’ve been on … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Losing sleep…and experience Several years ago, I realized getting up in the middle of the night to answer phone calls or going into the hospital to … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) “Overutilization” monicker I am a geriatric doctor caring for elderly and bedridden patients.  Keeping them out of the hospital is a challenge as they face problems … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) We are born equal, but… When crimes are alleged, those who are poor, of color, undereducated, and legally ill-represented find themselves in prison.  Those who are wealthy … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Permission denied I received a phone call from a hospital case manager that my patient did not meet criteria for further admission and should be discharged.  … Continue Reading →