Author: Gene

(Snippets from the frontline) \_(( * ? * ))_/ Patients and families are lost. “Why was my father sent home from the hospital with a pulse of 30; my mother … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Surviving the onslaught Sometime in the future… “Hey great, great, great grandpa.  What was it like to be a doctor in America?” With a crackly yet … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Overdosing elder seniors “Something’s wrong with grandma!” We expect age to diminish health, but who would have thought the overuse of medication might be just as … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Mother-daughter connection Her charm and charisma befitted her royal name, Victoria, declaring “I migrated from the Garden State to the Golden State.”  Indeed, after her husband … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Caring for furry friends My neighbor’s cat had a stomach hairball and needed it removed by a veterinarian using an endoscope.  After many phone calls, the … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Being a second responder Since starting medical school 40 years ago, I have been on the hospital receiving end of first responders as they transferred care … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) The beat goes on We continually hear about salaries, bonuses, and compensations of major company CEOs unfairly outpacing those of the common worker.  This is especially … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Housecall pidgin talk “Whatsa matter you?” was the greeting from my 89 year old Hawaiian patient. “I no like da bed!” She had battled bladder cancer … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Physician, heal thyself Put it on the table; talk about it at meetings; stop ignoring the fact:  Our profession has been taken over by business, and … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Conveyor-belt medicine Can business convert medicine into an assembly line model without sacrificing quality? I can see it manufacturing a car, but can it be applied … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Death panels exist Our mother is in her nineties and went to the emergency room for the stomach flu.  Before we arrived, the ER had already … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Controlling the media He is a Vietnam veteran; the first in his family to graduate high school and go to college; and the first to become … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Getting old sucks Gray hair and wrinkles are just part of it.   Slower mobility, loss of balance, and skin “barnacles” diminish confidence and creates inhibition, … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) A matter of comfort Some of my physician friends delivered their patients, cared for them as teens, helped them into middle age, and now give advice … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Holding ‘denied’ accountable Doctors are trained to make medical decisions caring for patients.  If something goes wrong, they are responsible for their decisions. These days, an … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) The circle of life We have our place in the circle of life.  Apart from lessons taught to Simba by his father Mufasa in The Lion … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Breathalyzer at the doorway There is ongoing debate concerning regulation of medicinal and recreational marijuana.  Government interest is raising tax revenue, but there are still moral … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Here’s the game plan Hospitals are integral to the health and vitality of a community, and often serve as the difference between life and death. In … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) On being a nurse Florence Nightingale once said on nursing:  “…the very first requirement in a hospital, that it should do the sick no harm.” A … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Transition from hospital to nursing home Full-court press is a basketball term signifying an all-out effort to win a game. The same applies when you are … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Jury Duty Some people think not registering to vote will keep them off jury duty.  Not so in California as potential jury lists come not just … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Myron’s right to die      When I first visited this mid-80s senior at home, he laid on a hospital bed paralyzed. Myron ran a successful … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Bad news As a physician, giving bad news is not an easy task.  In the past, the hardest thing to tell a patient was they have … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Making a hospital complaint As a primary care doctor, I am responsible for admitting patients who are ill.  A plan is developed, discussion made with patient … Continue Reading →

(Snippets from the frontline) Start a revolution To my colleagues: Throughout the nation, we convene at education meetings to coalesce evidence-based information improving medical care. Missing at these conferences is … Continue Reading →