Information and Critical Thinking for Your Health
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Playing odds with testing and treatment The recent White House COVID-19 test accuracy for personnel (including the President) reveals about 48% of results may be … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: We’re not in 1918 During the 1918 pandemic, no one was told to have 6 feet of separation, wear N-95 masks, or obtain a swab … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Closing the door on families of hospitalized patients Hospitals are content not permitting families to visit their loved ones. With COVID-19 easily transmissible, this persistent … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Ageism At the beginning of the pandemic in Italy, they were inundated with critically ill patients. Overwhelmed by numbers and lack of ventilator … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Knowing when you and your loved ones are safe Ask yourself: If you are in your teens, how do you prevent spreading COVID-19 to your … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Leaving scruffy at home Initially when the pandemic started, I wore the same clothes daily to nursing homes and housecalls. Upon coming home, I’d toss … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: “Phone tag” Some seniors have reached the technology age. Some have not. For those who have smart phones, use computers, or have friends or family … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Hotspots I am a scientist, but don’t have access to all Covid-19 data distributed to Public Health officials. Still, my experience as a doctor caring … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Doctor decision-making versus politician policy-making Doctors are judged by decision-making. If poor, you are sued or lose your license. If good, you receive a genuine … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Nurses – Profiles in courage Much of my success as a doctor came from nurses around me. Skills such as inserting foley catheters, IV lines, … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Preparing seniors for the pandemic long run It is apparent the coronavirus mortality rate for seniors is higher than the general population. As the public … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Getting a haircut Growing up, our mother cut our hair. It was cheaper. The money we saved allowed her to go to the beauty salon…which … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Opening hospital doors to families As an end-of-life physician, I know being with a loved one during their final moments is a deeply personal and … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Mother Nature skewing statistics Some states have decided upon “re-opening” allowing the return of citizens to past freedoms. Politicians have accepted the cries of constituents … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Serving the community from home, at any age If you live in California and serve on a city council, county board, commission, or non-profit organization … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: People of color The statistics are coming in, and the trend is people of color in our country are effected disproportionally by the coronavirus. Is … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Nothing changes My recently discharged patient was on a ventilator in the hospital, yet thankfully was found to be coronavirus negative. Typically at home she … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: At their doorstep The Greatest Generation brought prosperity to our doorstep. Unfortunately, these same older adults statistically have a higher coronavirus mortality rate than the … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Telemedicine – making it perfect I had to do a housecall. A patient called complaining of hand and wrist pain. She had open heart surgery … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Questions you should ask doctors or nurses on the phone when your loved one is hospitalized Be prepared. Have a notebook and pen ready. Be … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: The reality of suffering He was a prisoner of war 5 1/2 years, spending several years in solitary confinement. John McCain was tortured, yet became … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: A new virus with networked medical care I am very proud of my medical colleagues and their dogged attempts to understand this new virus. Despite … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Living in 1918 People were dying. Citizens were told to wear masks, not congregate, and stay home. This was 1918. Nothing has changed, although science … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Being in the “wake” Sometimes, one of the early symptoms of coronavirus is loss of taste and smell. Tuesday is garbage day, so when I … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Effect on hospital-acquired infections For years, I watched Infectious Disease consultants advise hospital staff to diligently wash hands to prevent patient spread of bacteria and … Continue Reading →