Information and Critical Thinking for Your Health
(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 →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Hope “Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.” Inspirational words from Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. that will … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: The sacrificial lamb Someone had to go. We needed to decide. Why should we both be in harms way, when the other could remain safe? … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: The invisible older adult Older adults are vulnerable and disproportionally suffer more during the COVID-19 crisis. Technology took a fast lane and passed many … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Connecting the hospital / nursing home dots The coronavirus is running rampant through senior residential facilities, especially nursing homes. One source: Hospitals. Ten years ago … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Sympathy commercials How very nice. TV commercials telling us how sad it is to see us suffer, but “We are there for you.” (Insert sad-face … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Leadership Leadership during this crisis has been powerful from the City of Santa Clarita, City and County of Los Angeles, and the State of California. … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Flattening the curve while protecting mom An abundance of hope has been placed in “flattening the curve”, which is indeed an important concept that must … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Uniting to fight The 1996 movie Independence Day depicts an alien invasion of Earth, defended by united countries of the world battling as a team. … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: The coffee table of enticement As coronavirus rules evolved and increased, and the threat of viral spread became ubiquitous, anxiety and stress levels escalated while … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Wear a mask, yet be careful Forty years ago while operating on a trauma victim who fell asleep at the wheel, I became more tired … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: The magnificent human antibody machine Immunology is one of many medical frontiers we have yet to fully understand. One poorly understood question: How does the … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: “Don’t spike the ball on the 5 yard line!” In haste to get across the goal line, or where the field is not marked clearly, … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: A “cloud” of germs Living near a freeway can be hazardous to your health. A cloud of exhaust and particulate matter infiltrating skin and lungs … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: The fine print A showcase for prescription medication can be seen on television daily promoting benefits, yet side effects are reserved at the end with … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Guardians of the solar system Stardate: 2120 Location: US Pluto outpost “Charon, take this pill to your brother. He’ll feel better.” “What’s it for dad?” … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: PTSD in my healthcare colleagues I have vivid memories of patients dying. Some I did not know as they came through emergency room trauma. Others … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: A scary nursing home I visit nursing homes once a month. With the COVID-19 crisis, they can easily be a nidus for community infection. My … Continue Reading →
(Snippets from the frontline) COVID-19: Comforting your hospitalized loved one Hospitals do not have enough PPE (Personal Protective Equipment – gloves, masks, gowns, shoe coverings), nor sufficient access to COVID-19 … Continue Reading →