The Podcast by KevinMD

"I know I am not alone in my thoughts; I am just echoing sentiments of other female physicians. We are mothers, wives, patient advocates, and educators. And we're all suddenly finding ourselves in unchartered waters. In weathering this pandemic, I've taken time to reflect. I wish I could say I emerged from this introspection having conquered all my fears. Instead, I have discovered the immense strength it takes to be vulnerable. I can admit I do not have all the answers, and the uncertainty of tomorrow gnaws at me. I also know that despite the upheaval, I wouldn't trade my job for anything in the world." Shweta Akhouri is a family physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD articles, "I have discovered the immense strength it takes to be vulnerable." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/05/i-have-discovered-the-immense-strength-it-takes-to-be-vulnerable.html)

"Through my coaching of girl's basketball in California's Central Valley, my daughter and I were fortunate enough to know Kobe as a mentor and coach, and a person who inspired my daughter to be the best through hard work, dedication, and passion. While Kobe will live on as one of the game's greatest athletes, he wanted to be remembered for much more than his championships and scoring records. It's clear that he's left a legacy greater than his legendary basketball career, and I thank him for inspiring me to strive for greatness while honoring what matters most in life." Imamu Tomlinson is an emergency physician and CEO, Vituity. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "What I learned from Kobe Bryant as a parent, coach, and doctor." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/03/what-i-learned-from-kobe-bryant-as-a-parent-coach-and-doctor.html)

"It is time to stop being spectators. We are at a critical turning point in our fight against this disease, and our actions now will determine whether we stay on the sidelines, or put an effective end to the scourge of the disease. If we want to avoid a deadlier and costlier battle for the years to come, students, and the general public, have to take steps to work together to disrupt disease transmission and increase cooperation. In the case these steps are not taken, humanity may soon be facing its own Civil War, where our societal fabric may be further ripped apart." Adithya Sivakumar is a medical student. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Medical students: It is time to stop being spectators." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/03/medical-students-it-is-time-to-stop-being-spectators.html)

"We need to stay healthy for our patients, but also for ourselves and our families. We need to mobilize the faction not just with regard to this pandemic, but by anticipating the arrival of others. So how do we advocate for ourselves? A great way to start is continuing our conversations amongst our colleagues and sharing experiences, looking to local businesses in our communities who are helping us procure masks and other supplies (several salons have already started contributing their supplies to local hospitals), and demanding more from our government going forward. Our government is prepared to increase spending when it comes to the military (in 2019, Congress authorized 716 billion in military spending), but health care workers are now in the midst of a devastating war, and all we are offered are substandard responses, 'there aren't enough tests,' 'do what you can with what you have,' 'wear bandanas' etc. Remember these moments going forward. Remember the failure of the system to support us. Remember the fear, the anxiety, the guilt for not being able to do more. Take these wartime memories and harness them into political power because we are far more powerful as a unit than we are as lone warriors." Jessica Kiarashi is a neurologist and can be reached on Twitter @jkiarashimd. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD articles, "Physician advocacy in the age of COVID-19" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/03/physician-advocacy-in-the-age-of-covid-19.html) and "Why doctors should get political." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/03/why-doctors-should-get-political.html)

"Physicians are trained to do what is best for their patients and to do no harm. Independent practices have sat quietly watching, feeling hopeless as our communities cannot access the care they need, shamefully shutting our doors to spend hours on the phone with insurers. But no more. We can no longer remain quiet: Our pediatric patients may not be suffering from COVID-19 at the alarming rate of adults, but this pandemic will send long-standing shockwaves to future generations if our voices are not heard." Nidhi Kukreja is a pediatrician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "How COVID-19 will close pediatric practices." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/05/how-covid-19-will-close-pediatric-practices.html)

"We care for patients suffering from addictions every shift and are often the only care providers they can turn to. Despite our best efforts, we are often forced to watch as these patients continually succumb to their addiction, sacrificing their bodies as collateral damage in the battle. What frustrates me the most is that every time one of these patients leaves against medical advice, they are deemed to have the capacity to refuse medical treatment. I suppose in the strictest legal sense they do. They understand and can repeat back the risks of leaving without proper treatment. They understand that forgoing this treatment can ultimately lead to their death." Gregory Jasani is an emergency medicine resident. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD articles, "Do patients addicted to drugs truly have capacity?" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/03/do-patients-addicted-to-drugs-truly-have-capacity.html) and "Please don't make physicians choose." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/04/please-dont-make-physicians-choose.html)

"While preparing to assist our patients in the emergency rooms and dedicated COVID-19 wards, our clinic continues to triage patient concerns, creates new care plans, and provides a necessary layer of support, reassurance, and education in a chaotic and stressful time. Like all of you, my colleagues and I look forward to resuming our normal lives as once this pandemic is resolved. But, the resolution of this unprecedented public health emergency should not be a reason for CMS to revert back to its old rules. As these first weeks have shown, telemedicine is a valuable, proven, and effective tool for our patients, their families, and our medical community." Magdalena Bednarczyk is a geriatric medicine physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "CMS needs to permanently eliminate barriers preventing routine use of telemedicine." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/04/cms-needs-to-permanently-eliminate-barriers-preventing-routine-use-of-telemedicine.html)

"I initially fell into the dangerous grief and shame spiral. I shoved these feelings of loss deep down and let shame bubble up. How could I legitimize my feelings when people are dying? However, I have been working through the idea that comparative pain and its conflicting feelings do not help. To a toddler, their worst grief is not being able to see their friends at preschool graduation. To a high school senior, perhaps prom. To a college athlete, the inability to finish their senior season. To a new business owner, the shuttering of their barbershop opening. Denouncing one's own suffering does not benefit health care workers, those who are sick, or those who have "greater" losses. A grocery store worker's 14-hour shift does not get any easier. A nurse does not magically get a mask. So, allow yourself to feel wholeheartedly, to lament without embarrassment. Feel sad. Be scared. Yell. Have a pity party. Then, when you have a moment of strength, reach out and lift someone up (virtually for now). Together we celebrate milestones, together we grieve, and together we are strong." Emily Masterson is a pediatric resident. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "A medical student about to graduate. And a lack of closure." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/04/a-medical-student-about-the-graduate-and-a-lack-of-closure.html)

"I propose Zooming while driving be added to the DSM criteria for ADHD. I have gotten a new glimpse into the world of some of my patients. One patient even mentioned it's hard for them to come to appointments, even with transportation, and we were able for the first time to talk at length about those psychological factors that prevent them from getting consistent follow up leading to lapses in effective treatment. Is this the first step toward more consistent care? Better outcomes? Some in my center therapists hate it as much as I do, but some really love it. Is this just not going to be everyone's color? There is room for yellows, blues, greens, reds, and all our mixtures. My experience is not representative of the entire tele field. Maybe there is even a place for it in my practice going forward, and our ability to bill for these encounters should continue. (Can you hear me, CMS!) But this cannot be my full-time practice. I hope there is a place for all of us. I hope when I retire, the money and screens haven't ultimately won over the best care for all patients. The optimist in me is hopeful, but the fast-talking irreverent realist in me says we will have to fight for our places." Allie Thomas-Fannin is a psychiatrist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "A psychiatrist crashes into telemedicine during the pandemic." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/05/a-psychiatrist-crashes-into-telemedicine-during-the-pandemic.html)

"I wrote a 55-word story in solidarity with my medical students and colleagues I had invited to share their lived experiences during COVID-19 on our Stories in Medicine blog. I wrote out of a need to "unmask" the guilt and angst of some of my colleagues and myself who, though practicing physicians, do not find ourselves directly on the front lines during these tumultuous times. Rather, we are dismayed to alternate between waves of anguish and guilt. Anguish for the suffering of our brothers and sisters in places like New York and New Orleans. Guilt, for not being shoulder to shoulder on the front lines. Guilt, because we are able to do things to take care of ourselves and our families in ways others are not. Our hearts break for our colleagues and families, their patients, and the families of their patients. We can only try to imagine a small portion of what they have gone through and will go through in the aftermath." Jennifer R. Hartmark-Hill is a family physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Confessions in the time of COVID-19." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/05/confessions-in-the-time-of-covid-19.html)