December 31st, 2009 by Happy Hospitalist in Better Health Network, Humor, True Stories
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Whenever drugs are involved in a patient’s admission, the outcome is either craziness or comedy. Methamphetamines and cocaine seem to be the popular drugs of choice requiring admission. These people are usually angry and agitated. However, it seems like pot humor always adds a little touch of the unexpected to an otherwise boring admission.
Take for example the 27 year old truck driver who was brought in by his roommate for “acting weird’. What happens when you mix a little marijuana and a little alcohol? You get Happy’s pot humor post of the day. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at The Happy Hospitalist Blog*
December 28th, 2009 by Edwin Leap, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Policy, True Stories
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We have a new EMR system. I like it because I type well. I’m facile at using a keyboard and touch-screen. Not everyone in my group is so blessed, and we’ve had some difficulties using the voice-transcription software. Nevertheless, my gut tells me that in a month or two more, we’ll be getting along with our new system swimmingly. It’s the sort of thing I have wanted for a while, since I truly hate to dictate; and especially hated dictating the information the nurses had already entered into the computer!
However, I have an issue. Not so much with our EMR, but with all EMRs. I have an issue with the deeply-held delusion that computerization will automatically improve charting and patient care.
Some time ago, the inimitable, world famous blogger Dr. Wes (who can be found at http://drwes.blogspot.com/ ) told me that his facility’s conversion to EMR caused him to spend far more time at the computer than with the patient. And true to his great wisdom and insight, that’s where I find myself. It isn’t the location of the computers. We have portable ‘tough-books’ that can go to the bedside. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at edwinleap.com*
December 25th, 2009 by Edwin Leap, M.D. in Better Health Network, Opinion
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Often as not, the miseries of our friends, patients, co-workers or family began with other miseries. The Bible is full of ‘begats.’ Abraham begat Isaac, Isaac begat Jacob, Jacob begat his 12 sons.
Pain is similar; abuse begat depression. Loss begat alcoholism. Loneliness begat PID. Ridicule begat drug abuse. Ignorance begat incapacity. Infidelity begat sorrow. Fatigue begat anger. Neglect begat rage. Abuse begat indifference.
On the other hand, love begat happiness. Children begat purpose. Knowledge begat excellence. Concern for humanity begat medical science. Love for others begat long call nights and long surgeries.
Love for country begat sacrifice. Love for wives, husbands and children begat fidelity.
Love for mankind begat Jesus in the manger, Jesus on the cross.
Life is a series of ‘begats.’
Edwin
*This blog post was originally published at edwinleap.com*
December 24th, 2009 by Happy Hospitalist in Better Health Network, Research
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With 365 days a year, one would think the law of averages would win this battle. And you would be wrong. Because there is a deadliest day of the year? It’s none other than Christmas. Who would have thought that? Why would Christmas be the deadliest day of the year.
Researchers examined 53 million natural deaths between 1973 and 2001. What they found was cardiac and non-cardiac deaths peaked during Christmas and New Year’s (between 4-5% higher than expected). They also found that the proportion of holiday deaths was increasing with time. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at The Happy Hospitalist Blog*
December 23rd, 2009 by Shadowfax in Better Health Network, True Stories
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I’ve not been blogging much lately because of work craziness and traveling. One of my recent travels, however, was not for work but for pleasure. I’ve been studying karate (a traditional Okinawan version called Shorin-Ryu) for over fifteen years. There’s a national federation to which I belong and there are seminars three or four times a year taught by some of our more senior instructors. This was one such seminar, and it focused on joint lock and grappling techniques, some of which our style shares in common with other martial arts such as Akido and Judo.
At one point I was working with a fifth-degree black belt instructor, “Bill.” Super nice guy, and absolutely amazing in his speed and techniques. He was also very kind in teaching me a number of useful tricks and nuances of the techniques we were working on. There was a sequence which culminated in a choke-hold, and he was unhappy with the manner in which I was choking him. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Movin' Meat*
