Blog

Is There a Shortage of Oncologists?

Aug 11, 2017

With some analyses warning of an impending oncologist shortage, are we truly approaching a point of critical need? Are practice extenders such as advanced practitioners the best solution to fill that gap or are there other options?

Speaking the Unspoken

Jul 04, 2017

Dear Patient—Although the circumstances were stressful, it was indeed a pleasure meeting you and your family today. There are words I wanted to say to you today but didn’t, for fear of distracting you from the immediate plan and also, I must admit, out of a certain degree of evasiveness.

Do Doctors Know How Much They Spend? Do They Care?

Jun 30, 2017

Continuing to hold institutions to specific outcomes may never result in spending control. We need to educate individual physicians on cost-effectiveness in treatment planning.

10 Tricks for Surviving and Thriving at ASCO’s Annual Meeting

May 30, 2017

This slide show presents tricks for surviving and thriving at the ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago. Everything from transportation, McCormick Place, planning your days, using social media, which sessions to attend, how to network, where to eat, and how to be a tourist in Chicago.

Women Doctors Aren’t Better; More Human? Maybe

Apr 14, 2017

You may have missed the report concluding that patients had lower readmission and mortality rates if they were under the care of female hospitalists vs their male counterparts. I know excellent physicians in both camps and some sorry ones as well.

The Rules of the Road

Mar 02, 2017

A review of the rules of the road for doctors, because everyone remembers their first license.

Gray Matter

Feb 03, 2017

Oncologists deliver news—good and bad—on a daily basis. It is, for me, the most challenging and rewarding part of my job.

How Much Value Is in Your Office Visit?

Dec 20, 2016

Are we failing to be as efficient as we could be in delivering care to cancer patients, particularly in follow-up after treatment?

Things We Learned This Year

Dec 02, 2016

Gentle reader, the hour is late. As the poet said, almost all of the grains of sand allotted to 2016 have sifted down onto the pyramid of memory. Before this year’s hourglass empties, though, let’s take a moment to reflect on some of the phenomena we observed during the past months in this esoteric branch of medicine.

Talking Heads—Yours and Theirs!

Oct 06, 2016

Likely, most doctors would say they are good listeners. It is an essential skill when studying and practicing medicine. But under stress of limited time or a patient not responding to treatment—maybe our ability suffers a bit. Perhaps we are listening but also talking and not checking for understanding.

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