Blog

  • two large boulders with large gap in between with the word "empathy" under a bridge

    The Empathy Gap- Revisiting the 90 Second Encounter™️

    A few weeks ago I watched a virtual screening of The Color of Care, a documentary highlighting the disparate and inequitable care received by Black and Brown individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the movie, Executive Producer Oprah Winfrey opined that one of the primary issues with healthcare is the “empathy gap”. Upon hearing the

  • Why I Created Your GPS Doc

    In Simon Sinek’s iconic book Start with Why he states, “Regardless of WHAT we do in our lives, our WHY– our driving purpose, cause or belief– never changes.” So I am going to start with my WHY. Two months after having my first child, my mother died from leukemia. I had just finished my second

  • What You Need to Know About Living Wills

    Imagine the following scenario: Your grandfather suffers a severe stroke and the doctors tell your family he will never wake up. The entire family is devastated and heartbroken. Your grandmother has had numerous conversations with him and knows he would not want to be kept alive on life support. But your mom and her siblings

  • woman completing power of attorney

    Why Your Aging Family Member Needs a Healthcare Power of Attorney NOW

        My father began to show signs of dementia in his early 60s. Within a few years, he was missing dialysis appointments and not taking good care of himself. When my sisters and I started accompanying him to his doctor’s appointments we were struck with the painful reality that he was no longer capable

  • questions

    How to Be a “High Maintenance” Caregiver (AKA, How to Advocate for Your Caree)

    Several years ago my mother-in-law was hospitalized with severe pneumonia. She was very ill, her condition was unstable, and the doctors began to suspect an underlying respiratory condition. There were multiple specialists involved and it was nearly impossible to get information. I requested a family meeting, during which I asked several questions regarding her care.

  • Who are the Doctors Caring for You in the Hospital?

    When I began practicing as a hospitalist physician my patients’ family members would routinely ask, “When is her regular doctor coming to see her?” They were happy with the care I provided but wanted to see a familiar face. Today, almost thirteen years later, I am asked this question very rarely. Due to numerous changes

  • The Family Meeting: Part 1

    There’s nothing more frightening than having a loved one in the hospital and feeling clueless. You keep missing the attending physician despite arriving early in the morning. The nurse is so busy caring for other patients that she doesn’t have much time to talk to you and hasn’t been able to adequately review the chart.

  • The Family Meeting Part 2: How to Prepare

    As discussed in last week’s blog post, the family meeting is an essential tool for communicating with members of the health care team when you or your loved one is hospitalized. I have participated in numerous family meetings as part of the medical team, but I have also been on the other side of the table

  • Medical Transportation: When Driving is No Longer an Option

    My father loved cars and he enjoyed driving. I have fond memories of family road trips in the station wagon as a young child, and in his Chevy Suburban during my adolescent years. But the vehicle he treasured the most was a used Mercedes Benz he purchased in the ‘80s. Even though it required diesel

  • 5 Things You Need to Do When Choosing Your Primary Care Physician

      I have a great primary care physician. He is personable and kind. He keeps up with the latest guidelines and provides excellent care. He utilizes an electronic medical record that allows me to access my lab results via a patient portal. He considers patients to be partners in the decision-making process. His office staff