Healthcare Musings
This is the official podcast and blog of Hesham A. Hassaballa, MD, a NY Times-featured Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician, Author, and Healthcare Executive. Healthcare Musings discusses important issues in Critical Care, Healthcare, and Medicine in general.
Recent Episodes
“Surgical Consultation Recommended”
I understand why so many Radiologists put this phrase in their reports. It can frequently make things worse, and this is one of the many bad things fear of a malpractice suit has wrought.
What’s The Deal With Potassium In The ICU
No matter which ICU in which I work, I am asked to keep the potassium levels more than 4. Is there any evidence for this?
“They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To”: My Conversation With Dr. Ri…
I have railed against some traits and trends of new students and residents these days. My conversation with one of my teachers, Dr. Richard Abrams, taught me a valuable lesson and made me change my attitude.
The Travesty of “Verbal Denials”
If an insurance payer denies a claim, and we write an appeal. The very least the payer must do is write a letter in response.
Honoring Our EVS Colleagues
This is Environmental Services Week, where we honor a crucial member of the healthcare community: those who clean hospital rooms.
Your First Impression Is Your Only Impression
Patients frequently base their relationships with Doctors on their first impression. And research shows that our attire has a lot to do with that first impression. On this week's episode, Dr. Hassaballa reviews the latest evi...
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Recent Blog Posts
Sleep in the ICU: What Do The Guidelines Say?
Sleep, I often say, is the elusive treasure of a hospital stay. Indeed, when hospitalized, there are many things that need to be done to the patient: diagnostic tests, laboratory studies, multiple visits from multiple clinicians, to name a few. So, …
The Best Answer to "Why Medicine" I Have Ever Heard
“Why Medicine?” Why go into a career that takes several years - and costs hundreds of thousands of dollars - to complete? And, it is still a very demanding job at the end of that long, expensive path. So, why do it? Many, including mys…
Sleep in the ICU: The Classic Experiments
In the classic sleep deprivation experiments, two rats were placed on a disk that can rotate over water. They had as much food and drink as they wanted, and if the experimental rat fell asleep or entered a prohibited sleep stage, the disk started to…