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
"They Don't Make Them Like They Used To": My Conversation with Dr. Ad…
Dr. Adam Cifu is an award-winning Medical Educator and general internist at the University of Chicago. He also writes for the fantastic Substack, Sensible Medicine. I had a wonderful conversation with him about Medical Educat...
Sleep in the ICU: The Classic Experiments
In the first of a two-part series about sleep in the intensive care unit, Dr. Hassaballa discusses the classic sleep deprivation studies and their implications on our own sleep.
Every Measles Death Is Too Many
Unless one has lost a child, then he or she can never know the horror of the parents who just lost a child to measles in Texas. For the latest on the Texas Measles Outbreak: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outb...
Faith in the ICU: Stories of Wonder
In the latest installment of the Faith in the ICU Series, Dr. Hassaballa recounts a story that has always stayed with him.
ICU Lecture Series: The ICU Liberation Bundle
In this latest episode of the ICU Lecture Series, Dr. Hassaballa lectures to staff about the ICU Liberation Bundle. Link: https://sccm.org/clinical-resources/iculiberation-home/abcdef-bundles
What Is A Blood Transfusion, Truly?
Despite multiple specialty society guidelines recommending not to transfuse blood if the hemoglobin levels are above 7-8 g/dL, many physicians disregard the recommendations. Why is that? Dr. Hassaballa discusses this issue. A...
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Recent Blog Posts
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…
One Measles Death Is Too Many
On April 5, 2025, a second child died of measles in Texas. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, both children were otherwise healthy. If you have never lost a child, then you cannot know - and I wish you will NEVER come to kn…
Faith in the ICU: Stories of Wonder
I am a man of deep faith, striving to live a life of righteousness to the best of my ability. While never imposing my religious belief on anyone, especially not my patients, I am still quite comfortable in the sphere of faith and speaking the langua…