In the first post on cardiovascular insights, Dr. Hicks looked at the structure and function of the heart, understanding atrial fibrillation and congestive cardiac failure. We return again to his helpful site, to gain a deeper understanding of heart attacks and stents, followed by pacemakers and defibrillators: (more…)
In the Spring of 2009 a new strain of influenza began to infect people in Mexico. Reports suggested that the outbreak had started in February due to farming practices at a pig farm and it was henceforth given the name ‘swine flu’. By April, cases had started to spread and were appearing in the United […]
Our lives are often frenetic both at home and at work. The last person that we look after is usually our self. If we step back and consider this for a minute, or if we look at it from the standpoint of us giving a patient advice, then our advice would be that in order […]
Working as medics we are often rushed off our feet with barely time to take a comfort break or breathe. There are competing demands on our attention from patients and colleagues as well as the endless list of ‘must-do’ tasks. So, how can we possibly find the time to re-charge our batteries? If we think […]
In my last post, I mentioned Dr Dike Drummond’s “Burnout prevention matrix”. For me this provides a great way to dissect burnout prevention by looking at strategies to reduce stress at home and work and to increase our recharge in both. In this post, I want to focus on strategies for reducing stress at work. […]
I am a doctor, a GP. I have worked in the NHS for over 20 years. I have always loved my job. Then, stress and anxiety completely crippled me. I no longer enjoyed working as a GP. In fact, I dreaded it. I was exhausted and burnt out. I am not alone in this. Over […]
Dr. Hicks is the founding physician of Veritas Cardiovascular in South Carolina. He noticed that patients were often confused by their diagnoses and why they were supposed to be taking certain medications. Medical staff can all feel the pressures of time during consultations, and on many occasions patients can leave without really understanding the explanations […]
In Part 1 of ‘The Oxygenator Assessment’ we learnt what the oxygentor is. In Part 2 we are going to look at the 6 big issues that need to be covered from an airway assessment perspective: The atmosphere Mask ventilation Laryngoscopy/intubation → infraglottic Rescue airway → supra/extraglottic Surgical airway Lung compliance The Atmosphere I include […]
I’m sure by now most of you are asking what on earth the oxygenator is. To be honest, I asked it too. I had to think of a way to get you thinking about an often neglected area of patient assessment… neglect of which can be catastrophic. As I started thinking about it, I realized […]
I can vividly remember being taught how to ‘scrub up’ as a third year medical student. The careful scrutiny of the theatre sister filled me with fear. Had I touched the wrong part of the scrub pack? Were my hands completely sterile? On more than one occasion I completely forgot to put on my facemask […]