Per the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, summer 2024 was the hottest on record since 1880,1 rising more than 1.5ºC (34.7ºF) from preindustrial levels. As we start to experience unprecedented heat waves globally and instances of snow in northern Florida, physicians need to consider how these previously uncommon weather patterns…
In The Doctor by Sir Luke Fildes (Fig.), light draws our focus to the patient and physician. The painting shows the compassion, concern, and tenderness found in their relationship. The physician’s countenance encapsulates the challenges of our profession. In the physician’s expression of concern, there is the contemplation of pathophysiology,…
MedConnect, originally known as the Vertically Integrated Trainee Program (VITP), was created in fall 2017 to connect premedical undergraduate students at the University of South Carolina with medical students at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, both located in Columbia, for mentorship and guidance. Our organization was formed…
Objective: Severe alcohol withdrawal (SAW) is a common cause of hospital admission in the United States. There has been increased interest in phenobarbital use for SAW treatment. We aimed to investigate variability in alcohol withdrawal management protocols at different hospitals within a geographic region, with a focus on phenobarbital use….
Children gaining access to unsafely secured firearms is a serious concern. Unintentional injury, including from firearms, is the leading cause of death in children. Firearms-related injuries are the second highest cause of child mortality in the United States, with more than 3100 cases reported in 2016.1 In 2021, two in…
Medical students around the world are now routinely using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools (eg, Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer, Microsoft CoPilot, and OpenEvidence) as they interview patients, generate differential diagnoses, and formulate treatment plans.1 Although more experienced clinicians who trained without these tools often rely on memory and pattern recognition,…
Constipation is a common condition seen in both the inpatient and outpatient settings that complicates discharges and affects patients’ quality of life. Chronic constipation is estimated to affect 14.6% to 25% of the world population, making it one of the most common causes for referral to a specialist.1
A 45-year-old woman presented to the emergency department (ED) in Cali, Colombia after sustaining a snake bite to her heel while walking barefoot in her backyard. Examination of the affected foot revealed a tiny puncture wound at the bite site with no surrounding erythema or significant tenderness. The remaining physical…
The potential power and influence of labels we apply to people have been known for some time. Rosenthal and Jacobson showed how negative expectations of students on the part of teachers could influence academic outcomes, and Stuart and Wolpe showed how psychiatric labels (diagnoses) could bend interpretations of observed behavior…
To the Editor: Rural Americans face persistent barriers in otolaryngologic care due to shortages of otolaryngologists, geographic isolation, and limited transportation. These challenges contribute to significant delays in diagnosis and treatment.
With its usual precision, the Oxford English Dictionary defines diagnosis as the “determination of the nature of a diseased condition.”1 At what point in evaluating a patient have we actually determined the cause of their condition? We propose that when physicians have completed their initial evaluation of a newly hospitalized…
Since the Institute of Medicine published To Err is Human in 2000,1 much attention has been paid to medical errors as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in medicine. Soon after, researchers began exploring the reasons behind medical errors. Some literature estimates that cognitive errors play a role in…
It is well documented that the retention rates for women in academic medicine are lower than those for their male counterparts. In addition to hardships related to personal obligations/responsibilities, contributing institutional factors such as support for work–life integration, meaningful mentorship, and transparent policies are factors that may affect retention.1
The ability of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze large datasets, recognize patterns, and provide diagnostic insights has sparked significant interest in the potential applications of AI in medicine. Fields such as radiology, pathology, and genomics have begun using AI technologies that can assist with processing and interpreting complex data.1
Lung transplant recipients are a unique cohort of patients who require a multidisciplinary approach to their management when hospitalized. Given their higher rate of comorbidities, use of immunosuppression medications, and increased risk of complications, transplant patients require specialized, comprehensive care. In central Ohio, our institution is a 1497-bed academic tertiary…
In the July 2023 issue of Southern Medical Journal, the article by Andersen et al, “Associations between COVID-19 Death Exposure and COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Vaccine Uptake,” contained an error in a grant number. The correct number of the grant from the Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities is NIH…
Breast cancer care is advancing at an extraordinary pace, yet each new answer seems to raise fresh questions for clinicians, researchers, and patients alike. With that dynamic landscape in mind, the Southern Medical Journal devotes this special issue to the latest insights across the continuum of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment,…
Breast cancer is the most common cancer next to skin cancer for women in the United States, and it is the second leading cause of cancer death after lung cancer. New cases of female breast cancer rose an average of 0.6% each year between 2013 and 2022. Fortunately, the death…
The transition from inpatient to ambulatory care represents a critical period requiring seamless coordination between hospital teams and primary care physicians (PCPs). This handover is particularly crucial for older adult patients with multiple comorbidities, including cognitive and physical impairments, for whom careful management can prevent readmissions and ensure successful recovery….
We believe that the quality of medical care in the United States would be further enhanced by even greater emphasis on the commitment of healthcare providers to the well-being of their patients. This commitment involves not only technical expertise but also a deep understanding of the diverse needs and backgrounds…
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