An electrophysiologist studies the science of electricity in the heart. Although much is to be known, there seems little mystery when compared to the science of the youthful mind. With much grief this weekend we learned suicide is the third leading cause of death in adolescents. Of a runner, a cyclist, a friend, but mostly a […]
The phone conversations are overheard. The other doctor is new to the game of private practice and she meticulously explains the illness to a daughter. This persists for about twenty minutes and at the end of the phone call the daughter suggests the doctor needs to talk with the son who is a surgeon […]
The WSJ recently reported the American Heart Association’s earth shattering proclamation urging people to focus on the prevention of heart disease. The AHA provides the seven steps to wellness, like a map to the grail. Does the AHA have a surprise or something novel to share with us? No, just the usual recommendations to not smoke, […]
When in medical school we learned that the pulmonary veins carry blood from the lungs to the heart like a simple pipe. Now we know that pulmonary veins previously thought to be inert pipes often hold the triggers for the the most common arrhythmia on earth, atrial fibrillation. Cardiac muscle bundles wrapped around these veins […]
First there is increasingly less reimbursement for the non-procedural aspects of medicine, then more paperwork and now a requirement from the California Department of Managed Care that doctors see patients within 10-15 days. Yes, the word require was used. Every spring when we venture to southern California to ride bikes it is impossible not to […]
Just when one can discover little good news in the health care reform dreariness, a text message comes from the hospital vice president overseeing cardiac care. The hospital board has approved expansion of the current dated EP (electrophysiology) lab to two modern labs side by side. Capital investments like this are not for the faint […]
Here are two vignettes illustrating the failure of doctors to master the obvious and maybe a window onto the future struggles to control medical costs. A 90 year old is referred for care due to “end stage dementia.” End-stage dementia is medical speak and as such does not really convey the appropriate imagery. It means […]
Last spring in the warmth I finish talking to my friend, a gardener, and he speaks of his engagement with non-cycling endeavors and inability to ride the bike for hours. Hanging up the phone I am perplexed. How can this be? But now after the third and final day of the atrial fibrillation symposium I […]
There are many highlights of this outstanding meeting but the live cases are always a standout. Today there were 2 from Rochester, MN and one from Boston. Live ablation procedures on real life patients are beamed into the lecture hall via some mysterious satellite through a maze of cables. The operators, with their NFL-coach […]
It is a seemingly endless classroom, forty foot warehouse type ceiling, all black walls, five bipoles of jumbo screen monitors and hundreds of atrial fibrillation experts from all over the world, speaking in many dialects and languages. A long way from the friendly confines and comfort of lab 5, the electrophysiology lab on Kresge Way. […]
Sometimes I wonder about putting mind-numbing, boring and trivial words out into the internet world. It must be a very slow news day in New York, or the reporter must have friends in high places to get a story published in the Times on how vehicle exhaust may be linked to respiratory illness or heart […]