Healthcare Musings

Dr. Hassaballa embarks on a new series of episodes on Healthcare Musings about getting a job. First things first: if they offer you an eye-popping salary, that's a red flag. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

This is part 2 of Dr. Hassaballa's lecture on common issues in the ICU at night. And it ends like it started: DON'T PANIC. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

Dr. Hassaballa gave this lecture to IM Residents about common problems they may face taking care of patients at night in the ICU. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

in this latest episode, Dr. Hassaballa discusses a crucial aspect of the NRMP. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

As students start entering their rank order lists, Dr. Hassaballa shares advice he gives his students going into Residency. Link: https://www.nrmp.org/match-calendars/master-calendar/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

Synchronized Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation, or SIMV, is an older ventilator setting that we do not use anymore. In this latest ICU Lecture, Dr. Hassaballa explains why it "only belongs in coffee." This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

In this episode, Dr. Hassaballa discusses the most frustrating denial he deals with: the "30 Day Readmission" denial. It is purported to be similar to that by CMS, but this is totally false. Reference: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/prospective-payment-systems/acute-inpatient-pps/hospital-readmissions-reduction-program-hrrp This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with oth...

Starting in 2024, Medicare Advantage plans must follow the Two-Midnight Rule. So, it behooves all clinicians to know that this rule is and document appropriately against it. Reference: https://www.beckerspayer.com/policy-updates/the-2-midnight-rule-and-medicare-advantage-6-things-to-know.html#:~:text=Under%20the%20final%20rule%2C%20an,necessary%20(case%2Dby%2Dcase This is a public episode. If you...

Dr. Hassaballa reflects on how it is too bad that food here in the United States is so much more processed than overseas. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

Dr. Hassaballa speaks about what would have happened if he "found God on the corner of First and Amistad." It would have been so different than the interaction in the song, 'You Found Me," by The Fray. "You Found Me" by The Fray: https://youtu.be/jFg_8u87zT0?si=YByRDT0TuLGeT9jV “Footprints in the Sand”: https://www.umass.edu/rso/acf/Story/Footprints.htm This is a public episode. If you would like...

In this episode, Dr. Hassaballa reflects over two of the songs God used to save his life: "Weightless," by Natasha Bedingfield - https://youtu.be/AUxLeytLHVk?si=tYGTD8xv_JrNa2Zi "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes - https://youtu.be/SVOuYquXuuc?si=HxThkSSgOaQFQC35 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusing...

December is a difficult month for me and my family. This is because in December, on the 30th to be exact, our eldest daughter was born in 1996. And she passed away after a brutal battle with lymphoma in June of 2009. And to help me deal with the grief - and honor her memory - I am planning to post a number of podcast episodes talking about the songs that God used to save my life. This is a public...

I had to tend to a sick fellow passenger recently while traveling on a plane. This incident taught me some valuable lessons. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

Someone was ill on my flight back home from a work trip, and I recount the experience…and gratitude for being able to help. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

The original episode is here: https://soundphysicians.com/podcast-episode/?podcast_id=8173&track_id=1678458171 Check out the "Crossing the Chasm" podcast here: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crossing-the-chasm-with-dr-greg-johnson/id1676682379 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6uPp1Ridfcrwpa7qgjm3St?si=ABbuo0x_SIyK5lcnF06qcQ Sound Physicians: https://soundphysicians.com/podc...

It is absolutely possible to thoroughly document your patient encounter AND get out on time and go home. It is NOT mutually exclusive. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

It would be a travesty and a shame to have your documentation belie the truly great clinician you are. So it's high to focus on the assessment and plan, so we can really show the world the wonderful work we're doing on a daily basis. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

In this latest lecture, Dr. Hassaballa goes over acid base disorders and how to recognize them, as well as mixed acid-base disorders and chronic compensation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

This week is National Respiratory Care Week (October 23-29). As an ICU medical director who works every single day hand in hand with respiratory therapists, as well as having the honor of being the Medical Director of Respiratory Therapy at the Chicago Area Hospital which serves as my base, I wanted to take some time out to really highlight the absolute importance of respiratory therapists and the...

In this episode, Dr. Hassaballa discusses his feeling that the term "DNR," or "do not resuscitate, should be replaced with the term "AND," or "allow for natural death." Some institutions have adopted this change, and Dr. Hassaballa thinks this should be more widespread. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthc...

In this episode, Dr. Hassaballa discusses medical necessity denials: what they are and how to deal with them. Resources: Interqual: https://www.changehealthcare.com/clinical-decision-support/interqual MCG: https://www.mcg.com/client-resources/news-item/mcg-27th-edition-care-guidelines/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episode...

In this episode, Dr. Hassaballa goes over the different types of shock and how to recognize their hemodynamic profiles. Errata: I meant to say that LVEDV is estimated by LVEDP, which is estimated by Left atrial pressure, which is estimated by pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. Also, V = IR and R = V/I. I regret the errrors. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other su...

Clinician burnout is a crisis, and it is something that needs to be addressed by everyone in leadership in healthcare. In this episode, Dr. Hassaballa shares his advice about those who feel obligated to stay after their shift is done so they don't "dump" on their partners. Read more about burnout here: https://www.ama-assn.org/about/leadership/burnout-health-crisis-doctors-and-patients This is a p...

In honor of Sepsis Awareness Month, Dr. Hassaballa recounts a case of a patient who died from sepsis in the ICU more than a decade ago, a case that has stayed with him ever since. Resources: https://www.sccm.org/SurvivingSepsisCampaign/Home This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

The FDA approved the latest Covid booster, and the CDC recommends everyone get it. In this episode of the Healthcare Musings Podcast, Dr. Hassaballa shares his own thought process on whether to get the vaccine or not. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com