Healthcare Musings

Tips For A Good Night’s Sleep

In the last episode of the “Sleep in the ICU” series, Dr. Hassaballa goes through several easy tips to help get a good night’s sleep. 
American Academy of Sleep Medicine Tips: https://sleepeducation.org/healthy-sleep/healthy-sleep-habits/ 

I Was A Nurse For A Day: It Wasn’t Pretty

Dr. Hassaballa tells the story of when he filled in as a Tele-ICU Nurse. It wasn’t a pretty picture, and it highlights how important nurses truly are to the healthcare field. 
A very Happy Nurses Week to every nurse in the world! There is no “care” in healthcare without nurses. 

Sleep In The ICU: The Guidelines and What We Should Do

In Part 2 of the Sleep in the ICU series, Dr. Hassaballa discusses the SCCM guidelines with respect to sleep in critically ill adults and what we should do in the ICU. 
SCCM Guidelines: https://www.sccm.org/clinical-resources/guidelines/guidelines/guidelines-for-the-prevention-and-management-of-pa 
SCCM Update: https://sccm.org/clinical-resources/guidelines/guidelines/focused-update-padis-guideline 

"They Don't Make Them Like They Used To": My Conversation with Dr. Adam Cifu

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 Education and how it has changed and not changed over the years. 
 
Dr. Cifu's books: https://www.adamcifu.com/books
Sensible Medicine Substack: https://www.sensible-med.com/
 

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-outbreak-2025 

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. 
 
Article referenced in the show: https://www.pulmccm.org/p/guidelines-on-red-cell-transfusion 

ICU Lecture Series: Metabolic Acidosis

In this latest ICU lecture series, Dr. Hassaballa discusses metabolic acidosis: how to diagnose it and what to do about it.