Healthcare Musings

ICU Lecture Series: Acid Base Disorders

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

Celebrating Respiratory Therapists

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 their role in the care of a critically ill patient.We cannot do our jobs properly without respiratory therapists. 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

We Should Abandon the Term ”DNR”

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 healthcaremusings.substack.com

From the Appeals Desk: Medical Necessity Denials

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/interqualMCG: 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 episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

Shock and Hemodynamics

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 subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

Get the F*^& Out…

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 public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healthcaremusings.substack.com

The Ruthless Monster That is Sepsis

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

To Jab or Not to Jab?

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

Why I Stopped Drinking Diet Coke

In this episode, Dr. Hassaballa talks about why he stopped drinking Diet Coke. And no...it has nothing do with cancer.Links:WHO Statement on aspartame: https://www.who.int/news/item/14-07-2023-aspartame-hazard-and-risk-assessment-results-releasedMicrobiome and nonnutritive sweeteners: https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(22)00919-9?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0092867422009199%3Fshowall%3DtrueNonnutritive sweeteners and weight gain: https://www.cmaj.ca/content/189/28/E929Gut-brain axis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641835/ 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

From the Appeals Desk: Prior Authorization Denials

Insurance company denials are terribly frustrating. There are a number of causes, and in this series, we will explore the types of denials and what we can do to mitigate them.Resources: "From the Appeals Desk": https://healthcaremusings.substack.com/t/from-the-appeals-deskAssociation for Healthcare Appeals and Denial Management (AHDAM): https://www.ahdam.org/ 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