Stanford University’s Medical Education in the New Millennium
[vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] Big news! I've been asked to join the faculty of the Stanford University School of Medicine's course: Medical Education in the New Millennium: Innovation and Digital...
Speaking Up to Prevent Medical Error: Its Not About the Patient
I’ve been part of many workshop programs aimed at improving communication among team members in healthcare. Among operating room teams, that often seems to revolve around “speaking up”. After an event occurs, it is almost unfathomable that a team member possessed...
What Joan Rivers’ Death Teaches Us About Healthcare Safety: It’s Not What You Think
[vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] What events caused legendary comedian Joan Rivers to die while undergoing an endoscopic procedure? While there has been a lot of speculation surrounding the death of Ms....
Stealing Expertise from K. Anders Ericsson
[vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] "Good artists copy but great artists steal" - Picasso Last week, I had the enormous pleasure of being a keynote speaker at a simulation symposium in Kansas City...
When Things Go Wrong In Medicine: The Second and Third Victim
Adverse events happen in medicine, and their impact is felt not only by the patient and the patient’s loved ones, but also by the physicians and other medical team members caring for the patient. These medical professionals who suffer after-effects are called “second...
Visceral Bias, Difficult Patients, and “Guilt by Association”
[vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] "There will always be patients and families who are considered high maintenance, challenging, or both by health care providers. Among them are a few with evident...
Anticipated Regret and Medical Decisions
[vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] Is this quote true? Versions of this sentiment abound, and seem like motivation for living life to the fullest. But what does it really mean to regret, and how can we...
5 Key Reasons Doctors Should Use Social Media
[vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] Doctors should use social media - really! This week, I'm at the gorgeous Kiawah Island Golf Resort speaking at the Carolina Refresher Course - a great meeting that...
The Emergency Airway, Quick and Easy?
[vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] Image courtesy The Daily Mail [/vc_column_text] [divider type="standard" text="Go to top" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom="no"...
Any questions?
[vc_single_image image="302" image_size="full" frame="noframe" full_width="no" lightbox="yes" link_target="_self" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] I can't trace the...
ASA Legislative Conference
UNC sent 3 faculty and 2 residents to represent our institution at the conference. We joined 20 other members of the NC Society of Anesthesiologists, making NC the most widely represented state (even compared to giants like California and New York). We learned a lot...
Go Cardinals!
[vc_single_image image="ype-of-350" image_size="full" frame="noframe" full_width="no" lightbox="yes" link_target="_self" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] This past...
Analysis of Decision Factors in a Perioperative Error
With the leisure of hindsight, it is easy to tear apart case reports, and identify the single most glaring mistake that is simply responsible for the poor outcome. However, one undeniable truth in safety culture and human error is that "try harder" or "don't make...
Understanding the Nonrational Components of Choice
Who doesn't love to think about the nonrational components of medical decisions and choices? If you know me, you know I'm fascinated by the decisions we make, both as doctors and as patients. Why do doctors and patients make choices that seem to fly in the face of...
Awake Fiberoptic Intubation Made Rapid and Reliable
Can awake fiberoptic intubation be fast and easy? With the growing availability of video laryngoscopes and other devices, fiberoptic intubation skills seem to be decaying and perhaps not being mastered at all during residency training. In a closed claims analysis*,...
Standardized Patients Take New Role to Increase Simulation Fidelity
[vc_single_image image="363" image_size="full" frame="noframe" full_width="no" lightbox="yes" link_target="_blank" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [vc_column_text pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] Below is an...
What are the most common causes of preventable error?
The Joint Commission tracks all reported sentinel events and categorizes them by root cause. Do you know the most common causes of preventable and catastrophic error in healthcare? The same three root causes top the lists every year! What are these pervasive...
Focus on Education in Anesthesiology
This month, the premier journal of our specialty has a special issue dedicated to education. Although the majority of anesthesiologists are in private practice, and not actively involved in education or academics on a daily basis, the editor makes a case for the...