Happy Valentine's Day Edition of Grand Rounds Is Up!

For all the mended hearts, broken hearts, lonely hearts, sweet hearts, crazy hearts, bitter hearts, joyful and happy hearts out there, John Mandrola, MD hosts this week's edition of the medical blog-o-sphere's Grand Rounds at his blog, Dr. John M.

Happy Valentine's Day!

-Wes

Medical Grand Rounds at USAToday This Week

Be sure to check out this week's Grand Rounds hosted by Val Jones, MD over at USAToday's Healthy Perspective blog.

Because of the number of submissions included (55!), Grand Rounds will be divided in to four posts - one at 10am (Health Tips), 1pm (True Stories), 5pm (Myth-Busters & Controversies), and 8pm (Healthcare Costs) today. So check back often to healthypov.usatoday.com to digest some of the best of the medical blog-o-sphere this week.

-Wes

Grand Rounds Is Up

... over at Codeblog - tales of a nurse:

Whereas in the past the host would post nearly every link they received, it appears that we are now moving towards more curated content. I said in my previous post that I wasn’t going to institute a theme, but I was definitely more drawn to the personal-story type posts.

Enjoy.

-Wes

Grand Rounds: The Medical Blog-o-Sphere Gives Thanks

... over at the Diabetes Mine blog. Yes, I'm thankful I don't have to use this old medical kit either (but the pics are cool).

-Wes

Grand Rounds is Up

Grand Rounds, the weekly collection of the some of the best in online medical writing from all (doctors, nurses, patients, healthcare professionals) is hosted this week by none other than the one and only Ramona Bates, MD at the Suture for a Living blog.

-Wes

Jobs Jobs Jobs - Grand Rounds is Up

Witty, pithy, and clever as always, Dr. Rich's belated Labor Day edition of Grand Rounds is up.

-Wes

Grand Rounds is Up

Over at Medical Lessons with some nice pictures, too!

-Wes

Grand Rounds is Up

It's been eighteen hours and counting since a storm squall passed through Chicago last evening knocking out about 250,000 folks' electricity, including mine. Fortunately, Shrink Rap has offered a well-timed Summer Soltice edition of Grand Rounds on "hot" topics for your enjoyment while I see if I can get a battery backup system for my sump pump...

-Wes

Grand Rounds, Dr. Rich-Style, Is Up

... over at the award-winning Covert Rationing Blog and it's definitely worth a read:

Especially since the events of last week, it would be absurd for DrRich to think that everybody is out to get him. Still, it seems plain that, of late, not all individuals enjoy his efforts here at the Covert Rationing Blog.

Two years ago, for instance, DrRich was “invited” to testify as a witness before a federal grand jury in a matter involving one of his consulting clients. While under oath, DrRich was caused to understand that the Feds (at least certain members of the DOJ) are well aware of this blog, and of the general tenor of its content. The impression left by this experience makes DrRich doubt whether many of his fans come from that particular precinct.

Further, the CRB has been the victim of two targeted denial-of-service attacks just in the last several months. Perhaps this is a common experience for healthcare bloggers, but then again, perhaps not. Finally, there’s the fact that last May (some readers may recall) a nasty hacking exploit completely trashed the CRB at the server level, resulting in the loss of the first three years of DrRich’s endeavors here (which, some have said, is the greatest tragedy to befall posterity since the burning of the Library at Alexandria).

And so, Dear Reader, while DrRich is certainly happy to be hosting Grand Rounds for the fourth time, and is particularly delighted with the quality of postings which he has the honor of featuring this week, it occurs to him that hosting an event with such high (and well-deserved) visibility might draw certain “extra attention” here. So perhaps you had better read this quickly.

-Wes

Grand Rounds Is Up

Over at the FDAzilla blog:

As you read through the best posts from the medical blogosphere for the week, just think about how amazing all of this is - health care leads to all kinds of misconceptions, frustrations, discoveries, inspiration, opportunities, tragedy, and humor.

This week's pick: how a man in Sweden was forced to have his penis amputated after waiting more than a year to learn he had cancer.

I'm not kidding, the story's there. Check it out, if you dare.

I think the story's cross-filed under "tragedy" and "frustrations."

-Wes

Grand Rounds Are Up!

Over at Dr. John M(androla)'s place:

Welcome to another edition of Grand Rounds, a collection of writings from medical bloggers, the world-wide.

Here are this week's posts, collated into four chapters, with just a little commentary and a few selected images.

Enjoy!

-Wes

Plenty to Be Thankful For

It's from an old post, but it's worth repeating:

I am thankful for the teenagers who are complaining about doing chores -- that means they are home and safe.

... for homework. It means we live in a country where education is valued and encouraged for all.

... for the taxes I pay; it means I have income.

... for the mess that I have to clean up after parties, because it means I am surrounded by friends.

... for the clothes that fit a little 'too snug' because it means I have enough to eat.

... for the lawn to mow, windows to wash and gutters to clean; it means I have a home.

... for the parking spot I found at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking and am blessed with transportation.

... for my huge heating bill, because it means I am warm.

... for the person behind me in church that sings off key, because it means I can hear.

... for the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to wear.

... for all the complaining I hear about the government; it means we have freedom of speech.

... for the alarm that goes off early in the morning because it means that I am alive!- Author unknown

And for those who can access Facebook at work (we can't), this week's Grand Rounds full of thanks is being held at Amanda Brown, DVM's Facebook page.

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Wes

Grand Rounds is Up

Kim over at Emergiblog hosts this week's edition of the best of the medical blog-o-sphere:

We’ll travel through the medical blogosphere of 21st century...

Enjoy!

-Wes

Grand Rounds Vol 7, No.6: The 2010 Politically (in)Correct Mid-Term Election Edition

Welcome to this week's mid-term edition of the medical blog-o-sphere's Grand Rounds! Before we begin, be SURE to get to the polls to VOTE!

This week submissions were classified by state or country of origin. Politically incorrect posts by state were colored RED whereas politically correct posts by state were colored BLUE. (States with both extremes are represented in PURPLE.)

Now what would any political post be without a POLITICAL MAP of the states represented in this week's Grand Rounds?

(Scroll down or click on a desired state)

TENNESSEE


It is rare to find such a wonderful example of our great democracy in action, where even the little guy can run for governor. But along came this must-see video, by far the most politically-incorrect submission to this week's Grand Rounds. This post should serve as a reminder to all of us why we MUST get out and vote today. (Submitted by the Happy Hospitalist). Go Basil! (Return to map)

GEORGIA

The Peach State has both extremes,

• From the very politically correct: Kimberly Manning, MD takes one heck-of-a-big-breath as she offers a refreshingly realistic view of the tenacity required to manage medicine, kids, home and a bit of social life. Doctor-moms never get enough credit. (Via: the ACP Hospitalist blog)


• To the very politically incorrect: Insurance executive Bob Vineyard isn't too happy with the Department of Health and Human Services granting "Obamacare waivers" to large, influential companies and wants to make sure you know about it. Tell us how you feel! (Return to map)

PENNSYLVANIA

Dr. Rich, ever politically incorrect yet astute over at the Covert Rationing blog, shares with us why he feels this midterm election cycle is a yawner: the fat lady, er, man, has already sung. (Return to map)

KENTUCKY

Dr. John Mandrola of the Dr. John M blog, always a bastion of political correctness, explains who should be on death expert panels if he were in charge and why. (Return to map)

ARKANSAS

Doctors who blog add depth to medical stories found on the internet. A fantastic example is Dr. Ramona Bates's coverage of California Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Carly Fiorina’s recent hospitalization due to an infection related to her post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. We need more like this. I wonder if she's thought about a run for Congress... (Return to map)

ILLINOIS

File these under politically correct:

Ever have something break (like an exploding ICD) and want to find out if others have seen the same thing? Check out Tony Chen's FDAZilla search engine that makes it easy to search the FDA's MAUDE database.

John H. Schumann, FACP uses President Obama's handling of the career USDA employee Shirley Sherrod's contextual kerfuffle as an example for "making nice" after we screw up. And while errors are inevitable and this is probably the best way to handle them once they've occurred, the story also reinforces principles to which all blog readers should ascribe: checking sources before drawing conclusions. (Return to map)

NEW YORK

(Political Action Committee) Chris Langston, Program Director of the John Hartford Foundation, happily reintroduces us to the must-see satirical video that lampoons a clueless “health care executive” who has read in Modern Healthcare how to create an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) and “have lots of meetings” to make his board happy. While Langston acknowledges "...everyone interested in health care reform is hoping that ACOs will provide a miracle cure for our ailing health system, no one is really sure how they will work." But like the true executive that he is, he then explains (with the help of Modern Healthcare, of course), how they will work. It's hard to find a better example of executive political correctness.

Elaine Schattner, M.D. shares her review of a new Broadway play Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and shares these tag lines:

Some times you have to take the initiative.
Some times your whole family dies of cholera.
Some times you have to make your own story.
Some times you have to shoot the story teller in the neck.
Some times you have to take back the country….

Hmmm. A metaphor? (Return to map)

NEBRASKA

Regarding sentiment for health care reform, the Happy Hospitalist reminds us that some former supporters are throwing in the towel. In a word: change. (Return to map)

MASSACHUSETTS

(Political Action Committee) Julie Rosen of the Bedside Manner blog explains why health literacy matters and brings our attention to the need for good public education and its benefits of such later health care. (Return to map)

INDIANA

(Political Action Committee) Walter Jessen of Highlight HEALTH reports on how the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) has thrown down the glove to push for a breast cancer vaccine by 2020. This is a great example how special interests confront our legislators every day. (Note: they listen more if you bring lunch!) (Return to map)

CANADA

In "From Plain Film to 3D: Radiologists as Superstars," Notwithstanding Blog argues that radiologists are the economic superstars of American Medicine. Funny to hear this from Canada. Still, it's acknowledged "... the challenge facing American radiologists in my lifetime may not be justifying their value in patient care so much as justifying their value over and above their American-boarded Indian-based counterparts." Exactly. (Return to map)

UNDISCLOSED

Dr. Fizzy over at A Cartoon Guide to Becoming a Doctor explains, as only a cartoon can, why Health Insurance Sucks. Too bad Dr. Fizzy may soon be mandated by law to buy it. (Return to map)

* * *

Before closing, I'd like to point you to a few more salient election day thoughts by Paul Levy, CEO and President of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center:

I hope the very good people who lose in tomorrow's balloting will keep up their fights, whether they are incumbents or challengers. They, especially, deserve our thanks for participating in our election process.

Amen.

Next week's Grand Rounds will be hosted by Mother Jones, RN at Nurse Ratched's Place.

-Wes

Election 2010: Dr. Wes to Host Grand Rounds

In just eight short days America will head to the polls to vote for their favorite midterm candidates. In the next six short days, you can have an opportunity to tell your candidates what you think of health care today.

That's because yours truly will be hosting the Election 2010: The Politically (In)Correct Edition of Grand Rounds. Think "Indecision 2010."

But before you Tea Party and Coffee Party candidates "tea" off on each other to bring the world the best of the medical blog-o-sphere, please realize there are carefully crafted ground rules for engagement.

So if you want to be included, send me your most politically incorrect OR (if you must) politically correct blog post title, it's URL, and the STATE (OR COUNTRY) YOU REPRESENT. Send your "candidate entries" to wes-at-medtees-dot-com and include "Grand Rounds" somewhere on the subject line (otherwise, your entry might be classified as political porno spam).

Be creative. Make a statement. Don't be shy. Write like your political career depends on it!

The most PG-13 or R-rated politically-incorrect entries (think: a whole new way to take back medicine, weird cases, radiology of sex (good Sitemeter candy) - those types of things) OR best of class of politically-correct entries (patient care experiences, teachable moments) will receive top billing. "Do-gooder" entries like healthy eating or living tips need not apply (this is politics, remember - IT'S ALL ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT VALUE!).

Entries must be submitted by 23:59 pm on 31 October 2010 (yup, Halloween evening) to be considered.

See you at the polls!

-Wes

Grand Rounds Is Up

This week's best of the medical blog-o-sphere is up over at "Bedside Manner:"

The theme of this week’s Grand Rounds is hot topics in healthcare communication.

Enjoy!

-Wes

Grand Rounds Is Up

This week's Blog-o-sphere Grand Rounds is being hosted at a great new blog that I must add to my sidebar, A Cartoon Guide to Becoming a Doctor:

Webster's Dictionary defines "grand rounds" as nothing, because it's not even in there.

I was a little worried about what kind of posts people would submit, because I've observed some people have a questionable sense of humor. When I was in med school, I was an editor for our humor magazine and someone once submitted a copy of last year's physiology exam (although admittedly, that exam was pretty funny). Anyway, I shouldn't have worried. I think we have a good mix of the goofy, the twisted, the witty, the intellectual, and... the risque.

Well done!

-Wes

Grand Rounds Is Up

Grand Rounds, the best of this week's medical blog-o-sphere, is up over at 33 Charts.

By Referral: Grand Rounds

Grand Rounds, the best of the Medical Blog-o-sphere, is hosted this week by none other than the eight year old (blog), GruntDoc, and is suitably titled: The Non Narcissist, Non Personally Aggrandizing Edition.

(Be sure to check out the modifed pain scale faces at Hyperbole and a Half included in the selections.)

-Wes

Grand Rounds is Up (Along With the Groundhogs)

... over at Dr. Rob's place at Musings of a Distractible Mind.

-Wes