Review of Systems

In case you don't know, the "review of systems" is the laundry list of questions at the end of the medical interview that may tip you off to something you may have missed during the first part of the interview. Docs with little time to see the patient, sometimes gets into "tunnel vision" and, sometimes go down the wrong path. A quick review of systems may help you get back on track.

Above is a video from our new blog buddy Dr. Katie as she is practicing the Review of Systems for class. Ah, the Review of Systems through the eyes of a medical student. I remember how nervous I felt wondering whether I would forget "this" system or "that" system. Anyway, a good review for me. Thanks Katie! (make sure you watch the entire thing - the last 5 secs are GOLD)

Show 71 Preview

The Doctor Anonymous Show is happy to welcome Gwenn Schurgin O'Keeffe, MD, FAAP who is the founder of the website Pediatrics Now as this week's special co-host. Dr. Gwenn will be coming on the show once a month to talk about topics having to do with pediatrics. (Also check out the video above which was recorded at noon today when it was still sunny out)

This month, Dr. Gwenn has asked Doctor V to be on the show. He runs the blog called "Parenting Solved: Compelling commentary on parenting and child health." Doctor V has also written a book called "Colic Solved: The Essential Guide to Infant Reflux and the Care of Your Crying, Difficult-to-Soothe Baby."

In addition to our guests, I will have a HUGE announcement having to do with my February 5th, 2009 show. So, join us the Thursday, January 29th, 2009 at 9pm Eastern Time on BlogTalkRadio for Dr. A Show number 71.

And, hey, if you cannot catch us live, that's ok. All my shows are archived and available for download. So, can you listen anytime! But, if you do listen live, you will be able to participate in our live, interactive chat room. You'll also have the opportunity to call in to join the conversation, and even see my shining face on my webcam. See you for the show!

Show 69 Wrap-up

Thanks so much to my co-host Kim for all of her hard work to put this show together. (Can also download the show here. Also, don't forget to check out the video post) She definitely did a lot of show prep including contacting and inviting the guests - and writing some great questions. Kim also primarily ran the interviews during the show. Great job Kim!

Thanks also to the guests on the show tonight. First was Stacy from the blog called "The Adventures of Stacy Without An E." Our second guest was Tracy from the blog called "Kaply, Inc." Not only did we have a great conversation about their blogs, but also we had a great conversation about how it was to live with chronic kidney disease and to live with dialysis.

Also, don't forget to join me for the "Night Shift with Dr. A" which will be on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 9pm Eastern Time. My co-host for that show will be Kat from the BTR show "Llanview Lowdown." We'll talk a little medicine, a little health, entertainment, pop culture, and whatever else comes up. Hope to see you for the Night Shift!

Dr. A Show 69: Dialysis

Thursday, January 22nd, 2008 at 9pm Eastern Time (0200 GMT)

Join us tonight for Doctor Anonymous Show 69 where we will have a special co-host. You may remember Kim from Dr. A Show 57 who works in a dialysis center and she is also a nursing student. Kim has graciously set up two guests for our discussion on dialysis and chronic kidney disease. Joining us for the show will be Stacy from the blog "Stacy Without An E" and Tracy from the blog "Kaply, Inc."

If you do listen live, you can even take part in the chat room. It is truly "The show within the show." You can even call in and say hello. A great opportunity to interact with medbloggers you've only read about. And, you will be able to see me on the live webcam during the show! See you tonight!

For first time Blog Talk Radio listeners:
*Although it is not required to listen to the show, I encourage you to register on the BlogTalkRadio site prior to the show. I think it will make the process easier.

*To get to my show site, click here. As show time gets closer, keep hitting "refresh" on your browser until you see the "Play/Chat" button. Then, of course, press the "Play/Chat" button.

*You can also participate in the live chat room before, during, and after the show. Look for the green "Chat Now" button. If you are registered with the BTR site, your registered name and picture will appear in the chat room.

*You can also call into the show. The number is on my show site. If you have a headset microphone, you can "call" into the show by looking for the "Click To Talk" button at the top of the chat box to try out the BTR VoIP option. Hope these tips are helpful!

Another New Video MedBlogger!

Everyone knows how excited I am that more and more medbloggers are video posting. I wanted to welcome Katie from the blog "Dr. Katie Goes to Med School." She's from Detroit, Michigan, and her blog profile describes herself as, "A 20-something girl trying to balance medical school and real-life."

In this video post, Katie said that she worked in Thailand for a year (how cool is that?). She also talks about an upcoming test about blood disorders. Definitely check out all the cool highlighting in her book. Finally, she has some random thoughts on bobby pins. Why not show Katie some love and check out her blog and her 2nd video post. Great job Katie! Looking forward to more video posts!

Change of Shift

Just want to give a little shout out to our buddy Emergiblog who is hosting Change of Shift Volume 3, Number 15. In case you don't know CoS is a blog carnival about nurses and nursing. I hosted it once (and probably should again one of these days) and it gives great insight into this field.

At the end of this week's edition, Kim states that Change of Shift is having a type of "identity crisis" in stating that even though anyone can submit posts, the blog carnival needs to keep nursing focused. So, she's looking for some brainstorming. If you're a nurse or having an interest in nursing, I encourage you to check out this week's CoS and also leave some comments on the future of CoS.

Show 69 Preview

This week, The Doctor Anonymous Show welcomes our good friend Kim as a special co-host. You remember Kim from Dr. A Show 57 where she talked about life as a dialysis tech and a nursing student. Well, for our show this week, the topic is "Chronic Kidney Disease" and we'll talk about issues like dialysis with two special guests.

Stacy is from the blog "Stacy Without An E." His blog profile states, "I am a tortured soul who can twist between the most interesting, entertaining and engaging individual you've ever met to the most foul, grouchy, twisted and sarcastic schmuck ever. Both sides usually battle for complete control of my soul." We'll be talking about his life as a dialysis patient going to an outpatient clinic.

Tracy has the blog "Kaply, Inc." By contrast, she does dialysis at home. Kim also wanted me to link to an article from Medscape called, "Survival Better With Short, Daily Dialysis Than With Conventional Hemodialysis." (Of note, you do need a medscape id and password to log into and read the article.)

So, join us on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 at 9pm Eastern Time on BlogTalkRadio for the next episode of The Doctor Anonymous Show. Finally, I still need your vote in the Twitter Shorty Award finals. The polls close on Friday night, and I have fallen into 2nd place in the health category. Thanks so much if you have voted already! But, I will need your help to try to find more votes in these last days of the race. Thanks in advance for anything you can do to help. Well, don't pay people like these people were doing. Sheesh!

Grand Rounds

If you haven't checked it out already, Grand Rounds Vol 5 Number 18 is now up and running at MedPage Today. The host is the one and only Dr. Val Jones from Getting Better with Dr. Val. With today's inauguration and the country having high hopes in the changes occurring in Washington, D.C., Dr. Val has chosen to highlight posts talking about healthcare reform.

Thanks to Dr. Val for including my post this week:

"Twitter may be a proving ground of how we overcome our fears, satisfy our cautions and extend the reach of our health care system with web-based technologies and communities."
Doctor Anonymous

As I have said in the past, I admit that I haven't mentioned GR in a while. I have to admit that I've been a lazy medical blogger in that I haven't written anything for this fabulous blog carnival in a while. If you don't know what Grand Rounds is, it is a weekly compilation of the best posts from the medical blogosphere that moves to different sites each week. And, who doesn't like reading about medicine and science? Next week, Grand Rounds moves to our friends over at Chronic Babe.

MedCity News Premieres Today

Before all the inauguration news floods the internet tomorrow, I did want to send some congratulations to my friend Chris Seper, co-founder Mary Vanac, and the rest of the team over at MedCity News. They went live at around noon today, from what I could gather, things have been going ok over there today. According to the site, here is how they describe themselves.

MedCity News is a news service focusing on business, innovation and influence in health care. We don’t write about consumer health or the research in medical journals. Instead, MedCity News covers health care as the economic engine of major American cities. Our current focus is Northeast Ohio, followed by the rest of Ohio and sections of the Midwest.

I also encourage you to check out a profile of the MedCity News founders in the online magazine Cool Cleveland (the blurb is about halfway down the page). Chris introduced himself to me when he was working at the Cleveland Plain Dealer online site. He graciously put a link to my blog and The Doctor Anonymous Show on the PD site, which introduced some local readers/listeners to the blog/show, and for that I'm grateful. So, especially if you're where I'm at (northern and NE Ohio), definitely check out MedCity News.

Props to Annie & Burl

In my opinion, justice was served today with the news of President Bush, in his last full day in office, commuting the sentences of Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos (left in the picture above) and Jose Alonso Compean (right). According to this story from FoxNews, their sentences will expire on March 20, 2009 and then they will be able to go home to be with their families.

I did want to recognize my good friends Annie and Burl for having the courage not only to talk about this topic on their show, but also to have the wives of these individuals, other family members, and a staff member from a US Congressman's office on their show on January 14, 2009. They didn't have to do that. I mean, they are a comedy show for crying out loud.

I know that they brought more awareness to the BlogTalkRadio audience and their show, I believe, touched a lot of lives and - I think - made people proactive to take action to make their voices be heard for these two American heros. So, thanks again Annie & Burl! I think that you made a difference in this case and for these families!