Tag: cost

Just gimme 20 min

Hi guys. Dr. Katz here. It has been a minute but my soapbox is begging me to climb back up so I’m gonna. There is just something I have to get off my chest.

The women’s health screening recommendations are trash lately. I mean, they completely suck. All this nonsense about spacing mammograms farther apart, forgetting about yourself after the age of 50, not needing an obgyn exam after having a hyst….all baloney and dangerous on top of that!

First of all, why would we ever recommend something that would decrease our awareness of our own bodies? How does that make any sense? How does that empower us or increase our chances of using our powers to evoke good in the world? I tell ya. It doesn’t. Those recommendations are based on statistics and costs, not people and patients. Those statististics and recommendations are based on how much it would cost to save the lives of 5 or 10 or 20 extra women. Well I say, what is the cost of a human life? Can you really put a cost on it? To me, every single life out there is precious and worth preserving. There is no cost too heavy to at least attempt to save it. For all these small numbers of difference in lives spared, I find these numbers to be at least ten times higher just in my practice. In the last month alone, I have had to give bad news to at least ten women that was preventable or at least treatable at a much earlier stage if someone had been looking. These women were not doing anything wrong. They were not being non compliant. They were just following these recommendations that their physicians were following. None of them even had symptoms serious enough to warrant their seeking medical help. That’s just how sneaky obgyn issues are!

I have something to say to these academicians who make these recommendations. When you are ready to sit down face to face to one of those patient whose diagnosis you missed and tell them how it was too costly to bother with them, then we can talk. If you can’t, and I suspect you can’t, then I am going to continue to ignore those recommendations and advise women to be seen on a yearly basis. You can’t even use insurance coverage as a reason because most insurances are still covering the yearly exam, even with no copay! Why are we wasting the opportunity to make good use of our awesome preventative resources? Why?

Bottom line. I am a fan of the yearly check-up. Just c’mon in will ya?

Waxing Versus Laser Hair Removal

Ok, so I want to be clear that what I am about to say comes from 8 plus years experience and thousands of patients treated. So, here we go.

Lately I am seeing all these ads about waxing and how amazing it is. Then I think about what we do at my office and I gotta tell ya, there is no comparison. Let’s talk about waxing for a minute. Waxing. Does it hurt? Yes. Does it ever stop hurting? No probably not. Ripping your hair out of your skin probably never stops stinging and hurting. Do you have to do it over and over? Yes. Is there ever truly an endpoint? Probably not. Is it expensive? Yes. It really adds up over the years.

Now let’s talk about laser hair removal. My office has been offering whole body laser hair removal for all skin types male and female for the last 8 years or so. We have treated thousands of patients successfully without complications. My patients tell me that at first it can feel like rubber bands flinging against your skin for a second, but most of them refuse numbing, which we do offer. I feel like that’s a good thing. Also, we haven’t had anyone that it didn’t work on that I am aware of. The fact that it works on all skin types is a plus as well. In addition, all the procedures are provided by nurses or physicians in a proper sterile environment with proper pre- screening and all the consults are free. To add to that we even have lifetime specials that are reasonably priced that include any possible touch ups for years. I guess I just want to convey that I think laser hair removal is more effective, can be permanent, works for all skin types, is practiced in a safe environment and is actually affordable. That is all.

Dr. Katz

Some Patients are More Fragile Than Others or, the Importance of the Healthcare Team

Doctors and health care teams listen up! I have something to say! Some patients are more fragile than others. What the hell does this mean? It means that you have to be extra careful what you say to them. It means that you have to be extra thoughtful before you speak to them. It means that you need to do your research before you open your mouth and accidentally freak them out. You as the physician are part of a team and the whole team has to communicate with each other so that everyone has the same information. The patient does not need to hear different and/or conflicting information from each source. This only leads to potential panic and confusion and makes it difficult for the patient to follow through and get the care that they need. To you it may seem like a simple oversight. To the patient, it can seem like the end of the world.

This really applies to all patients, but the group I have in mind at the moment are cancer patients. This group of patients literally has their lives in your hands. They hang on your every word. They are depending on you to help them get to the other side of their illness with an intensity that is greater than patients with other diseases. You have a direct impact on their physical AND mental health, both of which are key to their survival. Think about it for a second. Anything you say to them is regarding a disease that could kill them. You tell them if they qualify for clinical trials. You tell them what chemo or radiation they will get. You talk about costs. You have to talk to them if their cancer is not responding like you hoped. Sometimes you have to tell them they are going to die. Every word out of your mouth carries the weight of their future. One bit of discouraging news may not just mean a bad day for them. It may affect the rest of their lives. No. I am not exaggerating. It is really that important.

The bottom line is that the healthcare team has to be a cohesive, thoughtful, compassionate, comprehensive unit. Patient’s lives, mental health, and physical health depend on it.

Dr. Katz