You all have them, you can’t avoid them. Many factors contribute to a challenging patient including those that refuse your recommendations, have coexisting conditions/multitude of symptoms, have unreasonable expectations, and may even want to take over the role of healthcare...

Hiking for My Life. I filled my fluorescent-yellow Nalgene water bottle at the drinking fountain at Happy Isles at the west end of Yosemite Valley last August 28, then screwed its top on tight. I clipped it to the waist belt of my 50-pound orange backpack and pivoted toward the trailhead. The thought flashed through my mind that I probably shouldn’t be doing this.

What Is Healthy? In a recent article we asked, “Do you routinely take time to ‘take care of you’?” Most replied with yes, you take care of yourself (71%); just over one-fourth said you did not take care of yourself. One of you asked a very interesting question...

"Physician, Heal Thyself" While this is an old biblical proverb, it still rings true. How can you be there for your patients, if you are not there for yourself?

Do You Find Your Work Meaningful? Look for the daisy.

Beat Burnout BEFORE it Beats You! While burnout isn’t a recognized clinical psychological disorder, there are some similar features between burnout and diagnosable conditions such as depression, anxiety disorders, or mood disorders. However, burnout is much more common than these other conditions; in fact, it’s estimated that 25% to 60% of practicing physicians experience burnout.

7 Keys to Surviving the Perfect Storm. We’re in trouble. A nationwide survey found that 49% of physicians plan to either decrease the numbers of patients that they see or quit altogether within 3 years. That was 2008. We are facing a national healthcare disaster with extreme consequences. Those of us that choose to stay and practice undoubtedly will face increasing demands at the very time when resources are becoming scarce.