Sitting in my apartment nursing my hot coffee & reflecting on my 1st month of nothing but outpatient fam med. I derive so much inspiration from y’all it feels appropriate to share here in thread form. 1st thought: I know so much more than I think I do but I have so much to learn

We have to move from “RACE as a risk factor” to “RACISM as a risk factor”. Institutions should value and pay faculty to research the effects of structural racism and stop the wild goose chase for genetic/clinical components of race.

When patients come to the office, they are almost always in some way thinking of the worst case scenario. They are afraid. As clinicians we can be the gatekeepers to peace of mind and wellness by engaging past the symptoms and moving through how our patients are processing them.

Pain is subjective but that does not mean it isn’t real. Treating pain appropriately is one of the kindest things a clinician can do.

Abortion is healthcare. That’s it. That’s the tweet.

When doing any procedure to anyone, talk them through the things you are doing to their bodies before you perform any part of the procedure on their body. Human beings on the exam table are not slabs of meat on a butcher block.

COVID, ongoing police brutality against black people, a failing economy, and the worlds most complex and inefficient health care system is wreaking havoc on mental health. Every visit should include education on available mental health resources.

In that same vein: pay mental health professionals and social workers more. Increase their resources. And for God’s sake stop making professionals of all careers have to disclose their status to certifying boards. @ALLYsoWITT_y

@ all primary care physicians: PrEP is stupid easy to prescribe. You should be doing it.

Sometimes all new interns need to hear is that they are at least doing one thing right, even if that’s just logging into the chart correctly.

If all you’re doing is repeatedly railing on your patients’ lifestyle habits and not celebrating every victory, no matter how small, you are not partnered with them in their journey.

I’m still learning how to do it in the most honoring way but if there is a conversation to be had about “w*ight” make sure you are prioritizing the patient’s goals and not your own. Wellness and fitness do not have a cookie cutter body mold.