I first wrote about the long tail in 2006 - Our challenge - the long tail.  To remind readers of this concept observe this graph Note the short head (in green).  The height of the graph represents frequency. The X axis represents possible diagnoses, ranked from most to least likely.  This type of curve is [...]...

  Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it's amazing what they can accomplish. - Sam Walton Why do I cite this quote?  I believe this is the secret to success in medical education.  Our "personnel" are our learners.  We help them succeed when [...]...

  Dr. RW provided a link to Dr. Wachter's excellent article reviewing the 4 hour rule and why it failed.  For those who do not have access to the Annals of Internal Medicine, here is the abstract: The administration of antibiotics within 4 hours to patients with community-acquired pneumonia has been criticized as a quality standard because [...]...

  As the academic starts, I have the opportunity to work with new 3rd year students.  I love 3rd year students.  They are so excited to escape the virtual prison of the first two years. They have generally not learned how to think, but are excited that we actually ask them how to think. As I have oriented [...]...

  Doctors Say Medication Is Overused in Dementia Nevertheless, many doctors say misuse of the drugs is widespread. "These antipsychotics can be overused and abused," said Dr. Johnny Matson, a professor of psychology at Louisiana State University. "And there's a lot of abuse going on in a lot of these places." Dr. William D. Smucker, a member [...]...