Healthcare Musings
This is the official podcast and blog of Hesham A. Hassaballa, MD, a NY Times-featured Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician, Author, and Healthcare Executive. Healthcare Musings discusses important issues in Critical Care, Healthcare, and Medicine in general.
Recent Episodes
Your First Impression Is Your Only Impression
Patients frequently base their relationships with Doctors on their first impression. And research shows that our attire has a lot to do with that first impression. On this week's episode, Dr. Hassaballa reviews the latest evi...
“A Day In The Life”: Telecritical Care With Dr. Eugene Yeh
What’s it like to be a Teleintensivist? I asked one of the best in the business, Dr. Eugene Yeh of Sound Physicians. He gives us an intimate view of being a remote critical care specialist. Dr. Yeh on LinkedIn: https://www.li...
Mixed Feelings On Prior Authorization in Traditional Medicare
CMS unveiled the WISeR Model, a pilot of prior authorization for traditional Medicare beneficiaries. I have mixed feelings about it. NYT Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/28/health/medicare-prior-approval-health-care.h...
Americans Are Drinking Less: That’s Amazing News!
Gallup’s recent poll showed that Americans are drinking alcohol at the lowest rate ever. This is something that should be celebrated. Poll Link: https://news.gallup.com/poll/693362/drinking-rate-new-low-alcohol-concerns-surge...
What Doctors Can Do That AI Cannot
Artificial Intelligence can’t get get tired. Artificial Intelligence can’t get burned out. Artificial Intelligence can do a lot. There are things, however, that Doctors do that AI can’t.
Limiting Student Loans: Penny Wise, Pound Foolish
Limiting student loans for professional schools is so horribly shortsighted. Dr. Hassaballa explains why.
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Recent Blog Posts
Sleep in the ICU: What Do The Guidelines Say?
Sleep, I often say, is the elusive treasure of a hospital stay. Indeed, when hospitalized, there are many things that need to be done to the patient: diagnostic tests, laboratory studies, multiple visits from multiple clinicians, to name a few. So, …
The Best Answer to "Why Medicine" I Have Ever Heard
“Why Medicine?” Why go into a career that takes several years - and costs hundreds of thousands of dollars - to complete? And, it is still a very demanding job at the end of that long, expensive path. So, why do it? Many, including mys…
Sleep in the ICU: The Classic Experiments
In the classic sleep deprivation experiments, two rats were placed on a disk that can rotate over water. They had as much food and drink as they wanted, and if the experimental rat fell asleep or entered a prohibited sleep stage, the disk started to…