Episodes

June 15, 2025

The Vindication Of Dr. Hassabolus

I am clearly in the aggressive fluid resuscitation camp for patients who present with septic shock or sepsis-induced hypotension. And I have been vindicated by the literature. CLASSIC: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NE...

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June 8, 2025

Do Doctors Gaslight Their Patients?: My Conversation with Dr. Chailee…

I was taken aback by the term, "Medical Gaslighting," used in this recent article. So, I sat down with the principal author and discussed the article and its larger implications beyond Gynecology. Article link: https://jamane...

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June 2, 2025

Are All Plaintiff Attorneys Bad People?: My Conversation With Dr. Jef…

A malpractice lawsuit can be very stressful for physicians - it sure was stressful for me. So, are all plaintiff attorneys bad people? What about those physicians who are expert witnesses for plaintiffs? I asked this and much...

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May 27, 2025

How To Do The SEP-1 Bundle Right

Like it or not, compliance with the SEP-1 Bundle is here to stay, despite its questionable effect on outcomes. We can either rail against it or learn to how do it well. In this episode, to culminate Critical Care Awareness Mo...

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May 19, 2025

The Man Behind PulmCCM: Great Minds in Medicine

PulmCCM is one of the best Substacks out there. So, I sat down with Dr. Matt Hoffman, Critical Care physician and creator of PulmCCM to discuss his journey and evidence-based medicine in general. Substack Link: www.pulmccm.or...

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May 12, 2025

Tips For A Good Night’s Sleep

In the last episode of the “Sleep in the ICU” series, Dr. Hassaballa goes through several easy tips to help get a good night’s sleep. American Academy of Sleep Medicine Tips: https://sleepeducation.org/healthy-sleep/healthy-s...

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May 5, 2025

I Was A Nurse For A Day: It Wasn’t Pretty

Dr. Hassaballa tells the story of when he filled in as a Tele-ICU Nurse. It wasn’t a pretty picture, and it highlights how important nurses truly are to the healthcare field. A very Happy Nurses Week to every nurse in the wor...

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April 28, 2025

Sleep In The ICU: The Guidelines and What We Should Do

In Part 2 of the Sleep in the ICU series, Dr. Hassaballa discusses the SCCM guidelines with respect to sleep in critically ill adults and what we should do in the ICU. SCCM Guidelines: https://www.sccm.org/clinical-resources/...

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April 21, 2025

"They Don't Make Them Like They Used To": My Conversation with Dr. Ad…

Dr. Adam Cifu is an award-winning Medical Educator and general internist at the University of Chicago. He also writes for the fantastic Substack, Sensible Medicine. I had a wonderful conversation with him about Medical Educat...

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April 14, 2025

Sleep in the ICU: The Classic Experiments

In the first of a two-part series about sleep in the intensive care unit, Dr. Hassaballa discusses the classic sleep deprivation studies and their implications on our own sleep.

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April 9, 2025

Every Measles Death Is Too Many

Unless one has lost a child, then he or she can never know the horror of the parents who just lost a child to measles in Texas. For the latest on the Texas Measles Outbreak: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outb...

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April 2, 2025

Faith in the ICU: Stories of Wonder

In the latest installment of the Faith in the ICU Series, Dr. Hassaballa recounts a story that has always stayed with him.

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March 24, 2025

ICU Lecture Series: The ICU Liberation Bundle

In this latest episode of the ICU Lecture Series, Dr. Hassaballa lectures to staff about the ICU Liberation Bundle. Link: https://sccm.org/clinical-resources/iculiberation-home/abcdef-bundles

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March 17, 2025

What Is A Blood Transfusion, Truly?

Despite multiple specialty society guidelines recommending not to transfuse blood if the hemoglobin levels are above 7-8 g/dL, many physicians disregard the recommendations. Why is that? Dr. Hassaballa discusses this issue. A...

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March 10, 2025

ICU Lecture Series: Metabolic Acidosis

In this latest ICU lecture series, Dr. Hassaballa discusses metabolic acidosis: how to diagnose it and what to do about it.

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March 3, 2025

Great Minds in Medicine: Dr. Elaine Chen

What would someone who is BOTH a Critical Care and Palliative Care Doctor say about palliative care in the ICU? I asked one. Links from the show: The Coleman Palliative Medicine Training Program: https://colemanpalliative.org...

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Feb. 25, 2025

From the Appeals Desk: Coding Clinics and Sepsis

Many payers state that a 2016 Coding Clinics article allows them to deny sepsis DRGs. This is not true, and Dr. Hassaballa goes into the article and what is specifically says about sepsis. And, he issues an unequivocal condem...

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Feb. 17, 2025

Great Minds in Medicine: Dr. Sergio Zanotti

In the latest installment of the "Great Minds in Medicine" series, I sit down with Dr. Sergio Zanotti, Critical Care Chief Medical Officer for Sound Physicians. We had a wide-ranging discussion about medicine, critical care, ...

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Feb. 10, 2025

Faith in the ICU: Does Being a Physician Weaken My Faith?

Given that physicians frequently make life and death decisions, especially in the ICU, does being a physician weaken one's faith? Dr. Hassaballa reflects on his own experience of faith and being a doctor.

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Feb. 3, 2025

Most Oncologists Do Not Refer to Palliative Care. What?

Despite a strong recommendation by the American Society of Clinical Oncology in its guidelines, recent surveys indicate very few, if any at all, Oncologists refer patients to Palliative Care. This is a huge disservice.

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Jan. 27, 2025

Great Minds in Medicine: Dr. Mohammad Alo

I sit down with Dr. Mohammad Alo, America's Cardiologist and great friend of mine, and we discuss all things cholesterol and social media best practices for Doctors. Dr. Mohammad Alo on X: https://x.com/MohammedAlo Website: d...

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Jan. 20, 2025

What If An Unresponsive Patient Is Actually "In There"?

Recent research shows that a substantial minority of patients have cognitive motor dissociation. This has many important implications for our practice of critical care medicine. NEJM Study: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.10...

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Jan. 13, 2025

Journal Club: Is Rapid Correction of Hyponatremia Dangerous?

Dr. Hassaballa discusses this recent review article and meta-analysis of the correction rate of hyponatremia and clinical outcomes.

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Jan. 6, 2025

Journal Club: Small-bore vs Large-bore Chest Tube for Hemothorax

In this episode of Journal Club, Dr. Hassaballa discusses the recent study comparing small-bore to large-bore chest tubes for hemothorax drainage.

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