Episodes

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

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

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. Article referenced in the show: https://www.pulmccm.org/p/guidelines-on-red-cell-transfusion

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

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/ Research Articles referenced in the episode: Norton SA, Hogan LA, Holloway RG, Temkin-Greener H, Buckley MJ, Quill TE. Proactive palliative care in the medical intensive care unit: effects on length of stay for selected high-risk patients. Crit Care Med. 2007;35(6):153...

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 condemnation of the murder of Brian Thompson.

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, and healthcare in general. It was, perhaps, one of my favorite conversations. Discussed during the podcast: The Ventilator (Hidden Brain Podcast): https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/the-ventilator/ The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (book): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th...

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.

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.

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: dralo.net/links

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/10.1056/NEJMoa2400645 NY Times Column: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/11/opinion/covert-consciousness-unresponsive-brain.html

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

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

Daddy misses you so much.

In a new series on Healthcare Musings, Dr. Hassaballa discusses faith in the ICU and how Doctors should not shy away from faith. It can be an added asset in the right circumstance.

A recent study showed that you don’t need oxygen all day, every day. That’s welcome news for patients needing chronic oxygen.

Marketing is literally in Austan Lundeen’s blood. So, I sat down with him to get tips on how to best use social media as a clinician.

This highly contagious virus can absolutely kill children.

A study showed no difference between IV and IO access in cardiac arrest. Yet, I have some questions. Study link: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2407616

Insurance companies will use obscure “Coding Clinics” articles to deny various DRGs. I asked appeal expert Dr. Vivek Tirmal of Sound Advisory Services all about this.

As cannabis use becomes more widespread, and more potent, clinicians need to be aware of its potential harms. NY Times article cited in show: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/04/us/cannabis-marijuana-risks-addiction.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

If we clinicians are not at the table, then we will be on the menu.

If we provide care consistent with our patients’ values and preferences, we are good stewards of scarce resources and provide compassionate effective care. Sign up below to get every episode in your email: http://eepurl.com/i1xuH2

In this next podcast in the “Great Minds in Medicine” series, I sit down with Dr. Greg Johnson, Chief Physician Executive at Unity Point Health. We discuss the state of healthcare and healthcare equity. Unequal Treatment (2003): https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12875/unequal-treatment-confronting-racial-and-ethnic-disparities-in-health-care Ending Unequal Treatment (2024): https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/unequal-treatment-revisited-the-current-state-of-racial-and-ethnic-dis...