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Culture & Society, Doctors, Featured, Guest Column, Health Policy, What's New

Healthcare Redefined: Finding the Right Doctor Once They’ve Retired

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Guest Column by Virginia Cooper.

Embarking on the journey to find a new primary care physician (PCP) can be challenging, particularly when your long-trusted doctor decides to retire. For many, this transition is not just about finding a new healthcare provider, but also about ensuring that their specific health needs, especially as minorities, are understood and respected.

The importance of finding a physician who not only has the skills but also the cultural competence to manage your health is paramount. This guide aims to streamline your transition to a new PCP, ensuring your healthcare needs continue to be comprehensively addressed, respecting both your health and cultural background.

Leverage Referrals from Your Retiring Doctor

When your trusted healthcare provider decides to retire, it’s an opportunity to benefit from their professional network. Your retiring doctor, familiar with your health history and needs, can provide targeted referrals to other healthcare professionals who share a similar commitment to patient care.

These referrals are often more than just names; they come with the retiring physician’s endorsement, providing you with a vetted starting point in your search. It’s an approach that not only saves time but also offers a sense of continuity in your healthcare journey.

Assess Online Patient Reviews

In today’s interconnected world, online reviews have become a crucial tool in evaluating potential healthcare providers. Platforms like Google, Healthgrades, and specialized healthcare forums are treasure troves of patient experiences and feedback. When sifting through these reviews, pay attention to comments about the doctor’s approach to patient care, their ability to listen, and their effectiveness in treatment. This insight is invaluable in gauging whether a potential PCP is not just competent but also the right fit for your unique healthcare needs. Be aware that some reviews may not be accurate or based on actual patient experiences.

Digitize Your Medical Records

In a world increasingly moving towards digital solutions, having your medical records in digital format is a significant advantage, especially to help with searching for documents. Saving documents as PDFs not only makes your personal health information readily accessible to you but also eases the process of sharing these details with a new healthcare provider.

Digital records allow your new primary care physician to quickly search and review your health history, allergies, past treatments, and medications, ensuring they can provide informed and personalized care from the start. Plus, you can change a file back to its original format easily if needed.

Opt for an In-Network Physician

Navigating the complexities of health insurance can be daunting. One practical step to ensure affordability in your healthcare is to select a PCP who is in-network with your insurance provider. This choice not only helps in maximizing the benefits you receive under your plan but also plays a crucial role in managing out-of-pocket costs. It’s a decision that balances financial prudence with access to quality healthcare.

Connect with Culturally Competent Physicians

For minority patients, the importance of finding a culturally competent physician cannot be overstated. Such physicians bring an understanding of the nuances of different cultures and how these can impact health and healthcare experiences. They are better equipped to provide care that is respectful of and tailored to your cultural background, leading to more effective and personalized healthcare outcomes.

Evaluate the Physician’s Location and Accessibility

When choosing a new PCP, practical considerations such as the location of their clinic, office hours, and the ease of scheduling appointments are important. A conveniently located clinic reduces the stress and time involved in accessing healthcare. Additionally, the AMA Ed Hub notes that flexible office hours that match your schedule can make a significant difference in maintaining regular health check-ups and treatments.

Explore Healthcare Coverage Options

For those who are freelancers or self-employed, traditional employer-based health insurance may not be an option. In such scenarios, Policygenius points out that exploring healthcare coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) becomes essential. The ACA offers a range of plans that can provide comprehensive coverage, ensuring that you have access to quality healthcare regardless of your employment status. You can also consider Direct Primary Care and other cash-based practices.

The transition to a new primary care physician post the retirement of your current doctor can be seamless with the right approach. By seeking referrals, researching thoroughly, maintaining digital medical records, choosing in-network physicians, valuing cultural competence, considering logistical aspects, and exploring coverage options, you ensure a smooth transition. This proactive approach guarantees continuity in your healthcare journey, with your unique needs as a minority patient being met with empathy and expertise.

Read more informative articles on the Marilyn Singleton, MD JD blog today!

Bio

Virginia Cooper is a retired community college instructor. She always encouraged her students to see the real-world value in their education, and now, she wants to spread that message as wide as possible. Her hope is that Learn a Living (learnaliving.co) will be a go-to resource for adult learners embarking on starting, continuing, or finishing their education.

Image: Freepik

Culture & Society, Doctors, Featured, Guest Column, Medicine, What's New

Navigating the Medical Maze: Strategies for Avoiding Burnout

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Guest column by Virginia Cooper.

In the relentless and demanding field of healthcare, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of burnout. As a medical professional, you are familiar with the high-stress environment and the toll it takes. Yet, there’s hope. By adopting specific strategies, you can preserve your well-being and continue to provide the best care to your patients.

Embrace Wellness Rituals

Your health is as critical as that of your patients. Integrating wellness rituals into your daily routine is not a luxury but a necessity. Think about activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Maybe it’s a morning jog, an evening of painting, or simply reading a book. Exercise not only keeps you physically fit but also serves as a mental escape from the pressures of work. Regularly engaging in hobbies can rejuvenate your spirit, making you more resilient in your professional role.

Be Conscious About Alcohol Intake

In the high-pressure world of medicine, turning to alcohol might seem like a quick fix for stress. However, moderation is key. Excessive drinking can lead to health issues and impact your ability to perform at work. If you find yourself struggling, consider seeking help. There are various treatment options in the area, with many rehab centers accepting major health insurance providers. Research facilities focusing on factors like treatment methods, location, and patient reviews to find the best fit for your needs.

Improve Decision-Making Under Stress

High-stress situations are part and parcel of medical work. Developing a strategy for making sound decisions under pressure is crucial. Before reacting, take a moment to assess the situation mindfully. This pause allows you to respond thoughtfully rather than reactively. Envision the broader implications of your decisions and trust your well-honed instincts, using the information at hand.

Building a Support Network

The path of a healthcare professional need not be a solitary journey. Building connections with peers can offer a much-needed sense of understanding and support. These relationships provide a safe space to share experiences, challenges, and advice. Engaging in conversations with colleagues who understand the unique pressures of the medical field can be both comforting and enlightening.

Consider Taking a Sabbatical

Sometimes, the best way to recharge is to step away temporarily. A sabbatical, or an extended break from work, can be a transformative experience. It offers an opportunity to rest, pursue personal interests, or engage in professional development activities without the daily pressures of patient care. This time away can provide a fresh perspective and renewed energy, ultimately benefiting both you and your patients.

Reflecting on Your Career Path

In the dynamic world of healthcare, it’s important to periodically reassess your career goals. Are you where you want to be? Is your current role fulfilling? Sometimes, a change within the medical field can reignite your passion for healthcare. Whether it’s specializing in a new area, shifting to a different facility, or even transitioning to a teaching role, these changes can provide new challenges and renewed motivation.

Mastering the Art of Saying “No”

One of the hardest but most essential skills to learn in any demanding career is the ability to say “no.” Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining your mental and physical health. It’s okay to decline extra shifts or additional responsibilities when you’re already stretched thin. Remember, taking on too much can compromise the quality of care you provide to your patients.

Prioritizing Your Mental Health

The psychological toll of working in medicine can be significant. Regularly check in with yourself. Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed? Seeking professional help through counseling or therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Mental health professionals can provide coping strategies and support, helping you navigate the complexities of your role with resilience and clarity.

In the fast-paced, high-stakes field of healthcare, taking care of yourself is not just a personal priority—it is a professional necessity. From managing stress to seeking treatment for an alcohol issue and evaluating your career path, each step is crucial in avoiding burnout. Remember, making good decisions under stress is a skill that can be honed with practice and mindfulness. By prioritizing your well-being, you ensure that you can continue to provide the best care for your patients, day in and day out.

Virginia Cooper is a retired community college instructor. She always encouraged her students to see the real-world value in their education, and now, she wants to spread that message as wide as possible. Her hope is that Learn a Living (learnaliving.co) will be a go-to resource for adult learners embarking on starting, continuing, or finishing their education.

Image: Freepick

Guest Column, What's New

Jumpstart Your Health-Based Business

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Guest column by Virginia Cooper.

Do you have a passion for health and wellness? If so, then you may be interested in starting your own health-based business. In today’s post, we will discuss the best tips for people pursuing a health-based business.

Health-Related Businesses to Consider

Before getting started, it is important to research the types of health-based businesses that are available. Some examples include nutrition counseling, physical therapy, personal training, massage therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic services. It is important to find the right niche that fits your skill set and interests.

Required Education, Licenses, and Credentials

Depending on your chosen type of venture, it is likely necessary to obtain credentials or licenses in order to practice legally. Additionally, some businesses require special education or certifications such as nutrition counseling or massage therapy. Make sure you do your research ahead of time so that you can make sure all the requirements are met before beginning operations.

Building a Resume

Creating a well-written resume with pertinent information about yourself and your experience is essential when applying for jobs within this industry. Include details about any certifications or licenses obtained as well as previous work experience. This will help employers get an idea of who you are and what you bring to the table.

Market Research

Determining your target market is crucial for the success of your business, no matter the industry you’re in. This is especially important in the health-based sector, where the products or services cater to specific needs. Conducting research in advance can help identify the demographics, interests, and needs of your target audience, allowing you to create tailored marketing strategies that resonate with them.

Lead Generation

Generating leads is essential when running any business, especially one in health and wellness, because it helps build up a customer base over time which leads to more sales down the line. Staying active on social media platforms can be a great way to generate leads by connecting with potential customers in real time. Additionally, creating content such as blogs or videos related to health topics can also help foster relationships with potential customers and keep them engaged with your brand over time.

Marketing Techniques

Developing a strategic marketing plan is key when running any business, but especially one in health and wellness, since this industry has its own unique set of challenges due to regulations surrounding medical care, etc. Make sure you understand all the laws related to marketing medical services before launching any campaigns. Additionally, use tactics such as email newsletters and influencer partnerships on social media platforms to reach out to potential customers who may be interested in what services or products are offered by your brand.

Succeeding in E-Commerce

Investing in an e-commerce platform that integrates seamlessly with your health and wellness website can be a worthwhile investment if you sell related products. Not only does it offer customers the convenience of purchasing directly from your website, but it also provides opportunities to showcase products, highlight reviews, and offer discounts. These commerce solutions can ultimately increase sales and improve customer satisfaction in the long run.

Starting a health-based business can be a challenging yet rewarding endeavor. Dedication and hard work can lead to financial success if executed correctly. To jumpstart your career in this field, it is advisable to research the type of venture that best suits your interests, obtain the proper credentials and licenses, and invest in an e-commerce platform if you’re planning to start a product-based business. With the right amount of effort and determination, anyone can pursue their dreams and find success in the health-based business industry.

Virginia Cooper is a retired community college instructor. She always encouraged her students to see the real-world value in their education, and now, she wants to spread that message as wide as possible. Her hope is that Learn a Living (learnaliving.co) will be a go-to resource for adult learners embarking on starting, continuing, or finishing their education.

Image via Pexels

Culture & Society, Guest Column, Uncategorized, What's New

5 Challenges Women in STEM Face and How to Overcome Them

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Guest Column by Melissa Perez

According to statistics, though women make up almost half of the U.S. workforce, they represent only 27 percent of STEM workers. While women are gaining ground in these fields, there are still significant barriers to entry.

  1. Social and Cultural Factors

Women have long been stereotyped as not being as good at math, science, and technology as men. These stereotypes are taught early in life through entertainment, family attitudes, peer groups, and even the clothing that is marketed to young children. These stereotypes encourage women to opt out of STEM courses early in their academic careers and those who stay in often face biases from instructors.

These social factors can be combated by educating teachers and administrators about these biases, exposing young children to female role models in STEM fields, and teaching parents how to avoid passing these gender biases on to their children.

  1. The Wage Gap

Across all industries, women earn about 82 cents for every $1 a man makes. Part of this difference is accounted for by women typically working in lower-paying fields, such as retail and customer service. However, even in STEM careers, women tend to make less than their male peers.

One way to overcome the wage gap is to be the boss. Starting your own STEM business allows you to determine your earning power and puts you in a position to ensure your employees receive fair wages without gender bias. Organizing your business as a limited liability company protects your personal assets, increases flexibility, reduces paperwork, and has tax advantages.

  1. Lack of Confidence

Many women in STEM expect colleagues to undervalue their skills, education, and experience. This can cause them to lack confidence and avoid speaking up, volunteering for projects, or pursuing opportunities. One way to build your confidence is to complete a professional development course.

For example, if you work in project management, you can use Scrum to help STEM teams collaborate and communicate when working on major projects. However, if you’re new to Scrum (which is a framework that allows individuals and teams to work together collaboratively to solve complex problems), then you may want some training to get you familiar with the processes. An Agile Scrum Master course online teaches strategies and tactics that can help you better utilize the platform and boost your confidence. You can validate your skills by taking an assessment at the end of the course.

  1. Access to Mentors

Because there are relatively few women working in STEM fields, it can be difficult for women to find other women to act as mentors. You can overcome this problem by expanding your idea of who can be a mentor.

A mentor can be a professor, a person you met on social media, a friend who is also pursuing a STEM career, or someone you met at an industry event. You can expand your network by joining professional organizations, getting involved with STEM-related organizations on your college campus, going to industry events, and seeking out local and national organizations that support women in STEM fields.

  1. Understanding Your Worth

There is a culture surrounding salary in the U.S. that discourages people from talking about how much money they make. As a result, many people, particularly women, do not know what their skills are worth. You can overcome this issue by doing your research before you go into a salary negotiation. Talk to peers and mentors. Use the internet. Don’t go to the negotiating table without data to back up your expectations.

STEM fields are not easy career paths for women because of these obstacles. However, taking steps, such as completing a professional development course, can make breaking down barriers easier.

Marissa Perez is the co-founder and head marketing writer at Business Pop. She has spent the last 10 years honing her marketing skills, and now she wants to share her knowledge with those who have decided to take on entrepreneurship.

Culture & Society, Current Events, Featured, Guest Column, Politics, What's New

Am I Latinx?

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Guest Column by Richard T. Bosshardt, MD

I was born in Barranquilla, Colombia to a Brazilian mother and American father. By the time I arrived in Miami at age 5, I was speaking Spanish and Portuguese. I have no memory of consciously learning English. All I know is that, within a year, the other two languages were largely forgotten, and I was speaking nearly perfect English. Such is the linguistic adaptability of children. My mother was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro and traced her family to Portugal. My father was born and raised in Minnesota to parents whose ancestry was Swiss. My childhood for many years consisted of spending the school year in the US and three-month summer vacation in Brazil. Looking back, it was a wonderful, diverse, rich way to grow up.

I am a product of two distinct cultures, American and Brazilian. Americans speak English. Brazilians speak Portuguese. I speak both. The US has football. Brazil has soccer. The US has Coca Cola. Brazil’s signature soda is guarana. Each country has a unique history and heritage. The US ended slavery in a bloody Civil War. In Brazil, this was done with the stroke of a pen without armed conflict. In the US, I went to the grocery store. In Brazil my relatives shopped largely at the open air “wet” market that made its rounds of the city.

This raises an interesting question in our present race-centric age in America encouraged by the obsessive push of the woke progressive left to put us into identity groups. These are determined by characteristics we have no control over- race, ethnicity, sex, or place of origin. What does this make me?

I have been described as a “cis-gendered, heteronormative white male”, arguably the most privileged and simultaneously the most demonized group in America today. I am considered irredeemably, implicitly racist. I am a beneficiary and abettor of white privilege. On the scale of oppressed to oppressor, I am at the top, baby. But wait. By birth, culture, and up bringing, I am at least 50% Brazilian. What is that? Is it Latino, Hispanic, Latinx? Considering that Brazil is the only Portuguese speaking country in Central and South America, is Brazilian an identity category all its own?

Speaking of Latinx, what the hell is that anyway? The term is apparently an attempt to eliminate the assignation of gender indicated by the terms Latino and Latina. Considering that Spanish and Portuguese are languages in which objects, as well as people, have a binary, i.e. male or female, gender, this seems a pretty ambitious goal requiring nothing less than a radical restructuring of the entire language. In addition to being gender neutral, the term Latinx is supposed to be “pan-ethnic”, encompass all persons of Central and South America, Cuba, and Spain into one happy, homogenous group. This assumes that persons from Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Cuba, Spain, and all the other Spanish speaking countries share the same ideals, goals, cultures, politics, etc. Unrealistic? You decide.

Of course, unrealistic goals don’t seem to have ever stopped woke progressives. How unrealistic is this? In August 2020, a bilingual Pew Research poll found that only one quarter of Hispanic or Latino persons in the US had even heard of the term Latinx and only 3% apply this to themselves. The majority of these are young, hip, women in the mold of the poster girl for Latinx, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

I have never played the race card. To be candid, I never knew I had one to play. Now, I find that I can embrace intersectionality and my Brazilian heritage to claim I am Latinx. I certainly have more claim to this than Elizabeth Warren to being a member of the Cherokee tribe or Rachel Donezal claiming to be black (according to my ancestry.com genetic profile, I am one percent North African). At no time in my life, from early childhood to recent adulthood did it ever occur to me that my race was consequential in providing any advantage or hindrance to me in any way. The idea that I would use my background to pass for Hispanic and thereby gain some advantage, such as when applying to medical school never even occurred to me. Until now. Perhaps I should encourage my children to claim their legitimate one quarter Latinx status for advantage.

I never used to think in terms of race, not in choosing my friends, not in judging people I met throughout my life, not in my professional colleagues. Now, thanks to the push for identity politics, group identity, and judging people by their immutable characters, I think of little else. Is this progress? I think not.

COVID-19, Current Events, Guest Column, What's New

COVID-19: Shall You Rush to Inject Your Toddler?

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Guest Column by Jane M. Orient, MD

        I hope you are staying well in these troubled times.

        Many parents are said to be relieved that they can now take their toddler or 6-month-old infant for their COVID shots. The federal advisory committee considering the shots voted 22 to zero to recommend Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for both Pfizer and Moderna injections for children at least 6 months old, and FDA and CDC approved them with lightning speed. Thus, the shots that the federal government already bought and paid for won’t have to be wasted.

        The shots only have an EUA, not FDA approval, and you will need to sign a consent form. Some data you might like to consider: As of May, there had been 60,442 adverse events involving liver damage reported to the FDA’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), including 204 in children under age 12. Some involved death or need for a liver transplant.

 

        Evidently, children under age 12 were being given unauthorized shots.

        Observers of the hearings pointed out:

  • The trials in young children enrolled 4,500 subjects, but 3,000 (67%) dropped out.
  • No actual health benefits were shown, so they used “immunobridging”—comparing antibody response to that of older subjects in a previous trial. A number of experts said that antibody response did not correlate well with immunity, especially against the new variants.
  • Committee members received risk: benefit documents (190 single-spaced pages) at most two days before the meeting, so they did not have adequate time to study them.
  • By fall of 2021, 26 high-quality studies from outside the U.S. showed a two- to seven-fold increased risk of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) from mRNA shots.

        While the shots are “free,” children and their parents will pay the costs of any adverse reactions.

        Parents need to do due diligence. In particular, they need to be alert to mild symptoms that could warn of myocarditis. Doctors need to have a “high index of suspicion” for checking blood troponin levels and other indicators of heart damage to allow early diagnosis and treatment.

Jane Orient, M.D., Executive Director, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, jane@aapsonline.org

Culture & Society, Current Events, Featured, Guest Column, Politics, What's New

Surviving Woke ‘Survivor’

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Observations by Rick Bosshardt, MD, FACS

I just have to vent a little. My wife and I have been fans of the reality show, “Survivor,” for years. We have even semi-seriously toyed with applying to play. The 40th season was a disappointment because of the focus on diversity. The producers chose to push this to the max, to the point where, ironically the cast did not come close to reflecting the natural diversity of our society. That season’s cast was 50% BIPOC (an acronym I have come to dislike) and in the first episode, Jeff Probst, the host, made a point of altering his standard invitation to “come on in, guys” to avoid its misogynistic overtones, and simply say “come on in.”

“The entire culture is in a beautiful upheaval,” Probst said. “Our job is to respond to it to make sure that “Survivor” continues to reflect our culture and our behavior and how we’re interacting with each other. Everything that’s happening is going to inform the future of “Survivor.” That statement has proven to be all too true.

We are now watching season 42. For those who are not fans, let me explain. In episode 8 one of the black females (no trans this season; I guess one season was enough diversity) was voted out and became the first member of the jury, the group that will select the sole survivor from the final 3. By the way, long before DEI/CRT, I have always tried to avoid referring to the skin color or race when discussing an individual with someone else, unless it was germane to the conversation.

In episode 9 the remaining ten were divided into two groups of 5 and each group had to go to tribal council to vote one person out. In the first group of five, Rocksroy, a black man with a strong game was voted out. The second group of five (four girls and one guy) came in and could see that two black players had been voted out. In that second group of five there were two female black players, Drea and Maryanne. They looked over at the two black players in the jury and you could just see the shock. Drea immediately began a ridiculous racist rant to complain that blacks are always voted out first and that she and Maryanne were obviously going to go next. Maryanne joined and one of them literally said that the blacks were going to be voted out “boom, boom, boom”, as “they always are.” They played their immunity idols when they otherwise would not have because they said they needed to stay in the game to represent all blacks.

Theirs were some of the most racist comments I have ever heard on television and sparked an intense conversation. Jonathan, the lone white male player in their group, responded by objecting to being accused of being racist. The two girls shut him down by saying it was subconscious. The two girls went on a several minutes harangue about racism and all that they (and all blacks) have suffered, how the whites cannot possibly identify with their oppression, and how the game just mirrors our (racist) society, yada, yada, yada. They cried. The two white girls and the white guy were falling all over themselves to assure them that they agreed with them and were sympathetic to their plight and, by extension, the plight of all blacks. Even Jonathan walked back his objection to support them. The host, Jeff, was obsequious as always, very much like in the diversity episode. I was totally repulsed.

Because the guy and the two black girls had immunity idols, that left only the two white girls from whom to choose who would be voted out. Rather than a secret vote, the players voted publicly and declared their intent to vote out Tori. Her only choice was to take a shot at a six to one chance at safety, and she lost. She lost because of reverse racism but could not complain without being labeled as racist herself. God, when will we finally stop seeing color first and foremost?????????????????

I was disturbed at the clear racism demonstrated by the black contestants and how they are able to shut down all conversation simply by putting their racist accusations out there. They eliminated any honest discussion. No one was brave enough or articulate enough to call this out for what it was. They set it up so that any future attempt to vote them out would inevitably be seen as racist. I was in such a lather of dismay and frustration that I was shouting and spitting at the TV. Well, not quite, but my wife did have to tell me to stop yelling at the screen (I do that a lot anyway).

I cannot post this on social media because I will definitely be painted as a racist. I have sent a comment to CBS voicing my displeasure for whatever good that will do.

It is exhausting to have to deal with racism, the specter of racism, subconscious racism (what is that anyway?), and race in every conversation. As long as we continue to divide ourselves according to immutable characteristics, like skin color, we will continue to see race in everything. Until we stop doing this, we will remain divided by our skin color. WTF!

 

Dr. Bosshardt is a surgeon in Florida who occasionally likes a guilty pleasure to unwind from a hard day in the operating room.

COVID-19, Culture & Society, Guest Column, Politics, What's New

On Covid and Conscience

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Guest Column by Robert S. Emmons, MD

What has harmed you more, Covid-19 or loneliness? While daily we watched ominous dashboards of Covid deaths, delayed medical care, barriers to self-care, drug overdoses and suicides all made mortality rates rise. For my part, I have learned how to do my work via videoconference, and I have never been so busy with new referrals in my entire career as a psychiatrist.

As our preoccupation with all things Covid lets up, fear is loosening its grip on our minds. Now we can gain the perspective we need to recognize the outsized influence of unconscious moral impulses on personal and communal risk management.

We like to imagine that we regularly reason our ways through life’s problems, but most of our actions are driven by the unconscious algorithms that enable us to make daily decisions small and large, without expending undue mental energy in well-worn territory. The same is true for problems of conscience. Our unconscious moral algorithms are partly inherited. They also are profoundly shaped by institutional messages, popular culture, trauma and our earliest moral role models.

Various institutions, media and corporations know very well that moral responses drive many of our decisions, so when they have something to sell, they routinely provide us with a window-dressing of topical information, coupled with relentless, breathless calls to conscience as seemingly our only mode of motivation. For nearly two years now, we have been bombarded with the same kind of messaging around matters of medical science.

Well-intentioned appeals by public officials to conscience — “Do your part for your community!” — have, predictably, been appropriated as fodder for the moral outrage sales machine. Provisional scientific opinion on public health has too often been inflated to imperative in wildly punitive ways: “Comply, or you’ll kill Grandma!” “Don’t comply, or government will kill you!”

In my practice of motivating patients toward effective lifestyle behaviors, I deliver information about the links between today’s choices and tomorrow’s effects in carefully calibrated, nonjudgmental language. I teach my patients to self-reinforce small successes, rather than tally up the wages of failure. It only brings up resistance for me to imply, no matter how subtly or unintentionally, to a patient that they are bad if they do not follow my advice. Coercive pressure almost always backfires by undermining trust.

Exactly the same principles apply in the field of public health. A media milieu of algorithm-driven shaming and blackballing has hardly improved the quality of decision-making by elected officials, health officers, their audiences or doctors. We can have more confidence in health decisions taken in the private sphere where pressure tactics cannot reach.

Just like Covid, public health controversies are here with us to stay. As you devise your own personal risk management protocols, language that implies right and wrong can be your dependable guide to recognizing science information that is contaminated by the unconscious moral-emotional complex.

“Misinformation” and “disinformation” head the list of the words I ban from my professional lexicon. These necessarily elastic pieces of journalistic shorthand mainly encourage negative moral impulses toward sources rather than rational evaluation of evidence. I routinely discount medical information presented by sources that campaign aggressively against “misinformation” and “disinformation.” As a clinical scientist, I place my confidence in the experts, agencies, and publications that rigorously eschew browbeating and threats.

In our hearts, we know the difference between false trust based on idealization of celebrity, deference to authority and manufactured group affiliation as well as authentic trust based on the respect, care and reciprocity that can only happen at a one-to-one level. If you need help interpreting medical science, then, your personal physician is your best guide.

Each one of us can do our part for our communities, going forward, by abstaining from all morally charged language when speaking to public health topics. If you see a neighbor practicing their own medical risk management in ways different than yours, please give them the benefit of the doubt, not the finger.

This post is by Robert S. Emmons, M.D, of Moretown who has maintained a private psychiatric practice in Vermont for 33 years. He is a member of the volunteer clinical faculty at University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, where he has taught the topics of professionalism, ethics and psychoanalytic psychotherapy. https://www.robertemmonsmd.us

Previously published in the VTdigger, https://vtdigger.org/2022/02/28/emmons-on-covid-and-conscience/

COVID-19, Current Events, Guest Column, What's New

Tips for Starting Your Business in the Post-COVID Market

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Guest column by Lance Cody-Valdez

Major world events like pandemics have a way of forcing us to re-evaluate our priorities. In the face of a rapidly changing world, we have to ask ourselves: Do I enjoy how I’m living? For many people, the answer is no — and, according to Medical News Today, work is a major source of life dissatisfaction. Since the pandemic has led to more people working from home (and proving themselves self-motivated in the process), many experts expect to see a rise in the COVID-preneur.

If you’re a hopeful “green” business owner who has been inspired during the pandemic, you fall into this category. Although that means you’re in good company, it also means you need to make the right moves in order to ensure your business can stand out among the crowd.

Embrace Technology From the Start

Right now, it’s important that any business entering the market is accessible online. Technology use was already on the rise before the pandemic, but it has really taken off since. COVID-19 led to a boom in virtual connections, social media use, and other online tools and services. This makes remote work an ideal setup, so take the steps necessary to create a healthy, balanced workspace in your home.

Whether you carve out space in your bedroom or upgrade a detached garage, a work-from-home solution is an efficient and economical way to get your venture off the ground. Note that outbuildings often need extra TLC before they are livable, so if you choose this solution you may need to start with pest control. Finding a local, qualified pest control pro is easier than ever — simply Google “rodent exterminator near me” and use Angi.com to filter through customer ratings and reviews, then call a handful of contractors for quotes.

Businesses that start now will need to have an online presence in order to compete in this space. For example, you might want to consider creating a mobile app for your business. If you go this route, remember that your product needs to stand out from the crowd. DIY app builders offer a pretty lackluster product that’s likely to look just like hundreds of other apps out there. Hiring mobile app designers can help you to create an app that has a look, feel, and function that’s unique to your business and brand.

Investigate Market Trends

RetailNext notes that another important step all business owners should take is to investigate the latest market trends. Taking customer needs and desires for granted is never wise, but it’s an even worse move right now. The pandemic has changed so much about our lives that a lot of the assumptions we might make about the market are likely to be off base.

For example, for a while, experts were predicting that primarily shopping online could be here to stay, even after the pandemic threat has passed. However, a recent poll from Morning Brew shows that US adults are just as likely to shop in-person. E-commerce isn’t going away, but it’s not going to take over the market the way some had predicted. Other trends, such as the boost in vegan grocery consumption and increased interest in environmental sustainability should inform and motivate the moves you make as a business.

Start Small

One of the best ways to set yourself up for success is to figure out how to start your business on a small, achievable scale for the immediate term. For example, you might decide to pick up side work as a freelancer for a while or sell handmade goods through an online shop rather than quit your day job or rent a storefront. Smaller moves might not be as exciting, but they offer a lot in terms of experience and stability.

You should also establish your business with the state. This ensures you remain in compliance with necessary tax and labor laws. When choosing a business structure, opting for an LLC can be the ideal choice as a newbie entrepreneur. It’s the easiest entity to set up, and it comes with personal asset protection and tax advantages. To register your LLC, use an affordable online formation service to expedite the process.

When you start small, you give yourself time to figure things out without taking a massive risk right from the jump. This warm-up period will allow you to hone in on a brand image, figure out your workflow, and identify your target audience — all while bringing in some extra income. This puts you in a great position to plan and lay the groundwork for making your idea into a full-time career.

With the right plan, you can create a business that meets post-pandemic needs while standing out from the pack. If starting a business is your next big career move, we hope this article helps you come up with the best techniques to make it happen.

About the author: A few years ago, burned out and miserable from his job in corporate marketing, Lance Cody-Valdez decided it was time to invest in himself. He quit his job the following day and used his meager savings to stay afloat as he built a career as a freelance writer and content marketer. He created free-lance-now.com to help others use freelancing to escape the 9 to 5 daily grind.

Photo Credit: Pexels

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