On the power of play

Steve Server // A critical part of pediatrics is mastering the physical exam. Kids are squirmy. They aren’t used to tolerating noxious stimuli—like instruments in ears or cold metal on skin—like adults are. Consequently, seasoned pediatricians have a box full of tricks to make for effective physical examinations for kids. Don’t rush immediately to place…

In defense of humoralism

Steve Server // “When you get stressed, all the blood comes out,” she explained. This was one of the explanations I heard from a patient in the OBGYN clinic regarding her ongoing vaginal bleeding, which was likely due to cervical cancer.  She told me that she had been eating flour mixed with water on days…

SAVEAHAART: Time in Intensive Care

Steve Server // The residents of the Cardio-Thoracic Intensive Care Unit (CT/ICU) work in a cluttered, white box.  The walls are bare, blindingly white, except for the decorations which hung for a few days celebrating some unknown individual’s retirement.  None of us had any idea who would soon leave “The Unit,” but as soon as…