Well… Anywhere in the US, that is. In this first of a series of articles, I want to discuss communication. As we all know, communication is foundational to any good relationship. We also know that communication is not something we will ever perfect. We must continuously learn and evolve in how we relate to others,…
Category: health care
Don’t Forget Those Pearly Whites
I was reminded of this just a few days ago. No, not on a camping trip or even in the wilds. It was, nonetheless, a good reminder to review my medical supplies. This is not the sexy side of wilderness medicine. What attracts most of us to the austere or wilderness medical setting is the…
Spinal Protection in the Wilderness: What We’ve Been Doing Wrong for Decades
The latest Wilderness Medical Society Guidelines for spinal cord protection have been released (SCP Guidelines). The results are nothing short of dramatic. If you have been a victim of a traumatic injury over the past 50 years, you have been quickly placed in a cervical collar and strapped to a backboard to “protect your spine”….
What’s in a Name: Docwilderness
Why use the name Docwilderness for your blog? You don’t just write about the woods or camping, after all. In general, I answer that there is so much wilderness around us; why should I restrict what I write or talk about to just one area of the proverbial forest? More specifically, Webster’s dictionary defines wilderness…
Yellow Fever: Is Once a Lifetime Enough?
A recent article in the Journal Lancet, Long-term immunity against yellow fever in children vaccinated during infancy: a longitudinal cohort study, calls into question the 2013 World Health Organization (WHO) decision that a single dose of Yellow Fever vaccine is required for life-long immunity. Until 2013, the requirement was for a dose every 10 years…
The Traveller’s Scurge: Traveller’s Diarrhea
As an adjunct to my upcoming podcast this Saturday, I am reposting this article from a few months ago. In this post I want to expand on what I wrote in prior blog concerning being prepared for an upcoming adventure. While Traveller’s Diarrhea was mentioned there briefly, there is so much more that the truly…
Wilderness Trivia
I must admit that I am a huge fan of trivia. Don’t ask me how many Kardashians there are or who won the Oscar for Best picture last year. I am more interested in knowing that a US river ending in the suffix “-amack” means that it has been a river known for good fishing….
Hospital Profits
In writing this post, I do so knowing full well that there are significant difficulties in the healthcare industry in America. Too many in the United States incur bankruptcy due to medical bills each year. Too many forego recommended treatments whether procedural or via medication each day. With that background, it should also be noted…
The Role of the CMO: Chief Medical Officer
One of the questions I am frequently asked is, “What do you do exactly?” And, my response is usually, “Well, that depends.” I have this response because the role of the Chief Medical Officer is one that is ever changing. I frequently refer people to the line in my job description that sums it up…
Altitude: It May Not be as High as You Think
For many, the thought of going “to altitude” brings images of Mt. Everest or similar mountaineering peaks. Physiologically, however, nothing could be further from the truth. Depending upon susceptibility, humans can begin to experience symptoms of altitude illness as low as 1500 meters above sea level. The chances increase after 6,500 feet and further still…