George and Keith at OSF

George Hevesy, MD

Keith Steffen

George is just about gone. He announced his resignation a few days ago.

What will this mean for Keith who has supported George for many years?

See this post.

This could get interesting.

Stay tuned.

Palliative Care Medicine

Palliative Care Medicine is "the active total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment".

I think Palliative Care Medicine can be good in many ways. But it should not be forced on the patient or family.

The Archives of Internal Medicine in 2008 found that patients who received palliative care services cost the hospital $1696 to $4908 less per admission. And insurers notice these things. And so do hospital administrators who may not care for your loved one as much as you do.

So beware if the Palliative Care team of doctors and nurses seems extra-nice. Financial concerns for their hospital could be driving them as much as their desire to help the patient.

Mindless Menace of Violence

“Our lives on this planet are too short and the work to be done too great

to let this spirit flourish any longer in our land.

Of course, we cannot vanish it with a program nor with a resolution.

But we can perhaps remember, if only for a time,

that those who live with us are our brothers and sisters;

that they share with us the same short moment of life;

that they seek, as do we, nothing but the chance

to live out our lives in purpose and in happiness,

winning what satisfaction and fulfillment we can.

Surely this bond of a common fate, this bond of a common goal,

can begin to teach us something.

Surely we can learn, at least, to look at those around us as fellow man;

and surely we can begin to work a little harder

to bind up the wounds among us and

to become in our hearts brothers and sisters, compatriots once again.”

Robert F. Kennedy      ( 1925 – 1968 )