Advancing Sound Clarity in Public Venues
Some technology goes unnoticed until you need it. That includes hearing loops, which make a big difference to people with hearing loss. Hearing loops offer a way to connect people who use hearing aids or cochlear implants directly to a venue’s sound system. This enables the person to hear better, whether they’re paying at the […]
Diagnosis Unknown
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Looking for answers to medical mysteries Few things in life raise more anxiety than waiting on a diagnosis. And if you’re not only waiting, but trying to hunt down the cause of disturbing symptoms, you’ve likely also felt defeated, deflated, and dejected. When our health is in jeopardy, we don’t feel like ourselves. The […]
We Asked…You Answered
We asked readers to share on social media and in our weekly newsletter the most important thing they do for their health. Thank you to all who responded. Here’s what you said…. Q: What is the most important thing you do on a regular basis for your health and well-being? “‘Take care of your teeth!’ […]
Medical Mission
Doctors helping local patients and teaching local doctors in Nepal When a medical team from the U.S. planned a visit to Kathmandu, Nepal in January 2020, news traveled far and wide. It reached people in isolated, rural communities in the Himalaya Mountains who traveled by car or bus, on horseback, by donkey, or on foot […]
In Their Words
Three hospital chaplains share their thoughts on gun violence Hospital chaplains play a pivotal role in providing care, comfort, and consolation to people going through a range of medical issues. Regardless of their own theology, chaplains support people from all denominations through difficult times. These challenges include a loved one’s passing, a devastating diagnosis, and […]
Explore the Mysteries of Medicine in These Acclaimed Books
At first glance, mystery novels and books about medicine may seem like two vastly different genres, but in fact they have much in common. Instead of determining whodunit, doctors determine what is it. Instead of bringing the perpetrator to justice, health professionals go after the offending pathogen. And no matter the disease or condition, every […]
Who Gets Diagnosed in Illinois?
Not Everyone, and Not Well Enough The numbers don’t lie, but they do reveal an ugly truth: There are major disparities in who healthcare providers diagnose and treat in Illinois. Jeffrey Linder, MD, chief of internal medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, says most people who get in to see primary care doctors are insured. “There […]
Too Soon
Pediatric diseases can be tough to diagnose for many reasons Instead of always looking for the fantastic in dream interpretation, psychotherapist Sigmund Freud occasionally encouraged people to consider things just as they are. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, goes a saying often attributed to him. When children get sick, pediatricians and parents often […]
Lost Trust
For years, many Black patients have mistrusted doctors and the healthcare system. How are physicians rebuilding that trust? While on a road trip to Washington D.C. a few years ago, Earl Sewell blinked, and the road around him instantly blurred. The fast-moving cars and trucks on either side of his lane looked like a watercolor […]
The Importance of Second Opinions
After a tiny lump on his tongue quickly swelled to the size of a golf ball, Chicago singer Hector Nuñez found himself sitting in a doctor’s office. The news was life-altering: He had an aggressive form of tongue cancer. To treat it, he would lose his tongue with no hope of rehabilitation. No tongue would […]
6 Tough-to-Diagnose Diseases
Despite all of the modern medical tools at our disposal, some diseases remain mysterious. They’re difficult to diagnose for a variety of reasons — whether they’re good at hiding within the body or cause ambiguous symptoms. No matter the disease, Reem Jan, MD, rheumatologist and assistant professor of medicine at University of Chicago Medicine, says, […]
Misdiagnosed
Patients turn to doctors for answers, but what happens when the answer is wrong? When Jessica Gray was 16, numbness and loss of feeling in her arm landed her in her pediatrician’s office. Perplexed, the pediatrician referred her to Lurie Children’s Hospital for testing. Gray went in multiple times for imaging and blood work. On […]
Life After Death
Some answers only reveal themselves after a person dies. For those paying attention, the information can change perspectives and save lives. Pick any afternoon in the Illinois Medical District — home to multiple major medical centers — and quiet isn’t the first word that comes to mind. Traffic-logged highways encircle the area, and ambulance sirens wail […]
