Let's hear it for the work of medical bloggers! Vitum Medicinius wrote a post this week on why reading medical blogs is useful. Here's a few reasons why:
1. Insightful clinical observations:
- Ramona Bates, the scholar with a straight face, presented overviews of gynecomastia (i.e. men with boobs) and cross-cultural standards of buttock beauty.
- Dr. Val reminds us what the survivors of war will have to live with post-amputation. She knows about these things, she's a physical medicine and rehab specialist. She also reports that living in a "walkable" neighborhood is associated with a lower BMI. I have personal experience of this; when I moved out of the city, where I used to walk a lot, to the suburbs, where I commuted by car, I gained at least 20 pounds. Yikes.
- TBTAM asks, is it a good idea for women to nurse babies that are not their own? This is an idea out of antiquity--the wet nurse--but is it necessary in the modern era? I'm still mulling the question over.
2. Breaking news about the best of high-tech medicine:
- iPhone mediated consultation, courtesy of Shadowfax.
- AppleQuack, another scholar, reviews the best of study aids for desktop, laptop and iPhone.
3. Up-to-the-moment commentary on a wide range of professional issues:
- FatDoctor addresses the issue of comfort levels in practicing medicine.
- Resident Anesthesia Guy explains why he's glad he's done with emergency medicine.
- Medrants responds to concerns about night float systems, and also wonders if we have enough time to think.
- ER Stories reminds us all: it is better to be lucky than it is to be good.
- Dr. Rob reminds us of the downside of vacation, and I agreed.
4. Finally--important to us rural docs--blogs keep us up to date on pertinent topics in small-town medicine:
- The Rural Blog, which I highly recommend if you are interested in following social, economic, political, and health news as it affects rural areas, discussed the potential adverse effects of farm chores on adolescent musculoskeletal development.
- They also cover a volunteer remote medical clinic serving poor people in the Appalachias.
- Notes from the Country Doctor reviews common rural injuries. He also spotlights a few headlines from his local paper, which gives a flavor of small-town life.
By no means is this an exhaustive list, but a starting point. Get thee to your reading list!
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