We hear about the consequences of substance use and abuse frequently. From news reports, television shows, podcasts, and anecdotal stories, the prevalence of substance use and abuse is difficult to avoid. Unfortunately, substance use can develop into something debilitating: Substance Use Disorder.  Substance Use Disorder, or SUD, is actually a neuropsychiatric disorder defined by the American Psychiatric Association as the recurrent use of a drug or alcohol that causes significant functional impairment, including the inability to fulfill responsibilities at work. For physicians this is extremely dangerous as impairments at work can affect patient safety and medical outcomes, possibly even resulting […]

It has long been acknowledged that medical professionals are under an immense amount of pressure and experience high levels of stress in their careers. A career in medicine takes not only an incredible toll on the physical health of physicians but on their mental health as well. Dealing with patients’ health and life-and-death situations truly puts cognitive and emotional strain on physicians and only compounds over time. Often, doctors and other healthcare providers put their own care off, focusing on their patients’ needs rather than their own. This happens for a number of reasons, especially in regard to mental health […]

Mental health is an important component of overall health. However, many people hide their mental health impairments for fear of the stigma associated with these conditions. This is especially true in the medical profession. Doctors often ignore their own suffering in order to maintain their medical careers and continue providing care for patients. This ultimately does more harm than good, as physicians suffer through depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, physician burnout, and a variety of other mental health conditions that inhibit physicians’ ability to provide adequate patient care and meet the duties of their profession.  As mentioned, a primary concern that […]

Cancer of any kind can be a scary diagnosis. Even doctors facing a cancer diagnosis can have fear about what this means for their health, their life, and their careers. Breast cancer is disrupting to medical careers, with treatment taking sufferers out of the workforce while undergoing a host of treatments.  Though it is more common for women to be diagnosed with breast cancer, men can still suffer from this disease. Approximately 300,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, with just shy of 3,000 of those people being men. Throughout diagnosis and treatment, […]

Dementia is a challenging disease to address. This is especially true for doctors for a number of reasons. Not only is dementia a disease that can be difficult to identify but there is still a stigma around any type of mental or cognitive impairments, especially in careers that have a high level of education and training required. While the medical community is making strides toward eliminating this stigma, there is still progress to be made.  Unfortunately, the complexity of diagnosing dementia along with the stigma of psychiatric and psychological conditions creates problems when it comes to seeking disability insurance benefits. […]

Many professionals ensure they have disability insurance coverage when they start a new job. With several employer benefits being set for confirmation and renewal, many employees do not conduct a thorough review of their coverage annually despite changing needs over time. It is a good idea to review your policies  Another option should your employer-offered disability insurance policies not meet your needs, is to purchase your own policies outside the group plan. There are a number of advantages to having an individual disability insurance policy, notably being able to take your policy with you should you change jobs as well […]

Anyone can get sick or injured at any time, including doctors. When illness or injury occurs, it is imperative to get the necessary medical treatment to aid in recovery, which sometimes includes surgery and ongoing care. As a doctor, you are well aware of frequent timeframes for the recovery of surgical patients. Recovery cannot be rushed, and the patient will return to daily activities and work activities when their health allows. Many doctors even prohibit their patients from returning to the workplace so that proper recovery can be well underway or complete by the time the patient does return to […]

It is a well-known fact that insurance coverage provides a benefit in case of an adverse event that would affect you and your family. We protect our homes with insurance policies, our possessions with supplemental policies and riders to home and renters insurance, and our vehicles with insurance as well. We enhance our personal health with health insurance. Travel insurance can protect your financial investment in a vacation should plans change for unforeseen reasons. Life insurance provides funds to beneficiaries in the event of death, leaving financial security to those left behind.  While no one plans to have a serious […]

Just as in previous years, there seems to be an increase in COVID cases and hospitalizations as we end our summer. Predictions for the fall and winter seasons indicate we should expect another surge of COVID-19 cases in the United States. While we have learned much about COVID-19 treatments and prognosis, this disease remains a threat to our medical community and community at large. Despite having available prevention protocols and vaccines to halt the spread of COVID-19, we are still very vulnerable to this disease. Treatment for Covid has helped alleviate some symptoms, but there is still much to learn […]

For many, the beginning of summer brings to mind relaxation, time with friends and family, and holiday plans. Unfortunately for people who already suffer from or have an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, heart disease, heart attacks, and other disabling conditions, the summer heat poses additional risk for worsening the condition and potentially resulting in disability. That being the case, when disability keeps healthcare workers from engaging in their work in the medical field, they need to make a claim for disability insurance benefits. These benefits provide replacement income to offset lost wages due to a disabling condition, keeping the […]