Nathan Gray MD, FACP
@NathanAGray
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Palliative Doc at Johns Hopkins : love teaching and dabbling at the intersection of health and art đź–Ť. Tweets and art are my own. he/him.
Baltimore, MD
Joined November 2013
What makes love last? I’ve made it a habit to ask couples I meet in the hospital their secrets. This mini-comic with @washingtonpost shares some of the answers I’ve gotten over the years… ❤️Happy #ValentinesDay! #hapc #graphicmedicine
https://t.co/rixcDi1xNe
washingtonpost.com
As a palliative care doctor, I've often wondered what makes these couples last. They all had one thing in common.
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What do general pediatrics and outpatient palliative care have in common? (Thoughts from a palliative doc who started medical life thinking he’d be a general pediatrician…) #hapc
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@PalliativeMed_J Special Report: How should clinicians approach humor in serious illness? Melissa Rizzolo., LCSW, and Dr. @NathanAGray offer practical guidance for times of laughter amid pain https://t.co/oL82Dxo3Q1
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And we close with a “top ten” list of cautions and guidance for those encountering humor in clinical work day to day…
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We listed some examples of how this plays out (using my own art)…
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In our paper, we suggest the most important thing to consider is the source and the object… who’s making the humor and what is it about?? Some source/object combos are off limits, some high risk, some generally safe. It may seem obvious, but patients get more leeway than docs!
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Patients use humor for coping, to communicate around sensitive topics, to build rapport, or to reassert control in scary times… clinicians also use humor to cope, build rapport, or even lighten the mood. But when’s the wrong time or the right time!?
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How do those caring for folks with serious illness navigate humor?? Patients and family often bring humor to encounters, and many say they appreciate it from providers… Happy to have paired up w PC SW Melissa Rizzollo to write some fun guidance for @PalliativeMed_j #hapc
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When none of the hospital discharge options is a fit…
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I never promise we can make all the pain go away, as there are parts of medical suffering we’ll probably never tame, but I love the wins when we’re able to make a difficult day feel a bit more bearable. #hapc
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Answer data questions with data. Answer emotion and meaning questions with empathy and humility…
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Magic in the air ❤️💕 Happy Hospital Valentine’s tomorrow!
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In situations where a patient says they can’t handle a pressing diagnosis/decision that needs urgent action, I ask if there’s a family member they trust to handle the info and decision, if not, I try to give them some control over details of how info is shared before proceeding.
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When discussing serious health issues with patients, it’s crucial to ask permission each time a serious topic is broached… people may have specific needs, timing, or preferences they’d like to voice before you “go there.”
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(Family meeting nemeses.) Reminded of this one rounding on inpatient palliative consults today… the hospital can be a busy, noisy place. ❤️
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Palliative Medicine's Dr. @NathanAGray co-authored and illustrated an opinion piece for @USATODAY highlighting the severe impact of health insurance prior authorization on patient care. #HopkinsGIM
https://t.co/86KoIMv9gM
usatoday.com
Doctors trying to get patients necessary drugs and procedures stymied by health insurance prior authorization. It's not a game. It's life and death.
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My usual holiday greetings for those working the hospital this season…
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One of my favorite types of ridiculous cartoons to draw for a break after a heavy day is “medical-term-brought-to-life…”
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