Thoughts of a retired physician

<p>"COVID-19 melted down the world at a very inopportune time in history. Just as medicine was getting a handle on previously intractable conditions, from sophisticated diabetes management to less invasive surgical procedures, a new threat that devastates our population with few good treatments overwhelms health care.</p> <p>Medical workers come to the rescue, as we always do, though at a personal and communal price. Somebody else keeps our food available, allows our communications to flow without interruption, and maintains most of our transportation systems, even though many of us have fewer places to go.</p> <p>Our elected and appointed officials went to work, most no smarter or less contentious than they were before, but emergency support came through in the form of research subsidies to enable better treatment and prevention, mass purchases to enhance lab capacity, and for many an emergency boost to available personal funds. Heroes all, except for the ones you see on TV that you wish to exclude."</p> <p><a href= "https://health.usnews.com/doctors/richard-plotzker-262504" target= "_blank" rel="noopener follow noreferrer" data-wpel-link= "exclude">Richard Plotzker</a> is an endocrinologist who blogs at <a href="https://consultmaven.blogspot.com/" target= "_blank" rel="nofollow noopener external noreferrer" data-wpel-link="external">Consult Maven</a>.</p> <p>He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "<a href= "https://www.kevinmd.com/2022/05/doctors-as-organizational-stewarts.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Doctors as organizational stewards</a>."</p> <p><strong>Did you enjoy today’s episode?</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.kevinmdpodcast.com/rate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rate and review</a> the show so more audiences can find <strong>The Podcast by KevinMD</strong>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.kevinmdpodcast.com/follow/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Subscribe on your favorite podcast app</a> to get notified when a new episode comes out.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://earnc.me/