Medical Social Workers Are Essential, but Under-Appreciated
A lack of support from the medical establishment for those practicing the profession has led to a high attrition rate and tough psychological problems.
Medicine
Why It's Smart to Opt for a Female Surgeon
New research finds medical personnel work better together when the operating room has more women.
The Real Cost of Health Care
An inside look at the games, deals, and incentives that often result in higher costs, delays in care, or denials of treatment for patients in the American medical system.
To Be a Good Doctor, Study the Humanities
An emphasis on the humanities in medical school trains future doctors to become proficient in the social and cultural context of health care.
Viewfinder: An Ebola Vaccination Campaign Kicks Off in the Democratic Republic of Congo
A nurse working with the World Health Organization shows a bottle containing Ebola vaccine at the town hall of Mbandaka on May 21st, 2018, during the launch of the Ebola vaccination campaign.
Doctors Who Get Gifts From Opioid Sales Reps Prescribe More Opioids
In wooing a doctor, even a single meal makes a difference.
Health-Care Costs Are Growing in the U.S., Thanks in Large Part to Private Insurers
Three charts that show how health-care costs are rising, especially for people with private insurance.
Arizona Bill Places New Restriction on Abortion
Women in Arizona must now fill out a questionnaire before receiving an abortion.
In Chicago, Black Breast Cancer Mortality Rates Are Dropping Dramatically
While other major U.S. cities see the disparity in outcomes between black and white women battling breast cancer grow, a unique program in Chicago has reversed the trend.
'Medical Symptoms That Medicine Can't Hear': A Conversation With Maya Dusenbery
In her new book, Dusenbery provides a comprehensive and much-needed look at how sexism in the medical field is hurting women.
PS Picks: Molly Osberg's Grim Picture of Life in America Without Health Insurance
PS Picks is a selection of the best things that the magazine's staff and contributors are reading, watching, or otherwise paying attention to in the worlds of art, politics, and culture.
'Grey's Anatomy' Finally Tackles Medicine's Gender Bias
With Miranda Bailey's heart attack, sexism in medicine gets much-deserved mainstream treatment.
Future Physician, Heal Thyself: Get Thee to a Gallery
New research finds medical students who enjoy music and art have qualities that make them better, and less-stressed, doctors.
These 14 Figures Show the Sources of Soaring Health-Care Costs in America
A new report shows rising costs for prescription drugs and emergency room visits.
Want to Fix America's Opioid Problem? Start With Its Doctors.
New research finds a majority of opioids prescriptions came from office-based doctors, not emergency departments.
The VA Is Prescribing Fewer Opioids—but Not for the Reason You Think
American medical institutions created the opioid crisis. The VA is showing how the establishment can help make amends.
When Deafness Is Medicalized: Inside the Culture Clash Over Cochlear Implants
Some fear that, by offering deaf people access to sound, so-called bionic ears could spell the end of the culture built around ASL.
The FDA's Proposed Crackdown on Homeopathy Takes Aim at Risky Remedies
Homeopathic products include everything from the radically alternative to certain over-the-counter cold and allergy medicines.
How One Surgery Department Cut Its Opioid Prescriptions by 7,000 Pills in Five Months
A new study reports doctors in at least one hospital were prescribing far more pills than patients used.
Corporate Incentives Make Insurers Favor Pushing Brand-Name Drugs Over Cheaper Generics
Out of public view, corporations are cutting deals that give consumers little choice but to buy brand-name drugs—and sometimes pay more at the pharmacy counter than they would for generics.
How Cutting-Edge Medical Care Becomes Optional for African Americans
A new study looks at racial disparities in genetic testing for cancer patients.
The Making of a $455 Million Specialty Pill
The pharmaceutical world is rife with rebates and side deals—all designed to elbow ahead of the competition. But apparently the price of convenience comes at a steep mark-up.
Why Don't We Have Better Pain Drugs?
The answer involves both biology and economics, but the opioid crisis is forcing us to consider investing more in pain research.
The Future of Medicine Depends on Protections for Pre-Existing Conditions
Biomedical researchers can see a future where genetic tests are used to treat and prevent many diseases before major symptoms even present themselves. But that future won't be possible without strong insurance protections for pre-existing conditions.