Ken Terry

Sheffield

Healthcare and Health IT Writer at Freelance

I live in western Massachusetts and write about health care and health IT.

Featured in: Favicon

cbsnews.com Favicon

webmd.com

marketwatch.com Favicon

medscape.com Favicon

computerworld.com Favicon

cio.com

healthaffairs.org Favicon

mdedge.com Favicon

kevinmd.com Favicon

thehealthcareblog.com + 8 more

Articles

America May Have a New Rx Drug Crisis. Are You Part of It?

2 weeks ago | webmd.com | Ken Terry

April 9, 2025 – Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is no longer understood as mainly a childhood condition. The number of adult diagnoses has increased significantly in recent years, and the share of patients over 18 being prescribed stimulants – mostly amphetamines – and becoming addicted to them has risen accordingly. These medications, such as Adderall and Vyvanse, are the most common treatments for adult ADHD and are generally considered safe for long-term use.
Why COVID Vaccination Is Still Crucial for Children

1 month ago | webmd.com | Ken Terry

March 21, 20205 — Vaccinated children are much less likely to develop “long COVID” than are unvaccinated children, according to a that researchers hope will convince parents to keep kids’ immunizations up to date. Many parents don’t get their children vaccinated against COVID-19 because pediatric cases are generally mild. But the study of post-COVID condition (PCC), as scientists call long COVID, supports continued vigilance, researchers say.
Exploring the long-term impacts of physician suicide on patients and doctors [PODCAST]

1 month ago | kevinmd.com | Jaimie Cavanaugh |Daryl James |Ken Terry

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube.
Doctors, grounded in our oath, must act now more than ever

2 months ago | kevinmd.com | Cindy Thompson |G. Richard Olds |Ken Terry |Peggy A. Rothbaum

In this time of change, it seems appropriate to take a step back and reflect upon the oath we took when we graduated from medical school.
Fitness Reduces Dementia Risk, Even in Those at Genetic Risk

2 months ago | webmd.com | Ken Terry

Feb. 5, 2025 – Staying fit is one of the best ways to lower the risk of dementia — even for those with a genetic predisposition to the condition. A new study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine calculated a 35% decrease in the odds of developing dementia among those with a genetic risk but who have a high level of cardiorespiratory fitness, or CRF. CRF refers to how well the heart, lungs, and muscles work together to supply oxygen during sustained physical activity.
Why doctors must talk about death: the truth about CPR and end-of-life care

2 months ago | kevinmd.com | Alisa Berger |Cindy Thompson |G. Richard Olds |Ken Terry

When I was a general surgery intern, I was doing my very early morning pre-rounds on a frail female patient in her late 70s with significant cardio- and peripheral vascular disease. She’d been in the hospital for weeks and wasted away to no more than 85-90 pounds. She was not able to get out of bed unassisted. I don’t even remember why she was in the hospital, but what I remember vividly is walking in that morning to find her dead. Wait—was she? She was not breathing, and she didn’t have a pulse.
How to Avoid Overtreatment of Prostate Cancer

Jan 15, 2025 | webmd.com | Ken Terry

Jan. 15, 2025 – Prostate cancer is quite common – nearly 60% of men over 65 have it – but it’s not a high priority for cancer researchers. One big reason: Most men with prostate cancer will die of something else because the cancer grows so slowly. So for the past 15 years, there’s been a big increase in “watchful waiting,” meaning doctors monitor the patient’s condition but don’t treat the disease unless symptoms appear or worsen.
How poor communication is killing patients and burning out doctors

Jan 14, 2025 | kevinmd.com | Pamela Buchanan |Jaimie Cavanaugh |Daryl James |Ken Terry

As an emergency room physician with 20 years of experience, I’ve witnessed countless moments where patients come to the ER not because their symptoms demand urgent care, but because they lack understanding about their own medical conditions. These are not isolated incidents—they’re a systemic failure in communication that contributes to patient distress, health care inefficiency, and physician burnout.
How a network of changemakers is revolutionizing health care [PODCAST]

Jan 12, 2025 | kevinmd.com | Michael O. Fine |Betty Rabinowitz |Sara Pastoor |Ken Terry

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!Join us for an inspiring conversation on transforming health care with Kim Downey, a physician advocate and physical therapist; Dawn Ellison, an emergency physician; and Denise Wiseman, a health care executive.
How burnout nearly killed me-and what doctors must do to survive

Jan 7, 2025 | kevinmd.com | Pamela Buchanan |Cindy Thompson |G. Richard Olds |Ken Terry

I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was 12. Growing up, I idolized my pediatrician, Dr. Helen Nash, one of the first Black female physicians in St. Louis. Her warmth and competence left a lasting impression on me. Medicine became my calling, my purpose, and my dream. I worked tirelessly through high school, college, medical school, and residency to make that dream a reality. But no one warned me that the reality could turn into a nightmare. Being a doctor nearly killed me.