The only hope of uniting this country is in our shared hatred of health insurance companies. We should lean into that.

Quite possibly the most important medical discussion of our time: THE FIRST SPHINCTER DRAFT listen/watch the latest episode of Knock Knock Hi on YouTube or anywhere you get podcasts. let us know who’s team of sphincters is best. Youtube: tinyurl.com/2n74fmnm @glaucomflecken.bsky.social

I think I’m at this point with the “doctors are pharma shills/root cause of disease” crowd. You do you buddy, I’ll see you for your cataract surgery.

They removed it through her medial orbit. I do not advise going through the eye to reach anything not inside the eye.

There’s a stray cat who comes around our house. He was looking skinny, so we’ve been leaving out cat food. Haven’t seen him in awhile, but the food was gone every morning, so I assumed he was eating it. Turns out a fat ass possum has been eating it. Asshole has been living like a king on cat food.

one time i took my broken glasses to an old school eyeglass repair shop and the guy did a fantastic job, couldn’t even see the original break, but i saw a bit of smudge on the lens so i tried to wipe it with my t-shirt and he yelled “no!” at me and snatched them back to clean them properly

People do this in healthcare and it always irritates me. “Look at that patient. They sit there with an iPhone but say they can’t afford their medications?” Buddy, you are mad at the wrong thing.

I made this video 2 years ago. I had a lot of people tell me I was being dramatic. Now we know UNH are pushing nursing home to get residents to sign DNRs. I’m so glad people are waking up. youtube.com/shorts/ZZtHN...

When you’re an anti-vaxxer and also bad at Zelda

The tanking UHG stock price is cool and everything, but what really makes me smile is the thought of their investors crying and filling their diapers because UHC isn’t killing poor people good enough.

I’d like to dedicate the DOJs ongoing investigation into Medicare fraud committed by Unitedhealth Group to one of the health insurance industries staunchest defenders

I am absolutely DELIGHTED by Unitedhealth Group’s latest misfortunes.

Happy 5 year anniversary of the worst Mother’s Day gift I have ever given my wife: The opportunity to perform chest compressions on me for 10 minutes.

I’m fascinated by scientific breakthroughs that were universally hailed in the moment, like pasteurization, that are now vilified by some people. Is this a uniquely American thing? Anybody written a book about why/how this happens? Like the psychology behind it. I’d love to learn more.

youtube.com/shorts/CuSwN... I made some people big mad with this one

You are also cooked.

My wife just used chat gpt to successfully diagnose a bad ignition coil in her car. Doctors are so cooked you guys it’s only a matter of time.

I’m curious why Casey Means actually quit in *year 5* of ENT residency. Like I get burning out and leaving medicine to own a bakery or something, but the stated reason is bc she wanted to treat the “root cause” of disease? What? ENT gotta be top 10 in specialties that cure disease. It’s surgery.

I can tell Casey Means was not a “top performer” in ENT residency or whatever they’re claiming cause none of her social media has ever mentioned the use of Q-tips

This is part of what makes health care feel so hopeless. We should have more power as consumers, but where do you go if you don’t like your health insurance company? Just die, I guess?

I posted this last night as a joke, but after sleeping on it, I’m even more convinced it’s a genuinely good idea.

I still check in on the bad place & post there occasionally. I’m used to people shitting on docs, but these MAHA appts have brought out the worst of humanity. I honestly don’t think it’s safe for physicians over there. These are people who find your address and report you to the medical board

Amazing. UHC shareholders are suing because after the CEO shooting, the company was “no longer willing” to use “aggressive, anti-consumer tactics” to generate the profits they were promised. A gift from the content gods.

What if I told you erythromycin ointment at birth obstructs newborn vision, preventing light from entering the eye and depolarizing rod photoreceptors, resulting in lifelong night blindness.

The rats have chosen a new pope.

Is pseudoscience cyclical? Like will the whole metabolic/seed oil/diet-cures-all-disease stuff eventually burn out allowing for a return to critical thinking, or is this just it now. Did this all happen 40 years ago and we just need to ride it out? Looking for a bit of hope.

Lmao it was all a fucking act. I mean, we all knew it, but it’s funny to see his hypocrisy laid out so beautifully.

Heard a great talk by a commercial airline pilot about safety regulations for pilots compared to surgeons. I asked if older pilots get mad when younger pilots voice safety concerns because they think the only way to be a great pilot is to work while exhausted and he looked at me like I was crazy.

Just passing along some friendly advice on how to approach potential changes to the Australian health care system @drruthmitchell.bsky.social

I learned that in Australia voting is compulsory and happens on a Saturday, you know, like a normal civilized country.

When you meet @glaucomflecken.bsky.social and he’s even more amazing in actual human person. Fantastic discussion about pituitary tumours causing visual field defects. And my glasses. The ophthalmologist likes my glasses. #RACS25 #meetyourheroes #skullbasesurgery #visualfields #neurosurgery

I got briefly confused checking into my hotel in Sydney because the revolving doors revolve the other direction and I had to reassure the hotel staff that I do in fact understand the concept of doors.

On my way to Sydney where I’ll be giving a talk called “Dr. Glaucomflecken’s Really Fun & Incredibly Uplifting Guide to US Healthcare.” The takeaway message: do the opposite of the thing that we’re doing.

My 13 yo daughter was on the computer laughing. I asked what was so funny. She said “I found this website called The Onion it’s so funny” and reader lemme tell you, the elder millennial dad noise I let out could be heard 3 towns over.

“what do you understand about your condition?” “only what they’ve told me” “what have they told you?” “it’s in my chart” “can you summarize it for me?” “doc, i’ve been a patient since before you were born. i know how to evade any question to conceal my cognitive decline. i can do this all day”

I understand this concern, but the anti-vaxx arguments are already everywhere on social media. We have to have people refuting this stuff. Can’t let it go completely unchecked.

I don’t think it’s possible to change minds on vaccines in that format (maybe any format), but Dr. Mike tried and he represented the medical community well by staying level headed and compassionate. I applaud him for that.

The Dr. Mike debates anti-vaxxers video is a real life Parks and Rec town hall meeting.

Dr. Mike is the most patient man on Earth

God I miss those post match ophthalmology rotations. Watching a med student’s eyes light up when you send them home at 10am.

I had a great time talking with 2 of the best people on social media - the most badass duo of @lglaucomflecken.bsky.social and @glaucomflecken.bsky.social - about why fighting misinformation still matters! And of course, fentanyl fentanyl fentanyl. Cause we are sadly not done hearing about fentanyl.

Just saw a rant from a neurologist about people who use the term “cerebrovascular accident” and everyday I’m reminded about how accurate my characters are

“They let you know if you matched, but won’t tell you where for a whole week.”

Every year during match week, I think back on this kind message from @glaucomflecken.bsky.social. It's hard to know what to say. But you are not alone. Please reach out to me if there is anything I can do to support you.

Thinking about physician well-being a lot lately. #Medsky, what would have to be true for you to experience less burnout, depression, anxiety, etc.? Even if it is impossible, I’m curious what it would be.

Where does TrumpElon think innovation for all their favorite biotech corporations comes from? PCR only exists because somebody was looking for bacteria in hot springs at Yellowstone. I’m just a private practice ophthalmologist who barely understands p values but even I know this shit is important.

Very excited to learn how private equity can somehow make the experience of shopping at Walgreens even worse than it currently is. Receipts that give you a rash, maybe?

Only when there are no more eggs and the world must subsist on hospital grade powdered egg substitute will people truly understand the depth of an intern’s pain.

Just so you know, up to 60,000 children go blind from measles every year

Step 1 practice questions taught me that the correct decision is to politely decline such an extravagant gift in favor of the lifelong pursuit of making your medical career as miserable as possible.