Episode Details

Episode 30: Street Medicine Basics

The sun rises over the San Joaquin Valley, California, today is October 2nd, 2020.

I have two sneaky children who are always trying to hide during the week to play video games. Well, I read an article that gave some relief to my worried mind about the benefits of videogames. The article was published in 2007, titled “The Impact of Video Games on Training Surgeons in the 21st Century”. 

The study consisted in having 33 participants (residents and attendings) to answer a questionnaire, go through a training called Top Gun, and play over-the-counter video games. Then the doctors were evaluated in their performance during laparoscopic procedures. The results showed that video game play correlated with 37% fewer errors and 27% faster completion. Conclusion, video game experience skill correlates with laparoscopic surgical skills. Who would have thought that video games may be a practical teaching tool to train surgeons[1]. 

“Dementia is one of the greatest challenges in healthcare,” said Andrea Pfifer, CEO of AC Immune, a company developing several treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease. There is a new case of dementia every 3 seconds in the world, currently 50 million people live with dementia, and we still don’t have an effective treatment or cure. The main theory of the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s is the accumulation of beta amyloid in the brain, but anti-beta amyloid therapies have fallen short in clinical trials, making some researchers reconsider this hypothesis[2]. 

Some underrated targets may include inflammation and vascular factors. But the tau protein, a key element in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, is experiencing a starring moment. Semorinemab is the first anti-tau therapy to enter a phase 2 study. Alzhemier’s disease as a multifactorial condition, may need a combination of treatments with anti-beta amyloid and anti-tau medications, among other therapies. We will continue to hope for a cure as the research continues to evolve in the following years.  

This is Rio Bravo qWeek, your weekly dose of knowledge brought to you by the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program, from Bakersfield, California. Sponsored by Clinica Sierra Vista, Providing compassionate and affordable care since 1971. 

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something, and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”

– Edward Everett Hale (frequently attributed to Helen Keller)

You are only one, but you can do something for someone. This quote is very appropriate for our episode today, and you’ll see later why. This quote reminds me of the story of the starfish thrower[3], and I have to admit that I had an impulsive purchase a few minutes ago, because that story connected me to my youth, and I want to read it again, so I just bought the book in Amazon. The story is about a man who throws sea stars back to the sea to prevent their death. Even though there are thousands of stars, that man decides to change the destiny of one star at the time. We may be only one, and we may save only one star, but for that star you make a difference. I recommend you read that story. It’s inspiring. Talking about inspiring, I had a conversation with Dr Beare about street medicine, I hope you enjoy it.

Arreaza: We have Dr. Beare with us – He’s famous around here, loved my residents and staff, thank you for your time, Dr. Beare, Chief Resident Rio Bravo Class of 2019.

Beare: Thank you for the invite and kind introduction, I am Matthew Beare, Medical Director of Special Populations at CSV, development and implementation of special programs for homeless, migrant farm workers, and patients who suffer from substance use disorder. Street medicine program, branch of our homeless help, has been in place for one year. It opened in October