Articles by Yael L. Maxwell, medical writer

Here are examples of some of my favorite stories

TCTMD

A Dose for Doing: Healthcare Providers and Exercise Specialists Struggle With Prescribing Physical Activity

October 24, 2016

While exercise is viewed on par with pharmaceuticals to some healthcare professionals in terms of its ability to prevent and manage cardiovascular disease, providers vary widely in their opinions and practices of how they counsel patients to move. I interview physicians, exercise specialists, and a nurse for their thoughts on how they use subjective judgement to advise patients and what needs to change. more

Where Theory Meets Practice: Getting to the Heart of the Heart Team

March 30, 2016

The Heart Team is a concept cardiologists have been using more or less in practice for close to a decade. But what it means for everyone involved differs depending on the institution, physician attitudes, and region. Here I explain the history of the concept and discover how it is currently being used in practice. more

From Chaos to Consistency: How One Michigan Hospital Built a Heart Team That Works

April 27, 2016

Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is one of the state's highest volume cardiac centers. The cardiology team totally overhauled their system in early 2015 to allow for more organized and streamlined care processes, including instating weekly Heart Team meetings. I dive deep to discover how it is they ended up with a process that works so well that many of their members wish they could meet more often. more

Physician Dissatisfaction With MOC Goes Mainstream, Inspires Activism

May 7, 2015

Maintenance of Certification, or MOC, has become a hot topic--and a political one--within the medical community. The general consensus does not oppose lifelong learning, but does oppose the added costs and "time-wasting" activities sanctioned by the American Board of Internal Medicine in order to keep their credentials up to date. I talk with players on both sides of the debate, including representatives from a new credentialling board, to gauge changes in perspective over the past year and hypothesize what will happen in the future. more

We Asked, You Answered: The Heart Team by the Numbers

April 13, 2016

I conducted a survey of more than 250 Heart Team members to determine how they really feel about the concept's use in practice. In tandem with a graphic designer, I created an infographic--TCTMD's first!--displaying the results, some of which might surprise you. more

Rising Awareness of Radiation Safety Trickles Down to Fellows

March 31, 2015

Radiation safety has become a hot topic in the field of medical education, and interventional cardiology trainees are paying special attention to new technologies and protection devices, particularly given that female fellows are often considering pregnancy and family planning at this point in their lives. I talk with fellows, a radiation safety expert, and a program director to get multiple perspectives on this issue. more