Erica McBride, MD

Rheumatologist. Fitness Fanatic. Random musings from the clinical trenches, AI/ML in rheum, cell therapy research. Views and opinions are my own.

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

This is fantastic- getting a diagnosis is the first step towards eventual treatment for patients and their families with rare diseases @OpenAI let’s take it one step further- what are you doing to help patients with rare genetic disease get treatment options that are otherwise neglected from Large pharma research? I’m thinking tailored gene therapies- etc.? This is a major “treatment desert” in the landscape of growing therapies. That’s the real play, I’d be really interested in learning- please feel free to reach out to me! 😊

[OpenAI Newsroom @OpenAINewsroom]

For families facing rare genetic diseases, answers can be hard to find.

@HallieJackson spoke live with @_perloj and Dr. Catherine Brownstein about the new NEJM AI paper and our work with Boston Children’s Hospital, where experts used o3 Deep Research to help diagnose rare genetic diseases affecting children.

Take a look:

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

@Berci Boon until patients start refusing them- need health system policies in place to take onus of docs for consent at each visit and support in widespread use

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

On the contrary I welcome my patients using ai models and coming prepared to their visits. It almost ALWAYS validates my recommendations, makes my life in rheumatology easier. In fact my patients have even told me that ChatGPT thinks I’m doing a good job. These are super helpful for patients seeing cognitive specialists

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

Honestly I’m looking forward to this- there is so much over referring in healthcare right now and no one wants to talk about it. I spend 50% of my time triaging issues outside my scope of practice. I would love it if I could spend more time with the patients that actually need my skill set and I bet hospital systems and benefits managers would love that too. I’m also looking forward to seeing the decrease in hospital inpatient consists as well - that is a huge time and workforce drain. Please keep us clinic based cognitive specialists IN CLINIC

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

With you 100% I am pro Waymo and would love the DMV to get behind it. I basically feel like I cheat death every time I get on the beltway witnessing horrific, negligent human drivers. Self driving cars would be a massive improvement. Not to mention a step towards independence for our blind, low vision and other disabled area residents.

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

@drrdemon Not a resident but some weeks in attending life are quite busy. I like MightyMeals. Fresh, good protein and fiber and some meatless tofu options with decent protein to mix things up. Def want to try cookunity!

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

@moraleDmaestro This is sad to me- one of my first med school professors said “the more you learn, the better doctor you will be” and I really took that to heart. Grades were a bonus but the impact of what I learned was real. Anytime I catch a rare diagnosis I think back on that.

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

@moraleDmaestro Sommelier, viticulture school, culinary school- chef, bread baker and start a vineyard 🍷 all good things come from microbes 🙌

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

@ShawnChittle @BarredinDC Amen! Great outdoor space in old town!

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

It’s astounding isn’t it? This is also an example of how cognitive specialties get screwed in earnings. We perform minimal procedures but we order a ton of tests, that are necessary, to answer complex questions and coordinate care. Health system makes money on labs and imaging and we are credited with NOTHING except our poorly compensated visit RVUs. Without our orders the labs and X-rays do not happen . . .

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

Yes- this is the dream. But we also need to ensure we have preventative or low risk therapeutics ready for patients with early diagnosis. In rheumatology our treatments are high risk and we have yet to deploy treatments for patient In a “pre-clinical” or “pre-disease” state short of exercise and a Mediterranean diet

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

100% we are actually behind on lifetime earnings compared to non medical peers from the years of lost compounding interest with either no wages+tuition or below market wages in our 20s and 30s. I consider the moment I realized this during residency was my “financial awakening” and have been trying to make up lost time since. Spend less than you earn and invest as much as you can!

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

@mansizzzzle I started using openAI for clinicians as soon as it came out and I’m pretty impressed compared with OE. I also use a great deal out of the EHR so integration is not a deal breaker for me but will be great to see the performance of more integrated CDS tools

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

Agreed, though adoption and market traction limited by access and integration with EHRs. Getting to stakeholders at large systems is key for improved access AND getting the message to patients to be ok with it as well. I have had a handful of patients refuse their use as the onus of consent still placed on the doc.

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

@chrissyfarr Love using Abridge- can’t wait to see more in the future! Latest assessment tool in the assessment and plan part of the note is exceptional

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

@hjluks I hear you on your messaging- activity is key, BUT rest AFTER resistance training is where the magic happens . . . And good restful sleep is necessary ESPECIALLY with arthritic joints to allow recovery. But yes, sedentary lifestyle is not helpful and glad you encourage activity

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

@Floridagirl0850 🙋‍♀️ I talk to my patients about resistance training and progressive overload- just your average neighborhood rheumatologist who is a girl gym ‘bro over here . . .

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

@louisanicola_ Great point- which is why I think about retirement as eventually retiring TO something rather than just FROM aomething- to the hobbies, pursuits or post professional work that bring you joy 😊

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

@NTFabiano I sometimes purposely DON’T look at my Oura ring after a rough night sleep- if you know, you know, adjust my workout schedule and move along. Ignorance can be bliss sometimes

[Erica McBride, MD @EMcRiegger]

@Papa_Heme For the record, I don’t mind positive ana referrals from my heme colleagues as you all usually have a good reason to send it. From primary care is a different story- Wild West out there. . .