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Dr. Kathleen Handal, MD

Bio

Handal, MD is a nationally and internationally known emergency medicine physician. She authored “The American Red Cross First Aid & Safety Handbook” and co-authored a series of medical textbooks. A frequent host and co-host on talk-radio health shows, she has also appeared on CNN and the Today Show. Her “Medical Emergencies in the Workplace” video won a bronze medal in the International Cindy Competition and was a Telly Award finalist. Her "Trauma Run" video, available in Spanish and English for grades 2-6, teaches children how to respond in a medical emergency. The latest in her “Doc’s” series, “Doc’s ER Survival Guide”, provides valuable insight into how an Emergency Room operates so that readers can get the best treatment possible. Preparation is key and this booklet provides valuable tips on what to do. Listen to DocHandal channel through her iTunes podcasts. For more information, visit her website at www.Dochandal.com.

Specialties:

Activity

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Emergency Medicine:
    Prepared for Trauma, Overwhelmed by Carnage

    WEDNESDAY, April 17 (HealthDay News) -- It was an uneventful early afternoon on Monday in the emergency departments at Boston area hospitals. Staffs were working purposefully, efficiently through routine caseloads.

    Suddenly, the city's emergency management system burst alive: bombs had e...Full Article

  • Kathleen Handal, MD
    Kathleen Handal, MD answered:
    Does alcohol cause GI bleeding?
    Alcohol use contributes to many things, some helpful most not! Outcome from use or abuse is...  Full Post
  • Kathleen Handal, MD
    Kathleen Handal, MD answered:
    Should I let my doctor know I am taking Aleve?
    Absolutely! OTC medications, vitamins even herbal teas. Everything you regularly take is important....  Full Post
  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Emergency Medicine:
    Males Struck by Cars Die More Often Than Females: Study

    THURSDAY, Dec. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Male pedestrians who are struck by a car are more than twice as likely as females to die as a result of the crash, a new study finds.

    Data on U.S. travel and traffic for 2008 and 2009 showed that males and females walked just about the same distances ...Full Article

  • Kathleen Handal, MD
    Kathleen Handal, MD answered:
    What causes pneumonia?
    Pneumonia is inflammation of lung tissue. You all realize organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungus and...  Full Post
  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Emergency Medicine:
    Injuries Skyrocket From Inflatable Bounce Houses: Study

    MONDAY, Nov. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Inflatable bounce houses and moonwalks are springboards for childhood fun, but they're also the source of an alarming number of children's injuries, a new report warns.

    On average, 31 children a day are transported to U.S. emergency departments for tr...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Emergency Medicine:
    Genital Injuries Common But Preventable, Researchers Say

    MONDAY, Nov. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Over 16,000 American adults head to emergency rooms each year for genital injuries, a new study finds, but many of these incidents don't have to happen.

    Researchers looked at U.S. National Electronic Injury Surveillance System data from 2002 to 2010, to...Full Article

  • Sharecare News
    Sharecare News posted a story about Emergency Medicine:
    Strategy May Help ER Docs Spot Heart Attacks Within an Hour

    MONDAY, Aug. 13 (HealthDay News) -- A test based on certain cardiac enzymes could help emergency department staff spot heart attacks in incoming patients within an hour, a new study finds.

    The test, called high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn), would be used along with electrocardiog...Full Article

  • Kathleen Handal, MD
    Kathleen Handal, MD answered:
    What are sprains and strains?

    Sprains and Strains are ligament and tendon injuries that occur more often than fractures.

     Sprains occur at joints from a twisting injury which causes ligament(s) to partially or completely tear or overstretch. An x-ray may be needed to determine if a fracture or sprain exists. They should be treated

    ...  Full Post
  • Kathleen Handal, MD
    Kathleen Handal, MD answered:
    What is an Emergency medicine specialists?

    Emergency Medicine (EM) is a specialty, like cardiology. EM doctors undergo rigorous study and specialty testing throughout their careers. This includes MDs and DOs. The respective Boards of MDs and DOs require first the passing a qualifying written examination and then an oral certification exam

    ...  Full Post
  • Kathleen Handal, MD
    Kathleen Handal, MD answered:
    What x-rays and imaging scans might I get in the emergency room (ER)?
    X-ray and imaging scans are valuable imaging tools used to diagnose your problem. Contrary to general opinion, doctors do not have x-ray vision. If you tell the EM doctor you have a pain in your head, he or she may order a test that will help show what is causing the pain. An imaging study may...  Full Post
  • Kathleen Handal, MD
    Kathleen Handal, MD answered:
    What are my risks of radiation exposure from x-rays or other scans?
    Concern about radiation exposure from medical tests is appropriate. While an imaging study is generally safe, it is not entirely without risk -- and not always needed to make a diagnosis. Your doctor will weigh the risks of the study against the benefits it will provide. For example, if a...  Full Post
  • Kathleen Handal, MD
    Kathleen Handal, MD answered:
    How is an intravenous line (IV) inserted?
    Fluid, blood and medications are given directly into the bloodstream. If you require any of these, an intravenous (IV) line will be inserted by a nurse or technician. This is a sterile procedure. The nurse must wear gloves and clean the insertion site before inserting the introducer needle....  Full Post
  • Kathleen Handal, MD
    Kathleen Handal, MD answered:
    What should I do if I see oozing or redness around my IV site?
    If, after your intravenous (IV) line is inserted and fluids are running, you notice oozing around the tape or increased swelling, redness or pain at the site, let the nurse know right away. The IV may have become dislodged from the vein, resulting in leakage into the surrounding tissues....  Full Post
  • Kathleen Handal, MD
    Kathleen Handal, MD answered:
    When will my intravenous (IV) line be removed?
    The intravenous (IV) line must be removed before you leave the hospital. Don’t leave with one in your arm -- tell your nurse! And please don’t take it out yourself; it is not like in the movies! Any improper attempt at removal may result in bleeding and infection.  Full Post