Leslie Kernisan, M.D.

Caring.com senior medical editor

About

Leslie Kernisan is a senior medical editor at Caring.com and a practicing geriatrician at the Over 60 Health Center in Berkeley. She is also a clinical instructor in the University of California, San Francisco, Division of Geriatrics. She trained in internal medicine and geriatrics at UCSF and is a graduate of Princeton University and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. She's also a member of the American Geriatrics Society.

Kernisan has a master's in public health from U.C. Berkeley and has completed postgraduate work in epidemiology, biostatistics, and healthcare quality improvement. Her research on a popular quality of care measure was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2009. She is now working on using the Internet to educate and support caregivers of elders.

Kernisan can be reached at drkernisan@caring.com.

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Recently Published on Caring.com

  1. Thursday January 05, 2012

    1. DMARDs: Powerful Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs to Stop or Slow Joint Damage

      Article - Doctors can't cure rheumatoid arthritis, but they can provide treatments that ease inflammation and pain. Learn about the two main kinds of RA drugs. 2 Comments

    2. How Doctors Diagnose Rheumatoid Arthritis

      Article - Rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose with certainty. Learn why, which RA symptoms doctors look for, and what to do in uncertain cases.

    3. Medications Used to Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis

      Article - Rheumatoid arthritis is often managed through prescription medications. Learn which drugs are commonly used to prevent damage and pain from RA.

    4. Rheumatoid Arthritis: What to Expect

      Article - The effects of rheumatoid arthritis vary among patients, but researchers have been able to outline basic trends. Learn what to expect from RA. 4 Comments

  2. Wednesday January 04, 2012

    1. FAQ: What Are the Stages of Rheumatoid Arthritis?

      Answer - The stages of rheumatoid arthritis -- sometimes called RA -- are defined by the 2008 recommendations of the American College of Rheumatology as the following:

    2. FAQ: What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

      Answer - Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that usually affects the lining of certain joints, especially those in the hands. The related inflammation often causes pain and swelling and, if left untreated, can result in permanent damage to the joints and in eventual disability.

  3. Friday November 18, 2011

    1. What to Do When Someone With COPD Is Short of Breath

      Article - If your loved one with COPD is short of breath, there are signs to watch for and steps to take. Know what to do for COPD-related shortness of breath.

    2. What Doctors Should Evaluate if COPD Symptoms Worsen

      Article - If COPD symptoms worsen, a prompt visit to the doctor is needed. Know what the doctor will look for and advise in most cases of worsened COPD.

    3. When to Call 911 or Get Same-Day Attention for Someone With COPD

      Article - If your loved one has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), know when symptoms require a call to 911 or other urgent medical attention.

    4. Caring for Someone With COPD: An Overview

      Article - People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) need help, especially in its later stages. Learn how to care for someone who has COPD.

  4. Friday October 14, 2011

    1. FAQ: How Is Osteoarthritis Treated?

      Answer - Treatment of osteoarthritis must be individualized. It can involve one or many of the following components:

    2. FAQ: What Causes Osteoarthritis?

      Answer - Osteoarthritis involves damage first to a joint's cartilage, and eventually the bones themselves can be affected. This wearing down can be caused by one or more of the following:

    3. FAQ: What Else Can Cause Osteoarthritis Symptoms?

      Answer - What else can cause osteoarthritis symptoms?

    4. FAQ: How Is Osteoarthritis Diagnosed?

      Answer - Diagnosing osteoarthritis usually involves a doctor pursing the following steps:

    5. FAQ: What Are the Symptoms of Osteoarthritis?

      Answer - The symptoms of osteoarthritis include the following:

    6. FAQ: What Is Arthritis?

      Answer - Arthritis is a broad medical term that literally means "joint inflammation." The term is used to refer to any of more than a hundred specific medical diseases that affect joints -- places where two or more bones come together in the body.

    7. FAQ: What Is Osteoarthritis?

      Answer - Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common underlying cause of arthritis symptoms. It's sometimes referred to as "wear-and-tear" arthritis, because the symptoms are usually the result of joint cartilage wearing down due to age or hard use.

  5. Thursday October 06, 2011

    1. FAQ: Should My Loved One Be Tested for Low Vitamin D?

      Answer - Your loved one should be tested for low vitamin D only if he or she is at high risk for suboptimal vitamin D intake. Testing for low vitamin D is currently not recommended for the general population.

    2. FAQ: How Much Vitamin D Should an Older Adult Take Every Day?

      Answer - An adult should take either the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin D, described below, or whatever dose of vitamin D supplement your doctor recommends to get your body's vitamin D level to an optimal range for your health.

  6. Friday September 30, 2011

    1. FAQ: What Is a Functional Assessment?

      Answer - In medicine and gerontology, a functional assessment is an evaluation of a person's ability to manage tasks and activities that are usually necessary in daily life. These tasks include the activities of daily living (ADLs), which refer to basic self-care such as dressing and getting around the house...

  7. Thursday September 15, 2011

    1. FAQ: Will the Hospital Communicate With My Loved One's Doctor About His or Her Hospitalization?

      Answer - Not necessarily. You'd think that all the doctors who see your loved one would be in touch with one another about the case, but this isn't automatically or always the case. The trouble with being hospitalized is that different groups of providers (hospital staff, the primary care doc or specialists, a home health agency) are often involved...

  8. Monday September 12, 2011

    1. FAQ: What Should I Do if I Think My Loved One Is Having Delirium in the Hospital?

      Answer - If you think your loved one is showing signs of delirium, bring it to a nurse's attention immediately. It's better not to wait until the next time you might catch the doctor making rounds.

  9. Sunday September 11, 2011

    1. FAQ: Can Delirium Symptoms Be Treated With Medications?

      Answer - Yes, delirium symptoms can sometimes (but not always) be treated with medications. For such symptoms of delirium as extra confusion, agitation, or aggression, low doses of antipsychotics may be prescribed. These drugs, such as haloperidol (Haldol), risperidone (Risperdal), and quetiapine (Seroquel),...

    2. FAQ: What's the Difference Between Dementia and Delirium?

      Answer - The main difference between dementia and delirium relates to timing and reversibility. Both dementia and delirium involve abnormal thinking and brain function.

  10. Thursday September 01, 2011

    1. FAQ: Can Alzheimer's Be Diagnosed in Someone Who Doesn't Yet Have Any Symptoms?

      Answer - Not yet in routine medical practice. Recently, Alzheimer's tests have been developed that can identify biomarkers known to be linked to the later development of dementia symptoms due to Alzheimer's disease. Because of this, in April 2011, a panel of experts recommended new criteria for diagnosing and defining Alzheimer's disease...