Patients at Risk

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What's driving physicians into early retirement? Nov 08, 2021

Show notes

There are so many challenges in healthcare today, and it’s becoming ever more difficult to practice medicine. In fact, many physicians that could continue to work well into their golden years are retiring as soon as they can because the struggle of practicing medicine is just no longer worth it to them.

Today we are joined by an amazing physician who has experienced his share of heartache within our healthcare system. Dr. Mark Lopatin is a rheumatologist who has written extensively about his experiences, and he joins to share his insights and thoughts about how we can improve our broken healthcare system.
Get the book! https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/
Dr. Lopatin's writing:
"I knew she was trouble" - https://judiciary.pasenategop.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2020/09/Article-Mark-Lopatin-MD.pdf
"The facts did not matter" = https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/mlopatin%40comcast.net/FMfcgzGljvNMgRKMzxvTnTCJSXrMsxnD?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1
"This physician is retiring: here is his most valuable lesson" =
https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/12/this-physician-is-retiring-heres-his-most-valuable-lesson.html

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Primary care: So easy anyone can do it? Oct 17, 2021

Show notes

Today, we discuss a topic that is near and dear to my heart as a family physician: the role of primary care. We’re going to focus especially on the misconception often held by legislators that primary care is somehow ‘easy,’ and can therefore be relegated to allied health professionals, especially nurse practitioners.

Today, I am joined by two special guests who are experts in the role of primary care in the healthcare system. Dr. Emily O’Rourke is a Family Physician in Virginia and the owner of Fountain Direct Primary Care. (https://fountaindirectprimarycare.com)

We are also joined by Dr. Meghan Galer, a board-certified emergency physician who opened her own direct primary care practice, ColGACare, in Georgia. (https://www.colgacare.com)
Get the book! https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/
References:
BMJ 2018 - Continuity of care with doctors—a matter of life and death? A systematic review of continuity of care and mortality https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/6/e021161
BMJ 2019 - US patients live longer in areas with more primary care doctors, study finds BMJ 2019; 364doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l804(Published 20 February 2019) BMJ 2019;364:l804
Mortality rates are lower with higher continuity of care, review finds BMJ 2020;370:m3184
Lancet: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000424

Gray BM, Vandergrift JL, McCoy RG, et al Association between primary care physician diagnostic knowledge and death, hospitalisation and emergency department visits following an outpatient visit at risk for diagnostic error: a retrospective cohort study using medicare claims BMJ Open 2021;11:e041817. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041817 http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041817

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Midlevel Malpractice with Attorney Robert Painter Oct 10, 2021

Show notes

In our book, we outline the tragic case of Alexus Ochoa, a 19-year-old woman who died when a nurse practitioner failed to properly diagnose and treat the blood clot in her lungs. The only reason that the details of this case became public was because of a lawsuit filed by the patient’s family. Court records reveal not only a lack of appropriate medical care, but more importantly, the incredible efforts that Mercy Health Systems, a multi-billion-dollar corporation, routinely went through to hire and credential nurse practitioners to work in positions completely outside of their scope of practice, putting patients at risk to save money and increase profits.
Today we talk with attorney Robert Painter about the role of the legal system in holding bad actors like this accountable. Mr. Painter is a former hospital administrator who is now a medical malpractice and wrongful death lawyer at Painter Law Firm in Houston, Texas.
https://painterfirm.com/
Get the book! Get the book! https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Truth and Transparency: Reviewing New Jersey's Health Care Transparency Act Oct 03, 2021

Show notes

One of the biggest challenges in healthcare today is a lack of transparency when it comes to the training and licensure of healthcare professionals. As members of the healthcare team have taken an increased role in providing medical care, patients may be treated by physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other healthcare practitioners, and understanding who is who can be difficult. In fact, an AMA study found that only 55% of respondents thought it was easy to identify who is a licensed physician. Moreover, 79% of respondents said that they would support legislation to require that patients be informed of the level of education, skills, and training of all health care professionals.

Fortunately, some states are taking action to ensure truth and transparency among healthcare practitioners, with New Jersey leading the way. Today we are joined by two special guests to discuss the New Jersey Health Care Transparency Act, which was passed in 2020: Marlene Kalayilparampil, MHA, FHELA is the manager of government relations for the Medical Society of New Jersey, and Dr. Flowers is a practicing physician in New Jersey.
Get the book! https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/
https://www.ama-assn.org/sites/ama-assn.org/files/corp/media-browser/premium/arc/tia-survey_0.pdf

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Board recertification: A double standard for physicians? Sep 26, 2021

Show notes

There is an increasing double standard in the practice of medicine and the practice of advanced nursing, and one of these is the difference in ‘board certification.’ Nurse practitioners take just one board examination in the course of their career, which is 3 hours long and 200 questions. Nurse practitioners never have to take another exam – they just have to submit their work hours, which can even be volunteer hours.
In contrast, physician board exams are most more rigorous, lasting 9-10 hours or more, and must be repeated every 7-10 years. In 2015 the American Board of Medical Specialties added another layer to the process, requiring that physicians participate in a continuous “Maintenance of Certification” (or MOC) process to maintain board certification.

Many physicians balked at the increased burden and cost of this MOC process, and grassroots organizations even sprung up to provide alternate pathways to make it easier for physicians to practice medicine. Today we are talking with Dr. Paul Mathew, a neurologist and a board member of the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons.
Get the book 'Patients at Risk:" https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/
Join PPP: https://physiciansforpatientprotection.org
Certify with the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons: https://nbpas.org

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Betty's Story Part 2: A father's plea for NP accountability after the death of his daughter Sep 19, 2021

Show notes

Seven-year-old Betty died just 15 hours after she was evaluated by a pediatric nurse practitioner in a pediatric urgent care without any physician on site. Betty's father, Jeremy Wattenbarger discusses the efforts he has made to seek accountability and ensure that other children receive physician-led care.
Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Betty's Story Part 1: 7-yr old dies just hours after evaluation by pediatric NP Sep 12, 2021

Show notes

Many of our critics accuse us of exaggerating the risks that patients face when physicians are replaced by lesser trained members of the healthcare team. We are often told that we are engaging in a ‘turf war’ with nurse practitioners and physician assistants and that we should support these nonphysicians practicing ‘to the full extent of their license and training. ’ Today we are going to explain exactly why we take such a hardline stance against the independent practice by nonphysicians. It’s not because of a turf war - it’s because of patients like seven-year of Betty Wattenbarger, who died after a pediatric nurse practitioner failed to diagnose her with pneumonia and sepsis, an overwhelming blood infection. Betty’s father, Jeremy, is on a crusade to ensure that other parents do not lose their children because of a lack of access to care by a properly trained physician.
Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Physicians in Politics Part 2: MD-JD explains why doctors must get involved - and announces his run for Congress Sep 05, 2021

Show notes

In part 2 of our discussion about healthcare politics, Dr. Kermit Jones, a California internal medicine physician, attorney, and military veteran discusses his run for California's 4th Congressional District.
Learn more about Dr. Jones at his website - https://kermitjonesmdjd.com/
Donate to Dr. Jones' political campaign here - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/kermitjonesforcongress2
Get the book! https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/
Physicians: Join us at htpps://Physiciansfor PatientProtection.org.

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Physicians in politics: MD-JD discusses why doctors must get involved - Part 1 Aug 29, 2021

Show notes

More than ever, healthcare and politics are intertwined. Decisions made by politicians and have a major impact on not only healthcare policy, but on the day-to-day practice of medicine by physicians. Today we are excited to be talking about healthcare politics with Dr. Kermit Jones, a California internal medicine physician, attorney, and military veteran who is working to bring his medical expertise into the political arena.
Learn more about Dr. Jones at his website - https://kermitjonesmdjd.com/
Donate to Dr. Jones' political campaign here - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/kermitjonesforcongress2
Get the book! https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/
Physicians: Join Physicians for Patient Protection - https://physiciansforpatientprotection.org

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

The High Cost of Healthcare with Marion Mass: Part 2 Aug 22, 2021

Show notes

In part 2 of this discussion with Dr. Marion Mass, a pediatrician and the co-founder of Practicing Physicians of America, we learn about the impact of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) on the high cost of healthcare. In 1987, the federal legislature granted GPOs safe harbor from anti-kickback statutes, allowing them to reap millions of dollars. Dr Mass also explains how these GPOs have created artificial shortages in essential medical supplies, leading to patient and clinician harm.
Practicing Physicians of America: https://practicingphysician.org/
Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/

PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

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