Fixing Healthcare Podcast

This “Unfiltered” episode of Fixing Healthcare welcomes back Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a respected cardiologist and renowned advocate for physician well-being. Today’s show leads with an in-depth look at bias. In particular, the kind of cognitive biases studied by Nobel Prize researchers Daniel Kahneman and Richard Thaler, who identified the many reasons why the human brain makes illogical and irrational choices. The two then talk about how doctors view technologies like ChatGPT through the lens of their own preconceived notions about the world around them. Later in the episode, Dr. Robert Pearl introduces some surprising data on physician burnout. In August, an independent research group, the Commonwealth Fund, published a global report on satisfaction among primary care physicians. According to the data, a paltry 47% of America’s primary care doctors are satisfied with their medical practices overall. Most surprisingly, however, is that the UK, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Canada all claim less-satisfied doctors, despite working in countries that consistently and considerably outperform the United States in clinical outcomes. With all the talk around America’s dysfunctional healthcare system as the main driver of physician burnout, how is it that the U.S. sits squarely in the middle of 10 other developed countries in rankings of professional satisfaction (especially when doctors elsewhere work in government-funded healthcare systems and don’t have to deal with things like prior authorization and computer systems designed around fee-for-service payments)? Today’s show provides some answers and offers new ways the burnout crisis can be remedied. To discover more, press play and check out these helpful links: Presale: ‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s ucpoming book) Overworked and Undervalued: Unmasking Primary Care Physicians’ Dissatisfaction in 10 High-Income Countries (The Commonwealth Fund) The Healthcare Burnout Symposium featuring Dr. Fisher (Event: November 2-3, 2023) Who has the power to end clinician burnout? (RobertPearlMD.com) Breaking The Rules Of Healthcare (LinkedIn) * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #111: Among wealthy nations, U.S. docs rank average for burnout appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this episode, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr discuss the deceptive tactics used by drug companies to justify high prices and the impact on patient care. They also explore the transformative potential of generative AI in healthcare and its ability to democratize medical knowledge. AI tools like ChatGPT are expected to radically change healthcare, empower patients, and redefine the doctor-patient relationship. Find out more in this intriguing episode.

Dan Ariely is an expert in irrational behavior. He has extensively researched it, mulled it over and, more often than not, produced brilliant insights into what it means to be a human. His studies and observations have resulted in three New York Times bestsellers on human psychology. During the Coronavirus pandemic, he was attacked for his efforts to save lives through vaccination and mandatory masking. His newest book, “Misbelief: What Makes Rational People Believe Irrational Things,” recalls his travails during Covid-19 era and the blowback he received as the “chief consciousness engineer” of the “covid-19 fraud” (in the words of his skeptics). In this interview, Ariely discusses the highlights of his decades-long research into psychology and behavioral economics and their applications toward U.S. medicine with Fixing Healthcare cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. In this episode, Ariely discusses: Irrationality and “anchoring,” the use of prior decisions to make future ones The pitfalls confronting the consumers and producers of healthcare Why, in health, we need to celebrate the idea of “nothing bad happens” His work helping the Israeli government with its Covid-19 strategy How stress leads to a misbelief in doctors, the government, etc. Whether misbelief can be a positive for patients Much, much more Ariely is an is a leading behavioral economist, author, entrepreneur and the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University. Tune in for the full interview and join the conversation on social media. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #109: Dan Ariely on irrationality and misbelief in medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Last year, around this time, the CDC alerted physicians about the triple threat of Covid-19, seasonal influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). The result was one of the worst flu seasons in more than a decade. In today’s episode of Medicine: The Truth, podcast cohost Dr. Robert Pearl discusses the return of the “triple-demic” this winter and what listeners should do about it. According to forecasts, researchers expect a total of 1.15 million hospitalizations from these three viruses. How do those numbers stack up against last year? And will the newest vaccines prove more or less efficacious? Also featured on today’s program: Data on the new vaccine and its efficacy against the newer variants The surprising reason Americans won’t get the new shot Why the CDC is recommending this antibiotic after unprotected sex The reason healthcare costs will rise 6.5% in 2024 How health benefits affect entrepreneurship, employee wages and prices An unexpected development in government negotiations of drug prices The return of the free Covid-19 testing kit program Results of a genetically engineered pig heart transplant Why innovative medical researchers struggle to get due recognition KP’s massive labor strike and the reasons behind it A new entrant among the retail giants trying to disrupt healthcare Click here for more info: https://www.fixinghealthcarepodcast.com/ * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post MTT #77: Is the ‘tripledemic’ returning? Will new vaccines help? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

This “Unfiltered” episode of Fixing Healthcare welcomes back Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a respected cardiologist and renowned advocate for physician well-being. On today’s show, Dr. Fisher serves up a question for Dr. Robert Pearl. He recalls the classic Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, a medical school textbook that now comprises more than 3,000 pages of vital information. And yet, despite the book’s exhaustive and comprehensive nature, Dr. Fisher remembers one thing that was notably absent from its pages: “Something was missing in that book that has come back to bite me on more than one occasion in my clinic, relating to patient care and also working with my colleagues. It has to do with the role of trust in healthcare.” Fisher recalls, in his early years of practice, assuming that patients would come to his office, heed his medical wisdom, dutifully follow his recommendations and return later for a follow-up visit having benefited greatly. But he quickly learned that this paternalistic approach to medical treatment had fallen out of favor some time ago. Now that today’s patients aren’t so quick to defer to the physician’s expertise, what is the state of trust in healthcare and how can physicians earn more of it from increasingly skeptical patients? Today’s show explores the role of trust and distrust in medicine. The doctors, alongside cohost Jeremy Corr, dive into the relationship between patients and doctors, physicians and their colleagues and clinicians and those in leadership roles. To discover more, press play and check out these helpful links: Presale: ‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s new book) Healing Healthcare: Repairing The Last 5 Years Of Damage (LinkedIn) To End Burnout, Doctors Must Change the Culture of Medicine (Medscape) Transforming Leadership & Well-Being From The Heart (About My Brain) Breaking The Rules Of Healthcare (LinkedIn) * * * Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #108: An unfiltered look at distrust between patients and doctors appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

It’s no secret that doctors hold themselves to incredibly high standards, driven by a dedication to patients and a desire to save lives. It’s also understood that, in medicine, self-imposed high standards are fully reinforced by colleagues, administrators and an endless chain of performance metrics. However, less commonly understood (and almost never discussed) is how the pursuit of 24/7 perfection creates an environment where people are afraid to admit their wrongdoings, failures and limitations. The fear of making mistakes or acknowledging uncertainties frequently deters healthcare professionals from voicing concerns or proposing innovative solutions. This kind of psychological safety vacuum has adverse consequences, says Amy C. Edmonson, the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School and a nationally recognized expert in leadership. She is the author of the new book “Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well.” In this episode of Fixing Healthcare, Edmondson discusses: The two situations in medicine where it’s both okay and desirable to fail. How inclusive leaders can make medicine a journey of continuous learning. The need to create environments of psychological safety. The failure of the medical education system to create a ‘teaming’ mindset. The benefits of hierarchy in medicine and the conditions necessary for it to succeed. Much, much more. Tune in for the full interview and join the conversation on social media. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #107: Amy C. Edmonson on ‘failing well’ in medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

He’s back! Dr. Zubin Damania (aka ZDoggMD), one of the show’s most popular returning guests, rejoins Fixing Healthcare hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr for a heartfelt look at the ugly, imperfect and oh-so human side of medicine. In this episode, the trio discusses: The roots of our anxiety as patients and as clinicians Why so many Americans put off preventive screenings and treatment for chronic diseases The fear that haunts so many doctors and nurses: making a mistake Taking shame out of unconscious bias so that we can honestly discuss solutions for inequitable care And, as an extension of all these difficult emotions, the men share their thoughts on the hit movie of the summer, Barbie Dr. Z is a UCSF- and Stanford-trained internist and founder of Turntable Health, an innovative primary care clinic and model for Health 3.0. His persona, ZDoggMD, amassed an army of followers—owing to his clever healthcare parody videos and cutting take on modern medicine. Hit the play button to start the episode or check out more background about our guest via the links below. Helpful links: The Incident Report: ZDoggMD’s Live Show ZDoggMD’s website: Health 3.0 ZDoggMD diagnoses the culture of medicine (on Fixing Healthcare) ZDoggMD has a plan to fix American healthcare (on Fixing Healthcare)   * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #106: ZDoggMD on patient anxiety, medical bias & the Barbie movie appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Albert Einstein pointed out that time is relative. And when it comes to healthcare, five years can feel like a long and short amount of time. That’s certainly true of this podcast, which began five years ago and recently eclipsed 100 episodes. During that time, this show has welcomed dozens of world-renowned experts, both inside and outside the healthcare arena. Cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr have engaged in difficult yet meaningful conversations with the likes of Malcolm Gladwell, Eric Topol, Don Berwick, Jen Gunter, Lisa Sanders, Zeke Emanuel and many others. Their hope was that spotlighting big ideas and bold solutions would have a positive impact on American medicine. In this episode of Diving Deep, the hosts look back and examine how healthcare has improved (“the good”)—and how American medicine has become more problematic (“the bad” and “the ugly”). The second half of today’s show focuses on the future. If the kinds of bold solutions featured on Fixing Healthcare are proving too big and audacious to implement, then which actions stand a reasonable chance of healing healthcare quickly (in the next five years) and affordably? Click play to learn more or check out the various links below for additional information. HELPFUL LINKS American healthcare: The good, bad, ugly, future (LinkedIn Pulse) Healing Healthcare: Repairing The Last 5 Years Of Damage (Forbes) 15 Innovative Ideas For Fixing Healthcare From 15 Brilliant Minds (Forbes) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter) * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #105: Diving deep into the good, bad and ugly of U.S. healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

The weight-loss drug Wegovy reduces serious heart disease, the nation’s No. 1 cause of death, according to a new clinical trial. Proponents of the drug describe this finding as an added bonus to the drug’s prescribed purpose: shedding excess pounds. In a nation where 60% of the population is obese or overweight and where 600,000+ die from cardiovascular events each year, the question is how can we afford not to prescribe more of these lifesaving medications? The answer is complicated, says podcast cohost Dr. Robert Pearl, who explains that the cost of drugs in the U.S. remains disproportionately higher than in all other nations. The price of Ozempic (another drug known to assist with weight-loss) costs five times more in the United States than in Japan and 10 times more than in most European nations. When it comes to paying for drugs that could make a huge difference in our nation’s health, who’s on the hook? That question and many others are answered on this episode of “Medicine: The Truth.” Also featured on today’s program: The newest coronavirus variant: the most-transmissible yet? A newly approved medication for post-partum depression Why middleclass families have the nation’s highest medical debt Measuring the medical performance of AI vs. doctors Striking the right balance when regulating drugmakers The folly of BMI (body mass index) calculations Right arm or left: Does it matter when getting Covid vaccinations? Using pig kidneys for humans in need of a transplant The new leading cause of death for America’s kids The cost imbalance of weight-loss drugs in U.S. vs. elsewhere Reflecting on Robert Burgelman’s appearance on FHC The unending debate over physician autonomy Biden places 10 drugs on discount list for Medicare negotiations Click here for more info: https://www.fixinghealthcarepodcast.com/ * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post MTT #76: Can Rx weight-loss drugs help prevent heart attacks, too? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Dr. Robert Burgelman is the Edmund W. Littlefield Professor of Management and the Director of the Executive Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. As a worldwide expert on strategy, Burgelman has authored multiple books on leadership and consulted with more than 100 companies around the globe. Throughout the program, Burgelman: Helps healthcare leaders understand the tools needed to visualize change and make it happen. Describes how leaders can effectively guide organizations through periods of crisis and difficult change. Advises on how to avoid getting distracted by “shiny new things” and, instead, focus on the most-effective (often unsexy) solutions. Discusses the merits and potential downsides of private equity’s involvement in U.S. medical care. Listener note: Given Dr. Burgelman’s high-level focus on strategy, today’s episode will include occasional interjections from cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr to link the material to the day-to-day experiences of healthcare professionals and patients.   Tune in for the full interview and join the conversation on social media. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders. Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #104: Robert Burgelman on strategic leadership in healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.