In today’s episode of Medicine: The Truth (MTT), hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl explore the latest developments in Alzheimer’s disease, colon cancer detection, COVID-19’s resurgence and other significant news. The episode begins with a discussion on the surge of new COVID-19 cases, particularly in the western and southern U.S., where wastewater surveillance data indicates high virus levels. The hosts emphasize the importance of continued vaccination, especially with new variants emerging. The conversation then shifts to advancements in cancer detection, highlighting a new blood test for colon cancer that shows promise in identifying early-stage cancers but falls short in detecting precancerous growths. This test, though not yet a replacement for colonoscopy or the fecal Immunochemical test (FIT), could encourage more people to undergo further screening when necessary. In Alzheimer’s research, a new blood test offers a less invasive alternative as a first step in diagnosing the disease. While it represents a significant advance, the test is not yet a gamechanger due to the lack of effective treatments for Alzheimer’s. Other topics covered in this episode include: COVID-19 updates and the impact of vaccination on long COVID Advances in genetic research for rare diseases like progeria The rise of new weight-loss medications and market competition The continued influence of pharmaceutical payments to physicians The potential of drones in cardiac arrest response Climate change’s impact on children’s health and education Increasing cancer rates among Gen X and millennials The rise of sexually transmitted diseases in older adults Mental health challenges and access to care Insights into the potential impact of the upcoming presidential election on healthcare policy Join us for this insightful episode as we delve into these critical healthcare issues and explore the future of medicine. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine“  about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. 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 #86: New hope for Alzheimer’s, colon cancer and mental health appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Fixing Healthcare welcomes Dr. Atul Gawande, a renowned surgeon, writer and public health researcher who currently serves as the Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID. He has a rich background as both a medical professional and a compassionate individual. Ten years ago, Dr. Gawande published the bestselling book “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End,” which explored the intersection of medicine, aging, and the end-of-life journey. His father’s battle with a spinal tumor profoundly influenced the book, serving as a catalyst for Gawande to confront the limitations of medical interventions and the importance of addressing patients’ individual goals and fears as they approach the end of their lives. This episode explores: Gawande’s personal story as he reflects on his father’s battle with a spinal tumor, highlighting the complexities and emotional challenges of dealing with serious health issues within a family. His father’s journey from being a vibrant individual and a dedicated surgeon to facing the limitations imposed by his illness provides; a profound context for the discussion on end-of-life care. Difficult decisions that families and patients face when confronted with terminal illnesses, along with the nuances of choosing between aggressive treatments and palliative care. Approaches to end-of-life care that respect the patient’s wishes and focus on enhancing the quality of life rather than merely extending it. The significance of having open and honest conversations about end-of-life preferences and the limitations of medical interventions. This episode is part of the ninth season of Fixing Healthcare with cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. 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#143: Navigating life’s final chapter with Atul Gawande appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a cardiologist focused on physician well-being, joins healthcare leader Dr. Robert Pearl, author of 'ChatGPT, MD', and Jeremy Corr, CEO of Executive Podcast Solutions. They explore the intriguing concept of luck in medicine and life. Topics include the distinction between luck and serendipity, the role of optimism and mindset in success, and how privilege affects opportunities. The trio also discusses balancing clinician autonomy with standardized care, and the need for accountability in public health behaviors.

In this poignant episode of Fixing Healthcare, cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr engage in a deep and heartfelt conversation with Lucy Kalanithi, MD. Dr. Kalanithi, a clinical assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University, reflects on the enduring impact of her late husband Paul Kalanithi’s memoir, When Breath Becomes Air, and her experiences navigating life, loss and love. Dr. Pearl begins by acknowledging the profound influence of the memoir and commends Kalanithi for her beautifully written epilogue. The discussion delves into various aspects of her journey, highlighting the personal and philosophical reflections that have shaped her understanding of life and death. This episode explores: Paul’s legacy. Kalanithi shares insights into Paul’s life as a neurosurgeon and writer, his philosophical interests, and how his terminal diagnosis profoundly influenced their lives and his writing. The decision to have a child. The episode explores the couple’s choice to have a child despite Paul’s terminal illness and the impact it has had on Kalanithi and their daughter, Cady. Coping with loss. Kalanithi discusses the challenges of facing Paul’s death, the physical and emotional toll it took, and how she found ways to process her grief. Legacy and memory. Paul’s memoir has helped keep his memory alive for friends, family and, most importantly, for Lucy and Cady. Kalanithi explains the importance of maintaining connections with the deceased while moving forward in life. Finding new love. Finally, she explains the complexities and nuances of falling in love again after such a significant loss, and how it does not diminish the love and memory of the deceased. Throughout the episode, Kalanithi offers valuable advice for those navigating similar experiences, emphasizing the importance of palliative care, finding support, and allowing oneself to grieve fully. Her reflections on balancing the pain of loss with the beauty of new beginnings provide a deeply human perspective on end-of-life issues. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the upcoming book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” 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 #141: Reflections on life after loss with Lucy Kalanithi appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

This month’s “Diving Deep” episode, part of the Fixing Healthcare podcast series, takes a close look at two critical topics in the realm of healthcare: OpenAI’s newest update, GPT-4o, and the exorbitant pricing of GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic. Cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr explore the profound implications that these advancements and challenges hold for the future of medicine. The episode begins with an in-depth discussion on OpenAI’s GPT-4o update. Dr. Pearl and Corr analyze how this generative AI tool, which now features human-like interactions, can revolutionize healthcare by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, treatment recommendations and patient monitoring. Next, the conversation shifts to the high costs of GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic. Dr. Pearl sheds light on why these effective weight-loss medications remain out of reach for many Americans. The discussion includes a critical look at the disparity in global pricing and the urgent need for legislative action to make these life-saving drugs more affordable. Click play to learn more or check out the various links below for additional information. HELPFUL LINKS OpenAI’s Rule-Shattering GPT-4o Update Will Be Lifesaving, Too (Forbes) Wegovy And Ozempic Are Overpriced By 400-500% — Here’s A Quick Solution (Forbes) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter) * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” 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 or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #140: Diving deep into GLP-1 drug prices and ChatGPT’s newest update appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Medicine: The Truth covers the latest news and most pressing issues in medicine today. In this episode, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl discuss the latest updates in healthcare costs, COVID-19, the spread of bird flu, and several other critical medical issues. Starting with skyrocketing healthcare costs, new figures show that U.S. spending on medical care has surged to $4.8 trillion, with projections indicating a rise to $7.7 trillion by 2032. This increase threatens to outpace both general inflation and wages, affecting employer-based coverage, Medicare and Medicaid. Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases are rising again, particularly in the western and southern U.S., as people gather indoors during hot weather. However, the current variants are not more dangerous than previous ones, keeping hospitalizations and deaths low. Today’s show also takes a look at a new report about the challenges and uncertainties of long COVID, which affects millions of adults and children. The spread of H5 bird flu to cattle has raised alarms, with recent human cases in Michigan and Colorado. The CDC’s monitoring and potential vaccine development efforts are crucial to prevent a broader outbreak. With the failures of COVID-19 serving as backdrop, are health experts responding appropriately to this threat? Join us to explore these critical issues and more. Here’s a snapshot of all the topics covered on this episode of Medicine: The Truth. Rising healthcare costs Bird flu concerns Supreme Court decision on abortion medication Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy drug Mortality rates post-pandemic Psychedelic therapy for PTSD New Alzheimer’s drug Social media’s impact on mental health STI rates and new CDC guidelines Unexpected outcomes of abortion restrictions Gender affirming treatment legislation Weight loss medications Economic impact of healthcare prices Long COVID insights * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine“ about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits 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 #85: Skyrocketing healthcare costs and new insights into long COVID appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this special episode of “Diving Deep,” part of the Fixing Healthcare podcast series, cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr dive deep into the economic and societal implications of rising healthcare costs with Zack Cooper. Cooper, an associate professor of public health and economics at Yale, serves as director of health policy at Yale’s Institution for Social and Policy Studies. He is a health economist whose data-driven insights have helped reshape public policy. On today’s show, Cooper explains how employer-sponsored health insurance, which covers most Americans under 65, is anything but free. As healthcare prices rise, the costs are passed down to workers through increased premiums and, more insidiously, through job losses. Cooper’s research highlights that when healthcare prices increase, employers often respond by reducing their workforce to manage the higher insurance premiums, disproportionately affecting workers earning between $20,000 and $100,000 a year. Cooper also discusses the broader impact of rising healthcare costs on communities. These costs contribute to decreased tax revenue and increased government spending on unemployment benefits and subsidies, leading to a negative cycle of economic decline in affected areas. The psychological toll of job losses, including increases in suicides and opioid overdoses, underscores the far-reaching consequences of healthcare inefficiencies. Click play to learn more or check out the various links below for additional information. HELPFUL LINKS 1% Steps for Health Care Reform Project (website) How to Fix the Hot Mess of U.S. Healthcare (Freakanomics) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter) * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” 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 or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn. The post FHC #139: The hidden costs of rising healthcare prices with Zack Cooper appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

This “Unfiltered” episode of Fixing Healthcare features Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a respected cardiologist and advocate for physician well-being; Dr. Robert Pearl, healthcare leader and author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD”; and Jeremy Corr, CEO of Executive Podcast Solution, who adds the patient’s perspective. The trio explores the evolving roles of parents in modern families and their profound impact on health. Dr. Fisher shares insights on how traditional and contemporary parenting roles affect cardiovascular health and emotional well-being. Dr. Pearl delves into the long-term effects of secure and insecure attachments formed in childhood, while Jeremy Corr brings a relatable perspective from the patient’s viewpoint. Topics include: The significance of secure attachment in preventing chronic stress and heart disease The challenges faced by single parents and the importance of a supportive community How celebrities and influencers affect our emotions and health through parasocial relationships The impact of digital devices on parenting and children’s mental health To discover more, press play and check out these helpful links: New book: ‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher) New book: ‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com) * * * 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 #138: Examining unhealthy relationships with parents, celebs & AI   appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this special episode of Fixing Healthcare, co-hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr dive into surprising insights and lessons drawn from Dr. Pearl’s literary works. Focusing on his 2017 book “Mistreated: Why We Think We’re Getting Good Healthcare—and Why We’re Usually Wrong,” and his new release, “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine,” Pearl compares the world healthcare, now and then. The episode opens with Corr asking Pearl about the motivation behind his newest book and how it connects to his previous works. Dr. Pearl recounts his journey, starting with the revelations from his time as CEO of Kaiser Permanente, where he realized the systemic flaws in American healthcare. His first book, “Mistreated,” was written to highlight these issues, comparing healthcare to a 19th century cottage industry that was stuck in the past. Despite the optimism following the publication “Mistreated,” Dr. Pearl observed that little had changed in the following years. This led him to explore the deep-seated cultural issues in medicine in his second book, “Uncaring: How the Culture of Medicine Kills Doctors and Patients.” Yet again, change remained elusive. Pearl’s newest book, “ChatGPT, MD” emerged from the realization that a powerful tool like generative AI could finally catalyze the much-needed transformation in healthcare. This book, co-authored with ChatGPT itself, delves into the potential of AI to enhance diagnoses, manage chronic diseases and streamline patient care, making healthcare more efficient and equitable. To illustrate the ongoing challenges and the potential impact of AI, Dr. Pearl reads excerpts from the first and last chapters of “Mistreated,” recounting the harrowing story of his father, Jack Pearl. Through this personal narrative, he highlights the tragic consequences of medical errors and systemic failures that led to his father’s untimely death. Dr. Pearl then discusses three significant ways his father’s care could have been improved with the advent of generative AI. And he expresses optimism that the introduction of generative AI into healthcare can finally drive the changes he has long advocated for, making the system more effective, compassionate and patient-centered. Tune in to this compelling episode to hear Dr. Pearl’s reflections and visions for the future of healthcare, and join the conversation on social media. HELPFUL LINKS Buy “ChatGPT, MD” with all profits going to Doctors Without Borders (Amazon) Learn more about “Mistreated” and “Uncaring” (RobertPearlMD.com) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (monthly digital newsletter) * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the upcoming book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” 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 #137: How generative AI could have saved my father appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

This episode of Fixing Healthcare continues the ninth season’s focus on end-of-life issues by exploring the often overlooked topics of love and sexuality during this critical time. Cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr welcome Dr. Pebble Kranz, a sexual medicine specialist and medical director at the Rochester Center for Sexual Wellness. In a recent Medscape column titled “Physicians: Don’t Ignore Sexuality in Your Dying Patients,” Dr. Kranz wrote: “I have a long history of being interested in conversations that others avoid. In medical school, I felt that we didn’t talk enough about death, so I organized a lecture series on end-of-life care for my fellow students. Now, as a sexual medicine specialist, I have other conversations from which many medical providers shy away.” She brings a unique perspective to the podcast, highlighting the importance of addressing sexual concerns for patients nearing the end of their lives. She discusses the need for healthcare providers to have open, honest conversations about sexuality, noting that patients often want to discuss these issues, but clinicians are frequently uncomfortable or unprepared to do so. Throughout the interview, Dr. Kranz emphasizes that sexuality is a vital part of human identity and well-being, extending from young adulthood through old age, and even in illness. She shares insights from her work, including the story of a 75-year-old patient with cancer who sought to maintain her sexual health despite her illness. The episode addresses several key points: The cultural and medical taboos surrounding discussions of sexuality, especially for patients at the end of life. The importance of medical education in preparing clinicians to handle sexual health concerns. Strategies for expanding the concept of sexual play and intimacy to accommodate the changing needs and capabilities of patients. The role of healthcare providers in facilitating conversations about sexual health and providing appropriate treatments. Dr. Kranz also touches on the emotional and existential dimensions of sexuality, explaining how physical intimacy can help patients feel more connected to themselves and others, even as they face terminal illness. She advocates for more privacy and support in hospital settings to allow patients to express their sexuality and maintain close relationships. Tune in for the full interview and join the conversation on social media. * * * Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the upcoming book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” 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 #136: Love and sexuality at the end of life with Dr. Pebble Kranz appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.