Fixing Healthcare Podcast

A mechanical engineer turned Microsoft executive shares his skepticism about AI's role in healthcare. He envisions AI as a co-pilot for doctors, enhancing workflows while preserving the human touch in patient care. Fascinatingly, he recounts an AI solution that allowed a physician to get home for dinner after decades. The conversation delves into the balance between innovation and patient privacy, the evolution of AI models, and the importance of collaboration between tech companies and healthcare providers to shape the future of medicine.

In this month’s Diving Deep episode, part of the Fixing Healthcare podcast series, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr examine three pressing topics shaping the future of American medicine: the Musk-led effort to slash government spending (including healthcare programs), the neuroscience behind irrational decision-making and the defining moment facing UnitedHealth Group in the wake of its CEO’s tragic death. We begin the episode with Donald Trump’s second term and the launch of DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency), led by Elon Musk. The duo share a vision of cutting billions, perhaps trillions, of dollars in “fraud and waste” from the federal budget. But with Social Security, Medicare, and defense deemed untouchable, Pearl explains why the focus will inevitably turn to Medicaid and online health insurance exchanges—programs that provide healthcare access to low-income Americans. He then breaks down the consequences, which include millions of Americans losing health coverage and, therefore, access to vital medical services. Shifting gears, the hosts explore a fascinating cognitive phenomenon called “brainshift,” a subconscious process in which perception becomes altered when people are faced with situations that involve significant fear or reward. Drawing on research he conducted with neurologist Dr. George York, Pearl explains how brainshift can make irrational choices feel rational. To illustrate this phenomenon in medicine, Pearl points to various examples of brainshift and, ultimately, touches on ways to overcome its negative effects. Finally, the episode revisits the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson and the pivotal decisions now facing the company’s leadership. Pearl and Corr analyze UnitedHealth Group’s long-standing strategy of cost-cutting and claim denials, a model that has made it the largest insurer in the U.S. but also a target of public and congressional scrutiny. CEO Andrew Witty now has a chance to shift the company’s approach from restricting care to preventing illness. Pearl outlines three bold moves UnitedHealth could take. Click play to hear the full conversation and explore what it will take to transform healthcare for the better. HELPFUL LINKS UnitedHealth Faces A Defining Moment After CEO’s Killing (Forbes) The TikTok Reversal And The Science Of Illogical Medical Decisions (Forbes) Musk’s DOGE Could Threaten The Health Of Millions Of Americans (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 #166: Musk’s DOGE vs. healthcare + UnitedHealth’s defining moment appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a cardiologist and author of "Just One Heart," discusses the trend of physicians pursuing side gigs—40% of doctors now supplement their income with an average of $34,000 annually. The conversation highlights rising burnout, financial pressures, and shifting generational attitudes toward work. Fisher explores whether these side endeavors serve as creative outlets or sources of stability. He also addresses the impact of AI on healthcare roles and the evolving nature of medical practice, emphasizing the need for healthcare organizations to adapt.

In this episode of Medicine: The Truth, co-hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr discuss some of the most pressing issues in medicine today, from the latest breakthroughs in generative AI to concerning trends in breast cancer and dementia. A major shake-up in artificial intelligence is unfolding, with China’s DeepSeek releasing an open-source AI model that rivals industry leaders like ChatGPT and Gemini—at a fraction of the cost. Dr. Pearl explains how this could democratize AI in medicine, enabling more companies to develop specialized AI tools for chronic disease management, patient diagnosis and treatment recommendations. He predicts that within three to five years, AI-powered healthcare tools will be widely available, cutting costs while improving outcomes. Meanwhile, UnitedHealth Group’s latest earnings call sheds light on how the insurance giant plans to navigate growing public anger over healthcare costs. The company, which generated $400 billion in revenue and employs 90,000 doctors, is blaming high prices on hospitals and drugmakers. Dr. Pearl questions whether United will continue its current approach—restricting care through denials and prior authorizations—or if it will finally take the lead in reducing costs by investing in chronic disease prevention and patient health. Here’s a snapshot of just some of the other topics covered in this episode of Medicine: The Truth: The latest on winter viruses, vaccine safety and the MMR controversy The FDA’s plan to require clearer nutrition labels on food packaging A concerning rise in aggressive breast cancer cases among younger women Why dementia rates are expected to double over the next three decades The FDA’s approval of a groundbreaking non-opioid pain medication The Biden administration’s plan to negotiate drug prices, including Ozempic and Wegovy The U.S. decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization and its potential consequences Tune in as Dr. Pearl and Jeremy Corr untangle these complex issues and explore what’s next for medicine in America. * * * 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 #91: The future of AI in healthcare & the latest on vaccines, dementia, cancer appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In the latest episode of Fixing Healthcare, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr welcome Munjal Shah, co-founder and CEO of Hippocratic AI, to explore how generative AI can help address one of the biggest challenges in healthcare today: the growing shortage of clinical workers. Shah, a serial entrepreneur with a background in artificial intelligence, founded Hippocratic AI with an aim to build safe, scalable AI-powered healthcare agents that can assist with non-diagnostic patient care. In this interview, he shares his company’s progress in developing virtual solutions, lowering healthcare costs and expanding access to care. This discussion is part of Fixing Healthcare’s Season 10, which examines how technology is reshaping medicine. Shah highlights three key insights on how AI can support healthcare professionals and improve patient outcomes: 1. AI-powered virtual Agents Shah describes how Hippocratic AI is developing virtual agents that call patients, provide education and support chronic disease management—all at a fraction of the cost of human outreach. Unlike AI models designed for diagnostics or clinical documentation, Hippocratic focuses exclusively on non-prescriptive, patient-facing tasks within the scope of registered agents. With AI-driven follow-ups, healthcare providers can now check in on all at-risk patients, not just the sickest 5-10%. Shah gives a powerful example of how missed blood pressure monitoring contributed to his mother’s heart failure—an outcome that AI-assisted outreach could have prevented. 2. Reducing healthcare costs while scaling patient support One of the biggest challenges in healthcare today is the inability to scale preventive care and chronic disease management due to limited staffing. Shah reveals that Hippocratic’s AI-powered agents operate at a cost of just $9 per hour, which he says is a game-changer for health systems struggling with resource shortages. He envisions AI agents making millions of proactive calls, reminding patients to take their medications, checking for early signs of complications and preventing avoidable ER visits. The technology could also be used in disaster response—calling patients at risk during heat waves, hurricanes or blackouts to coordinate medical assistance. 3. Safety, supervision & real-world testing with AI Despite AI’s promise, Shah acknowledges that safety and accuracy remain top priorities. He explains how Hippocratic rigorously tests its models, using real nurses to evaluate and refine AI performance before deployment. Unlike other AI tools that may hallucinate or provide misleading information, Hippocratic’s system is designed with 19 supervisory AI models to catch potential errors in real time. Shah argues that AI should complement, not replace, human clinicians—freeing them from administrative burdens so they can focus on hands-on patient care. * * * 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 #164: AI vs. healthcare’s staffing crisis with Hippocratic’s CEO appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this month’s Diving Deep episode, part of the Fixing Healthcare podcast series, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr tackle two powerful stories that stand at medicine’s crossroads. Dr. Pearl begins by exploring the rise of Nvidia and the decline of Intel as a framework for understanding healthcare’s current challenges. Nvidia’s success in embracing cutting-edge GPU technology and pivoting toward future demands stands in stark contrast to Intel’s hesitation to adapt. The biggest lesson for healthcare professionals is clear: clinging to outdated models will lead to stagnation and failure. Pearl urges his colleagues in the industry to make an important series of shifts: to value-based care and chronic disease prevention that will transform the system, improve patient outcomes and empower clinicians. The episode then shifts to the controversial public response to the killing of Brian Thompson. Pearl and Corr discuss why tens of thousands of Americans reacted to the news with “likes” and laughter on social media. Pearl explains how this visceral response reflects the agony of patients and families who feel abandoned and powerless in a system that prioritizes bureaucracy over compassion. He argues that healthcare’s failures should be reframed as a moral crisis—one that demands immediate and transformative action from leaders and policymakers. Click play to hear the full conversation and explore what it will take to transform healthcare for the better. HELPFUL LINKS Do We Care Enough To End The Suffering Our Healthcare System Inflicts? (Forbes) Healthcare Professionals Are Doomed—Unless They Learn From Nvidia, Intel (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 #163: Lessons from the tech industry & a CEO’s tragic murder appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare, co-hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr are joined by cardiologist and burnout expert Dr. Jonathan Fisher for an up-close look at two pressing challenges in healthcare: the persistent issue of medical errors and the growing erosion of public trust in the U.S. healthcare system. Dr. Pearl kicks off the discussion by highlighting a staggering statistic—400,000 people die annually from diagnostic errors in the U.S., with another 400,000 suffering permanent disability. Despite these figures, the conversation around AI in healthcare tends to focus on its limitations rather than its potential to reduce human error. Drs. Fisher and Pearl explore why physicians struggle to acknowledge medical mistakes and how shifting the culture to one of psychological safety and continuous learning could help. The conversation later pivots to the recent assassination of a prominent healthcare CEO and the surprising public response on social media. Fisher and Pearl dissect the public’s growing disillusionment with the healthcare system, emphasizing the deep emotional pain that many Americans experience when they feel powerless to access or afford the care they need. Key topics discussed in this episode include: Medical errors and AI’s potential role in reducing misdiagnoses The hidden fears and pressures physicians face in acknowledging mistakes Rebuilding trust in healthcare leadership amid rising public frustration The emotional toll of poor healthcare access and affordability Balancing new technology with traditional patient care Setting meaningful goals for healthcare organizations in the new year For more raw, insightful commentary, listen to the full episode and check out these helpful links: ‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s newest book) ‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl’s newest book) Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter) * * * 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 #162: Overcoming medical errors and rebuilding public trust appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this episode of Medicine: The Truth, co-hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr take on the pressing medical challenges dominating headlines this winter. From rising concerns about respiratory infections and vaccine skepticism to the harsh realities of healthcare costs, this episode delivers a comprehensive look at what’s happening in American medicine today. The conversation opens with an update on winter viruses, including COVID-19, the flu, RSV and a resurgence of whooping cough. Dr. Pearl explains the risks posed by low vaccination rates and the new COVID variant, XEC, which combines troubling mutations from prior strains. Meanwhile, pertussis (whooping cough) infections have soared to six times higher than last year, endangering unvaccinated children and vulnerable infants. The discussion also examines the role of vaccine skepticism in the political sphere, focusing on President-elect Trump’s appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to a key health position. Dr. Pearl shares insights on the consequences of anti-vaccine rhetoric and what it could mean for public health policy. Here’s a snapshot of just some of the other topics covered in this episode of Medicine: The Truth: The rise of bird flu and its potential to spark a pandemic Falling public confidence in healthcare quality and coverage The troubling response to the UnitedHealthcare CEO’s tragic death New regulations eliminating medical debt from credit scores Declining alcohol and marijuana use among teenagers Encouraging trends in obesity rates thanks to GLP-1 medications Tune in as Dr. Pearl and Jeremy Corr untangle these complex issues and explore what’s next for medicine in America. * * * 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 #90: Winter viruses, vaccine skepticism & America’s healthcare frustrations appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

In this enlightening discussion, Dr. Karen DeSalvo unveils the revolutionary potential of generative AI in healthcare. She emphasizes AI's role in enhancing clinical workflows and personalizing patient care. The conversation explores how innovative technology can empower community health workers, improving access to care in underserved areas. Additionally, the podcast delves into the importance of data ownership and privacy, as well as the evolution of electronic health records to facilitate patient access. It's a forward-looking glimpse into the future of medicine!

As we prepare to usher in 2025—with a new presidential administration and shifting congressional landscape—it’s the perfect time to revisit the politics of medicine, both in the workplace and on the national stage. This Fixing Healthcare flashback features a December 2022 episode of Unfiltered, where cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr dive into this thorny topic with Zubin Damania, better known as ZDoggMD. For Pearl, the relationship between medicine and politics wasn’t always so clear cut. He recalls his college decision to pursue healthcare, imagining it as a field free from the messiness of politics. “Healthcare is about life and death,” Pearl reflects, laughing at his teenage naivety. “How could there be politics entwined inside that esteemed world?” Of course, the reality proved far different, with politics and medicine deeply intertwined at every level—from hospital boardrooms to Capitol Hill. In this lively discussion, ZDoggMD brings his characteristic humor and insight to the table as the trio explores how politics—whether institutional, cultural or governmental—shapes American healthcare. Together, they ponder whether logic and common sense have any chance of prevailing in a system so heavily influenced by competing interests. To navigate the political landscape of medicine, press play and listen to this insightful episode. * * * 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 #160: Fixing Healthcare flashback with Zubin Damania appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.