The Podcast by KevinMD

Counselor and certified coach Mary Remón and oncologist Tiffany Troso-Sandoval discuss their article, "Clear communication is kind patient care." They explore the common scenario of patients leaving the office more confused and anxious than when they arrived, overwhelmed by medical jargon and frightening online research. Mary and Tiffany address the root causes of poor patient communication, including physician burnout and compassion fatigue, arguing that "unclear is unkind." They offer practical, powerful strategies (like using the teach-back method, addressing patient fears from "Dr. Google" directly, and validating emotions) to improve health literacy and build trust. This conversation explains how clear communication isn't just a soft skill: it's a critical tool for reducing patient anxiety and improving outcomes. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Now you can streamline and customize documentation, surface information right at the point of care, and automate tasks with just a click. Part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot offers an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform to help unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's built on a foundation of trust. It's time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Registered nurse June Pomeroy discusses her article, "How physician obesity affects patient care." June explores the complex realities of weight bias within the medical field, examining how a physician's own struggle with obesity can impact patient care. She highlights the professional stigma physicians face and the documented bias from patients, which often leads to reduced treatment confidence and delayed diagnoses for obesity. June digs deep into why obesity is a complex chronic disease (not just a willpower issue) and discusses how the health care system fails both patients and providers by lacking adequate training on obesity. This conversation covers the critical need to move beyond BMI, focusing instead on metabolic health and compassion to improve patient care and challenge systemic weight stigma. Learn how addressing physician bias and wellness can transform the way we treat obesity. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Now you can streamline and customize documentation, surface information right at the point of care, and automate tasks with just a click. Part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, Dragon Copilot offers an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform to help unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's built on a foundation of trust. It's time to ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Health care strategist Dana Y. Lujan discusses her article "Why direct primary care (DPC) models fail." Dana argues that the DPC community's obsession with "purity" is missing the point, stating that these models don't fail over ideology, they fail because of bad math. She uses the University of Houston's $1 million clinic failure as a prime example of a "fundamental market mismatch," where a DPC model was placed in a low-income area that couldn't sustain its membership fees (a ~70 percent revenue deficit). Dana also debunks the myth that institutions can't run successful DPC programs, citing CHI Health and Johns Hopkins as proof that financial sustainability and market fit are the true keys. This episode explores the critical difference between what's legally permissible and what's operationally sustainable, and why the DPC conversation must shift from philosophy to execution. Learn why you cannot "subscription-model your way out of poverty." Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, built on a foundation of trust. Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Physician and professional certified coach Chrissie Ott discusses her article "How an insider advocate can save a loved one." Chrissie shares a terrifying recent story of a friend's elderly, Spanish-speaking mother who was admitted to the hospital and declined rapidly due to medication and dehydration, highlighting how the patient's daughter suspected abuse while the real, urgent medical issues were being missed. She explains how she acted as an "insider advocate," providing her friend with the exact script (including terms like "agitated delirium" and "acute kidney injury") and the escalation path needed to get her mother life-saving fluids. This episode is a critical look at how overworked hospital systems fail patients, why it's so hard for families to navigate a medical crisis, and the rising need for physician advocates to bridge the gap. Learn the language and the steps you need to take to effectively fight for your loved one and ensure they get the right care at the right time. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, built on a foundation of trust. Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Food allergy advocate Lianne Mandelbaum discusses her article "Why Hollywood's allergy jokes are dangerous." As the mother of a child with a life-threatening food allergy, Lianne shares her personal trauma and outrage over media portrayals that turn anaphylaxis into a punchline, citing a new film that misrepresents the condition and the use of epinephrine. She argues that these "jokes" are not harmless; they directly contribute to public misunderstanding, bullying, and a dangerous lack of seriousness from airlines, schools, and restaurants. This conversation explores how media misinformation increases the burden on allergy families and why treating a medical trauma as comedy puts lives at risk. Learn why accurate media depictions are not just about respect, but are a critical public health issue. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, built on a foundation of trust. Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Public health professional Nishat Uddin discusses her article "Why culturally compassionate care matters for South Asian communities." Nishat explains why South Asians, one of the fastest-growing U.S. populations, face disproportionate rates of diabetes, heart disease, and PCOS. She highlights the key cultural and systemic barriers (like dietary disconnects, language barriers, and deep-seated stigma around mental health and infertility) that prevent individuals from seeking or following care. This episode dives into practical, compassionate strategies for clinicians to bridge these gaps, such as adapting dietary advice to include staple foods (like rice and chapati) and understanding collective family decision-making. Learn how small, intentional changes in the health care system can build trust and create genuinely person-centered care for everyone. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, built on a foundation of trust. Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Certified financial planners Michael Lynch and Alisa Olsen discuss their article "Create your own financial vision for independence," an excerpt from their book Taking Care of Your Future: Your Simple System for a Big Retirement. Michael and Alisa explain why your financial plan must be driven by your personal vision, not someone else's. They share a critical concept for planning: your income drives your working life, but your expenses drive your retired life. This single shift in perspective determines how much you need to save and what your financial independence will look like. This episode explores how to set a clear vision (like the nurse who just wanted to avoid nor'easters), how financial goals for housing and education are interrelated, and why the two most important elements in any plan are time and money. Learn how to define your own vision and make the decisions that will turn it into your reality. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, built on a foundation of trust. Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Certified financial planner Paul Morton discusses his article "Physician practice ownership: risks, rewards, and reality." Paul breaks down the massive differences between an employed physician's financial journey and that of an equity owner physician, exploring the reasons doctors choose the high-risk, high-reward path of private practice: the desire for control over patient culture, the "visionary" mindset, and the potential for a nonlinear financial reward. Paul dives into the challenging realities of managing overhead, dealing with inconsistent income from reimbursements, and the critical importance of strategic tax planning. This episode is a must-listen for any physician weighing the risks of entrepreneurship against the massive potential payoff of a "liquidity event." Learn the financial strategies that separate struggling practice owners from the highly successful ones. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, built on a foundation of trust. Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Diagnostic radiologist Rakesh A. Shah discusses his article "A critique of medicine's response to RFK Jr." Rakesh argues that major physician organizations have failed in their duty to protect public health by remaining silent and timid in the face of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-vaccine misinformation. He contends that this "cowardice" prioritizes institutional self-interest over patient welfare and endangers not just immunization programs but the future of medical research, including promising mRNA-based cancer treatments. This episode explores the crisis of leadership in organized medicine, the difference between being apolitical and surrendering to a public health threat, and why Rakesh believes this silence is a profound abdication of professional duty. Learn why he argues that when politicians show more courage than doctors, the very credibility of medicine is at stake. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, built on a foundation of trust. Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

Health attorney Dennis Hursh discusses his article "First physician employment agreement mistakes." Dennis shares his amazement after 30 years in health law at the timidity of new attending physicians during contract negotiations. He explains why the "seller's market" created by a massive physician shortage means that young doctors have far more leverage than they think. Dennis debunks the myths of the "standard contract" and the fear of "losing the job" by asking for reasonable, median compensation. This episode is a critical guide for any new physician, exploring why the employer is the "motivated buyer" and why the competition is already over once the job offer is made. Learn how to stop being competitive and start negotiating for the reasonable contract you've earned. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, it's backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise, and it's part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, built on a foundation of trust. Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR → https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended