We know that your time is valuable. But, do your friends and family? Setting appropriate and healthy boundaries with family and friends is tough.   You're not a bad person for saying 'No' when someone in your friend group(s) or family asks for free medical advice. You do yourself and the people you serve who do pay for your professional advice a disservice by saying yes all the time. There's a fine line a Physician must walk in these moments.   Don't feel guilty. Just take these tips from experts on etiquette and communication―and a cue from your favorite two-year-old―and say no.   A few months ago, my friend who is a Pediatrician asked me a question. 'How do I say no to people who want me to work for free without hurting the relationship?'   It's a challenging question. When we investigated further, we found this happens to Physicians all the time!   It usually starts with a text or an email like this:   “Hey, sorry to bother you, but real quick ... I need your opinion on something. Can you look at this [...insert issue/or chief complaint here.] It should only take you a few minutes. Is this something serious? Should I be worried? Please help! Ahhh. love you!" [~insert friend or family member name here]   © Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. ("CMT") All rights reserved.   Disclaimers: All content presented here is for general information purposes only. It is NOT intended to provide medical, legal, professional, accounting or financial advice. No warranties or guarantees are assumed or implied and user(s) releases Concierge Medicine Today, LLC, its agents, representatives, affiliated brands/companies and/or guests from all damages, liability and/or claims. Be advised, some references, companies, individuals, products, services, resources and/or links may be out-of-date. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC does not update content past its release date. User(s) assume all risk and liability with any use of the content as well as third party links. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC., has no formal peer review and, therefore, cannot guarantee the validity of information and/or content contained on its web sites, podcasts, and/or all content it produces or releases. While some of our speakers may be licensed Physicians, they are not your Physician. Please consult your Physician related to anything you may have read or heard or have questions about or call 911. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and/or opinions of Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. The "Concierge Medicine Today, LLC" ("CMT") name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. Additional disclaimers, releases, terms of use and conditions apply also to the production and/or use of this content, https://conciergemedicinetoday.org/tcpp/.

One phrase I’m often caught saying in recent interviews with Physician’s is echoing these 12 words given to me by my mentor Jeff H., who I applied his phrasing for application in healthcare which essentially says … “A Patient who feels appreciated will always do more than is expected.”   If you’re old enough to remember like me, Norman Rockwell, then you remember his coffee mug portrayals of Doctors treating Patients at their bedside or in their home.   The notion is not lost on me that younger generations do not recall this Andy Griffith era or early portrait of a rich heritage, unique charisma and storied past which Physicians once had within our small communities, our hearts and our home. Perhaps, this portrait will be in their future, or at least I hope so.   That portrait of decades ago whereby a Physician met his/her Patients precisely where they were and in their greatest time of need seems old fashioned and outdated. No camera in our culture today will or can capture this once normal luxury in the same relational circumstance because it’s locked tight behind a mountain of administrative paperwork, health insurance bureaucracy, utilization management, credentialing, co-pays, pre-authorizations, charts, file cabinets, EHRs and misguided gatekeepers many medical offices call their staff.   © Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. ("CMT") All rights reserved.   Disclaimers: All content presented here is for general information purposes only. It is NOT intended to provide medical, legal, professional, accounting or financial advice. No warranties or guarantees are assumed or implied and user(s) releases Concierge Medicine Today, LLC, its agents, representatives, affiliated brands/companies and/or guests from all damages, liability and/or claims. Be advised, some references, companies, individuals, products, services, resources and/or links may be out-of-date. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC does not update content past its release date. User(s) assume all risk and liability with any use of the content as well as third party links. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC., has no formal peer review and, therefore, cannot guarantee the validity of information and/or content contained on its web sites, podcasts, and/or all content it produces or releases. While some of our speakers may be licensed Physicians, they are not your Physician. Please consult your Physician related to anything you may have read or heard or have questions about or call 911. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and/or opinions of Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. The "Concierge Medicine Today, LLC" ("CMT") name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. Additional disclaimers, releases, terms of use and conditions apply also to the production and/or use of this content, https://conciergemedicinetoday.org/tcpp/.

Did you know there are about as many nurses in the U.S. as there are people in Los Angeles?   According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, there are more than 3.8 million nurses in the U.S. and rising. Roughly three quarters are registered nurses (RNs), and the remaining quarter are licensed practical nurses (LPNs). Additionally, there are over 100,000 nurse practitioners. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, nurses also comprise the largest segment of hospital staff, are the primary providers of hospital patient care, and deliver most of the nation’s long-term care.   Outnumbering Doctors in most hospitals, the nurses serving our communities have tough jobs. From bed pans to blood, smiles to bar code scans, they're always there in the heat of the moment. We want to say THANK YOU and provide a few ways for those who work next to these generous individuals, with some thoughtful and practical ways you can show them your gratitude.   © Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. ("CMT") All rights reserved.   Disclaimers: All content presented here is for general information purposes only. It is NOT intended to provide medical, legal, professional, accounting or financial advice. No warranties or guarantees are assumed or implied and user(s) releases Concierge Medicine Today, LLC, its agents, representatives, affiliated brands/companies and/or guests from all damages, liability and/or claims. Be advised, some references, companies, individuals, products, services, resources and/or links may be out-of-date. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC does not update content past its release date. User(s) assume all risk and liability with any use of the content as well as third party links. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC., has no formal peer review and, therefore, cannot guarantee the validity of information and/or content contained on its web sites, podcasts, and/or all content it produces or releases. While some of our speakers may be licensed Physicians, they are not your Physician. Please consult your Physician related to anything you may have read or heard or have questions about or call 911. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and/or opinions of Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. The "Concierge Medicine Today, LLC" ("CMT") name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. Additional disclaimers, releases, terms of use and conditions apply also to the production and/or use of this content, https://conciergemedicinetoday.org/tcpp/.

Dr. Redcross shares his nearly 20 years of experience and breaks down the four cornerstone qualities that are essential to creating a life-long patient-doctor bond.   Meet Dr. Ken Redcross   "I discovered my passion for medicine and science in high school and thought I wanted to be a veterinarian, until I took a Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy class. I’ve always loved animals, but at 16, the Anatomy class was my awakening moment, and I realized it was people I had to treat."   LEARN MORE: https://www.drkenredcross.com/ BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Bond-Cornerstones-Lasting-Caring-Relationship/dp/0692138005   "Now, after having practiced medicine for 20 years, I’ve had a few more Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy-class, light-bulb moments. While I enjoyed working at medical practices and clinics, something was missing. Having to rush through every patient-packed day with a mere 5-7 minute time slot for each of them felt unfair to my patients and to my purpose. It took some time for me to realize that I’d have to work within a different model – or create my own — which is how the concierge concept emerged: Strategic Health Services ™."   "I am a board-certified Internal Medicine physician, and I completed my medical training at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in 2001. I provided care at my first job in Oxnard, California, then transitioned to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills. I launched my Concierge practice in 2007 and established Redcross Communications, Inc., under which I provide medical education through the media."   Connecting. Active listening. Kindness. Accessibility. Patient-centric.   "Collectively, these actions and attitudes create lasting bonds with my patients. By building a safe and trusting space, the doctor-patient bond is reinforced, opening up more opportunities for healing."   Bond: The 4 Cornerstones of a Lasting and Caring Relationship with Your Doctor   Why would you want to trust your life to someone with whom you don't have a personal relationship? How strong of a bond do you have with your primary doctor? Have you ever wanted to ask your doctor a question but didn't because you felt uncomfortable?   Dr. Redcross is concerned that the patient-doctor bond is now on faulty ground and that healthcare happiness is much more difficult to attain. No relationship can survive for very long without trust, healthy communication, mutual respect, and a willingness to be empathetic on both sides of the stethoscope.   Dr. Redcross shares his nearly 20 years of experience and breaks down the four cornerstone qualities that are essential to creating a life-long patient-doctor bond.   Learn More: https://www.drkenredcross.com/   © Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. ("CMT") All rights reserved.   Disclaimers: All content presented here is for general information purposes only. It is NOT intended to provide medical, legal, professional, accounting or financial advice. No warranties or guarantees are assumed or implied and user(s) releases Concierge Medicine Today, LLC, its agents, representatives, affiliated brands/companies and/or guests from all damages, liability and/or claims. Be advised, some references, companies, individuals, products, services, resources and/or links may be out-of-date. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC does not update content past its release date. User(s) assume all risk and liability with any use of the content as well as third party links. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC., has no formal peer review and, therefore, cannot guarantee the validity of information and/or content contained on its web sites, podcasts, and/or all content it produces or releases. While some of our speakers may be licensed Physicians, they are not your Physician. Please consult your Physician related to anything you may have read or heard or have questions about or call 911. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and/or opinions of Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. The "Concierge Medicine Today, LLC" ("CMT") name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. Additional disclaimers, releases, terms of use and conditions apply also to the production and/or use of this content, https://conciergemedicinetoday.org/tcpp/.

Health Insurance.   These two words bring up a plethora of emotion in our culture.   For some it's tension and brings back a flood of memories which influenced a career path you were on.   For many, it emptied our pocket books and savings accounts.   For a few, it has created a narrative that enables you to be a victim.   And while you might be right, if we heard your story, we would all probably agree.   What we can all agree on is that Patients need a tourniquet in their time of physical healing from the financial hemhorrage that awaits them weeks later in the mailbox and the bank account.   They need relief.   They need their Doctor to understand that perspective and not rally behind narratives that health insurance is all bad, all the time.   For some people, health insurance is a welcome relief.   In today's special podcast edition, Host and Editor Michael Tetreault unpacks some alternative insights on What is healthcare? What is health insurance? And, why it is important?   Like most things, though, health insurance is something we can easily learn more about and master the basics.   Is it confusing? Yes.   Is it important? Yes.   Is it time to move past being a victim of it? Yes!   So, let’s look at a few questions together, talk with a families who are drowning in medical debt yet grateful for the safety net that won't cause them to lose their house.   © Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. ("CMT") All rights reserved.   Disclaimers: All content presented here is for general information purposes only. It is NOT intended to provide medical, legal, professional, accounting or financial advice. No warranties or guarantees are assumed or implied and user(s) releases Concierge Medicine Today, LLC, its agents, representatives, affiliated brands/companies and/or guests from all damages, liability and/or claims. Be advised, some references, companies, individuals, products, services, resources and/or links may be out-of-date. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC does not update content past its release date. User(s) assume all risk and liability with any use of the content as well as third party links. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC., has no formal peer review and, therefore, cannot guarantee the validity of information and/or content contained on its web sites, podcasts, and/or all content it produces or releases. While some of our speakers may be licensed Physicians, they are not your Physician. Please consult your Physician related to anything you may have read or heard or have questions about or call 911. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and/or opinions of Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. The "Concierge Medicine Today, LLC" ("CMT") name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. Additional disclaimers, releases, terms of use and conditions apply also to the production and/or use of this content, https://conciergemedicinetoday.org/tcpp/.

Today you're in for a special treat. Our next guest is Michelle Fritsch, Pharm.D., BCGP. She will be sharing with us in a new 3-part medical education series is FOR DOCTORS on the topic of "Preventive Strategies to Preserve A Physician's Longevity."   Michelle Fritsch, Pharm.D., BCGP is a board certified geriatric clinical pharmacist with a passion for healthy aging and education. She is founder of Retirement Wellness Strategies (www.retirewellness.com), strategically guiding people through the transition to retirement with a longterm plan for health and discovery of personal purpose in that next phase of life. She works with a broad definition of health – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social. She is an author, a frequent speaker, educator, and a supporter of entrepreneurial healthcare professionals as a co-founder of Medipreneurs (www.medipreneurs.com).   Michelle Fritsch, Pharm.D., BCGP Retirement Wellness Strategies www.retirewellness.com Meds MASH, Inc www.medsmash.com 704-891-8871 Author: ‘Preventive Maintenance for a High Mileage Life' Co-Founder Medipreneurs www.medipreneurs.com   Certified Purpose Mentor michelle@retirewellness.com   © Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. ("CMT") All rights reserved.   Disclaimers: All content presented here is for general information purposes only. It is NOT intended to provide medical, legal, professional, accounting or financial advice. No warranties or guarantees are assumed or implied and user(s) releases Concierge Medicine Today, LLC, its agents, representatives, affiliated brands/companies and/or guests from all damages, liability and/or claims. Be advised, some references, companies, individuals, products, services, resources and/or links may be out-of-date. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC does not update content past its release date. User(s) assume all risk and liability with any use of the content as well as third party links. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC., has no formal peer review and, therefore, cannot guarantee the validity of information and/or content contained on its web sites, podcasts, and/or all content it produces or releases. While some of our speakers may be licensed Physicians, they are not your Physician. Please consult your Physician related to anything you may have read or heard or have questions about or call 911. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and/or opinions of Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. The "Concierge Medicine Today, LLC" ("CMT") name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. Additional disclaimers, releases, terms of use and conditions apply also to the production and/or use of this content, https://conciergemedicinetoday.org/tcpp/.

Every single year at our annual conference gathering, the Concierge Medicine Forum, I’m always elated and surprised by the spouses who walk up to me at the end of a conference and tell me how much this program(s) or session meant to them.   “I felt like you were talking directly to me …” we hear.   Or, “I've been telling him that for years. Thank you for …, hopefully he'll listen to me now.”   These kind words truly warm our hearts and help us build on the narrative that Concierge Medicine is more about finding career satisfaction than about feeling burned out in medicine. These words from our readers, their spouses and so many others keep us building each year to create an incredible program at the Concierge Medicine Forum here at CMT. It informs us that we’re making a difference and doing something about the insurmountable mountain of Physician Burnout. By not only providing an outlet for you, but insight and tools, handles and connections FOR Doctors and to those people in your life that have the greatest influence on you, your spouse.   So, as we've stated, oftentimes, the most overlooked person in a church is the Spouse. Today, I would also say that in the practice of medicine the same is true as well. The spouse of the Physician is the most overlooked person (employed or not affiliated in anyway with the practice).   © Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. ("CMT") All rights reserved.   Disclaimers: All content presented here is for general information purposes only. It is NOT intended to provide medical, legal, professional, accounting or financial advice. No warranties or guarantees are assumed or implied and user(s) releases Concierge Medicine Today, LLC, its agents, representatives, affiliated brands/companies and/or guests from all damages, liability and/or claims. Be advised, some references, companies, individuals, products, services, resources and/or links may be out-of-date. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC does not update content past its release date. User(s) assume all risk and liability with any use of the content as well as third party links. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC., has no formal peer review and, therefore, cannot guarantee the validity of information and/or content contained on its web sites, podcasts, and/or all content it produces or releases. While some of our speakers may be licensed Physicians, they are not your Physician. Please consult your Physician related to anything you may have read or heard or have questions about or call 911. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and/or opinions of Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. The "Concierge Medicine Today, LLC" ("CMT") name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. Additional disclaimers, releases, terms of use and conditions apply also to the production and/or use of this content, https://conciergemedicinetoday.org/tcpp/.

One Physician turned entrepreneur commented on a CMT post just recently about this topic we love to talk about around here, "Thank You Notes to Patients!"   It's a rising trend in Concierge Medicine and we're here to talk about it.   On a LinkedIn post she wrote "It would be fabulous if we could realistically scale kindness."   I think we can, and it's easier than you might think!   © Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. ("CMT") All rights reserved.   Disclaimers: All content presented here is for general information purposes only. It is NOT intended to provide medical, legal, professional, accounting or financial advice. No warranties or guarantees are assumed or implied and user(s) releases Concierge Medicine Today, LLC, its agents, representatives, affiliated brands/companies and/or guests from all damages, liability and/or claims. Be advised, some references, companies, individuals, products, services, resources and/or links may be out-of-date. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC does not update content past its release date. User(s) assume all risk and liability with any use of the content as well as third party links. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC., has no formal peer review and, therefore, cannot guarantee the validity of information and/or content contained on its web sites, podcasts, and/or all content it produces or releases. While some of our speakers may be licensed Physicians, they are not your Physician. Please consult your Physician related to anything you may have read or heard or have questions about or call 911. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and/or opinions of Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. The "Concierge Medicine Today, LLC" ("CMT") name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. Additional disclaimers, releases, terms of use and conditions apply also to the production and/or use of this content, https://conciergemedicinetoday.org/tcpp/.

Dr. Christopher Loo is a orthopedic surgeon, serial entrepreneur, investor, author, consultant, executive coach, and keynote speaker.   He received his MD-PhD from the medical scientist training program offered through the joint Baylor College of Medicine and Department of Bioengineering at Rice University. In his mid-thirties, Dr. Loo achieved fast, fat F.I.R.E. through his multiple investments, and subsequently started his consulting company in 2017 to promote financial literacy among physicians.   Dr. Loo is a 4x Amazon author including "How I Quit My Lucrative Medical Career and Achieved Financial Freedom Using Real Estate", is a regular podcast contributor to high profile social media sites including KevinMD, directs a monthly career success membership program, manages a 780+ member private Facebook group "Financial Freedom for Physicians", is an advisor to Valhalla Healthcare, an early AI healthcare startup, and is listed by Board Vitals as one of the top 50 MD's to follow on Instagram.   Connect with Dr. Christopher Loo on his LinkTree URLs - https://bit.ly/3g9j223   © Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. ("CMT") All rights reserved.   Disclaimers: All content presented here is for general information purposes only. It is NOT intended to provide medical, legal, professional, accounting or financial advice. No warranties or guarantees are assumed or implied and user(s) releases Concierge Medicine Today, LLC, its agents, representatives, affiliated brands/companies and/or guests from all damages, liability and/or claims. Be advised, some references, companies, individuals, products, services, resources and/or links may be out-of-date. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC does not update content past its release date. User(s) assume all risk and liability with any use of the content as well as third party links. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC., has no formal peer review and, therefore, cannot guarantee the validity of information and/or content contained on its web sites, podcasts, and/or all content it produces or releases. While some of our speakers may be licensed Physicians, they are not your Physician. Please consult your Physician related to anything you may have read or heard or have questions about or call 911. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and/or opinions of Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. The "Concierge Medicine Today, LLC" ("CMT") name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. Additional disclaimers, releases, terms of use and conditions apply also to the production and/or use of this content, https://conciergemedicinetoday.org/tcpp/.

Dr. Christopher Loo is a orthopedic surgeon, serial entrepreneur, investor, author, consultant, executive coach, and keynote speaker.   He received his MD-PhD from the medical scientist training program offered through the joint Baylor College of Medicine and Department of Bioengineering at Rice University. In his mid-thirties, Dr. Loo achieved fast, fat F.I.R.E. through his multiple investments, and subsequently started his consulting company in 2017 to promote financial literacy among physicians.   Dr. Loo is a 4x Amazon author including "How I Quit My Lucrative Medical Career and Achieved Financial Freedom Using Real Estate", is a regular podcast contributor to high profile social media sites including KevinMD, directs a monthly career success membership program, manages a 780+ member private Facebook group "Financial Freedom for Physicians", is an advisor to Valhalla Healthcare, an early AI healthcare startup, and is listed by Board Vitals as one of the top 50 MD's to follow on Instagram.   Connect with Dr. Christopher Loo on his LinkTree URLs - https://bit.ly/3g9j223   © Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. ("CMT") All rights reserved.   Disclaimers: All content presented here is for general information purposes only. It is NOT intended to provide medical, legal, professional, accounting or financial advice. No warranties or guarantees are assumed or implied and user(s) releases Concierge Medicine Today, LLC, its agents, representatives, affiliated brands/companies and/or guests from all damages, liability and/or claims. Be advised, some references, companies, individuals, products, services, resources and/or links may be out-of-date. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC does not update content past its release date. User(s) assume all risk and liability with any use of the content as well as third party links. Concierge Medicine Today, LLC., has no formal peer review and, therefore, cannot guarantee the validity of information and/or content contained on its web sites, podcasts, and/or all content it produces or releases. While some of our speakers may be licensed Physicians, they are not your Physician. Please consult your Physician related to anything you may have read or heard or have questions about or call 911. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and/or opinions of Concierge Medicine Today, LLC. The "Concierge Medicine Today, LLC" ("CMT") name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service. Additional disclaimers, releases, terms of use and conditions apply also to the production and/or use of this content, https://conciergemedicinetoday.org/tcpp/.