Patients at Risk

In part 2 of this discussion with plaintiff's attorney Travis Dunn, we analyze the tragic case of Alexus Ochoa, who died because a multi-billion dollar corporation elected to replace physician with unprepared NPs. Mr. Dunn discusses the role of the expert witness in NP malpractice cases and what he has learned about the limited scope of practice of nurse practitioners. Get the book! https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/Please like and subscribe to our channel Patients at Risk: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLLDpz_f6u7EuW-BKnar-AAPhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

In the book Patients at Risk, we discuss the tragic case of Alexus Ochoa, a 19-year-old woman who died when a nurse practitioner failed to diagnose the blood clot in her lungs. The nurse practitioner was unprepared to treat emergency room patients and there was no physician on-site, even though the hospital advertised that physicians were available 24/7. Today we are joined with attorney Travis Dunn, one of the lead attorneys who helped Alexus’s family win a major financial settlement against Mercy Health Systems for replacing physicians with nurse practitioners.Get the book! https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/Watch the video on our YouTube channel, Patients at Risk: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLLDpz_f6u7EuW-BKnar-AAPhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

There are so many challenges in healthcare today, and it’s becoming ever more difficult to practice medicine. In fact, many physicians that could continue to work well into their golden years are retiring as soon as they can because the struggle of practicing medicine is just no longer worth it to them.Today we are joined by an amazing physician who has experienced his share of heartache within our healthcare system. Dr. Mark Lopatin is a rheumatologist who has written extensively about his experiences, and he joins to share his insights and thoughts about how we can improve our broken healthcare system.   Get the book! https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/Dr. Lopatin's writing:"I knew she was trouble" -   https://judiciary.pasenategop.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/42/2020/09/Article-Mark-Lopatin-MD.pdf"The facts did not matter"  = https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/mlopatin%40comcast.net/FMfcgzGljvNMgRKMzxvTnTCJSXrMsxnD?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1"This physician is retiring: here is his most valuable lesson" = https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/12/this-physician-is-retiring-heres-his-most-valuable-lesson.htmlPhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Today, we discuss a topic that is near and dear to my heart as a family physician: the role of primary care. We’re going to focus especially on the misconception often held by legislators that primary care is somehow ‘easy,’ and can therefore be relegated to allied health professionals, especially nurse practitioners.Today, I am joined by two special guests who are experts in the role of primary care in the healthcare system. Dr. Emily O’Rourke is a Family Physician in Virginia and the owner of Fountain Direct Primary Care.  (https://fountaindirectprimarycare.com) We are also joined by Dr. Meghan Galer, a board-certified emergency physician who opened her own direct primary care practice, ColGACare, in Georgia. (https://www.colgacare.com)Get the book! https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/References:BMJ 2018 - Continuity of care with doctors—a matter of life and death? A systematic review of continuity of care and mortality https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/8/6/e021161 BMJ 2019 - US patients live longer in areas with more primary care doctors, study finds BMJ 2019; 364 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l804 (Published 20 February 2019) BMJ 2019;364:l804Mortality rates are lower with higher continuity of care, review finds BMJ 2020;370:m3184Lancet: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000424Gray BM, Vandergrift JL, McCoy RG, et al Association between primary care physician diagnostic knowledge and death, hospitalisation and emergency department visits following an outpatient visit at risk for diagnostic error: a retrospective cohort study using medicare claims BMJ Open 2021;11:e041817. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041817 http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041817PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

In our book, we outline the tragic case of Alexus Ochoa, a 19-year-old woman who died when a nurse practitioner failed to properly diagnose and treat the blood clot in her lungs.  The only reason that the details of this case became public was because of a lawsuit filed by the patient’s family. Court records reveal not only a lack of appropriate medical care, but more importantly, the incredible efforts that Mercy Health Systems, a multi-billion-dollar corporation, routinely went through to hire and credential nurse practitioners to work in positions completely outside of their scope of practice, putting patients at risk to save money and increase profits. Today we talk with attorney Robert Painter about the role of the legal system in holding bad actors like this accountable.  Mr. Painter is a former hospital administrator who is now a medical malpractice and wrongful death lawyer at Painter Law Firm in Houston, Texas. https://painterfirm.com/Get the book! Get the book! https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

One of the biggest challenges in healthcare today is a lack of transparency when it comes to the training and licensure of healthcare professionals. As members of the healthcare team have taken an increased role in providing medical care, patients may be treated by physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other healthcare practitioners, and understanding who is who can be difficult.  In fact, an AMA study found that only 55%  of respondents thought it was easy to identify who is a licensed physician. Moreover, 79% of respondents said that they would support legislation to require that patients be informed of the level of education, skills, and training of all health care professionals. Fortunately, some states are taking action to ensure truth and transparency among healthcare practitioners, with New Jersey leading the way.  Today we are joined by two special guests to discuss the New Jersey Health Care Transparency Act, which was passed in 2020: Marlene  Kalayilparampil, MHA, FHELA is the manager of government relations for the Medical Society of New Jersey, and Dr. Flowers is a practicing physician in New Jersey. Get the book! https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/https://www.ama-assn.org/sites/ama-assn.org/files/corp/media-browser/premium/arc/tia-survey_0.pdfPhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

There is an increasing double standard in the practice of medicine and the practice of advanced nursing, and one of these is the difference in ‘board certification.’  Nurse practitioners take just one board examination in the course of their career, which is 3 hours long and 200 questions. Nurse practitioners never have to take another exam – they just have to submit their work hours, which can even be volunteer hours. In contrast, physician board exams are most more rigorous, lasting 9-10 hours or more, and must be repeated every 7-10 years. In 2015 the American Board of Medical Specialties added another layer to the process, requiring that physicians participate in a continuous “Maintenance of Certification” (or MOC) process to maintain board certification. Many physicians balked at the increased burden and cost of this MOC process, and grassroots organizations even sprung up to provide alternate pathways to make it easier for physicians to practice medicine. Today we are talking with Dr. Paul Mathew, a neurologist and a board member of the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons. Get the book 'Patients at Risk:" https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/Join PPP: https://physiciansforpatientprotection.orgCertify with the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons: https://nbpas.orgPhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Seven-year-old Betty died just 15 hours after she was evaluated by a pediatric nurse practitioner in a pediatric urgent care without any physician on site.  Betty's father, Jeremy Wattenbarger discusses the efforts he has made to seek accountability and ensure that other children receive physician-led care.Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Many of our critics accuse us of exaggerating the risks that patients face when physicians are replaced by lesser trained members of the healthcare team.  We are often told that we are engaging in a ‘turf war’ with nurse practitioners and physician assistants and that we should support these nonphysicians practicing ‘to the full extent of their license and training. ’  Today we are going to explain exactly why we take such a hardline stance against the independent practice by nonphysicians. It’s not because of a turf war - it’s because of patients like seven-year of Betty Wattenbarger, who died after a pediatric nurse practitioner failed to diagnose her with pneumonia and sepsis, an overwhelming blood infection.  Betty’s father, Jeremy, is on a crusade to ensure that other parents do not lose their children because of a lack of access to care by a properly trained physician. Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

In part 2 of our discussion about healthcare politics,  Dr. Kermit Jones, a California internal medicine physician, attorney, and military veteran discusses his run for California's 4th Congressional District.Learn more about Dr. Jones at his website - https://kermitjonesmdjd.com/Donate to Dr. Jones' political campaign here - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/kermitjonesforcongress2Get the book! https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/Physicians: Join us at htpps://Physiciansfor PatientProtection.org.PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org