Patients at Risk

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

More than ever, healthcare and politics are intertwined. Decisions made by politicians and have a major impact on not only healthcare policy, but on the day-to-day practice of medicine by physicians. Today we are excited to be talking about healthcare politics with Dr. Kermit Jones, a California internal medicine physician, attorney, and military veteran who is working to bring his medical expertise into the political arena. Learn more about Dr. Jones at his website - https://kermitjonesmdjd.com/Donate to Dr. Jones' political campaign here - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/kermitjonesforcongress2 Get the book! https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/Physicians: Join Physicians for Patient Protection - https://physiciansforpatientprotection.orgPhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

In part 2 of this discussion with Dr. Marion Mass, a pediatrician and the co-founder of Practicing Physicians of America, we learn about the impact of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) on the high cost of healthcare.  In 1987, the federal legislature granted GPOs safe harbor from anti-kickback statutes, allowing them to reap millions of dollars. Dr Mass also explains how these GPOs have created artificial shortages in essential medical supplies, leading to patient and clinician harm.Practicing Physicians of America: https://practicingphysician.org/Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

We all know that the health care system in the United States is expensive, with the U.S. spending more than any other developed nation. Although it’s convenient to scapegoat doctors as the reason for high medical costs, the truth is that physician compensation makes up just 20% of total health spending.  So, who is really responsible for the astronomical cost of health care today? To get some answers, we are joined by Dr. Marion Mass, a pediatrician and the co-founder of Practicing Physicians of America.  In part 1 of this series, Dr. Mass explains how Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) have benefited from safe harbor from anti-kickback statues, allowing them to reap millions of dollars and increasing drug costs for Americans.Practicing Physicians of America: https://practicingphysician.org/Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

On our last podcast, advocacy experts Dr. Purvi Parikh and Linda Lambert discussed steps that physicians can take to advocate for their patients and for the profession of medicine. In part 2, we learn from the legislative successes of the nursing profession.   We discuss how to write a resolution for your medical society to help influence policy, and how advocacy can be a solution to burnout.Get the book: https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

Physicians are usually so busy taking care of patients that we sometimes ignore the political aspects of healthcare, leaving the decisions to legislators and policymakers, many of whom do not truly understand what it is like to deliver medical trenches in the trenches. Unfortunately, the old adage, “if you’re not at the table, you’re on the table,” is nowhere truer than in the healthcare legislative process.Today, I am joined by two experts to help us understand how physicians can be effectively involved in advocacy for our patients and for our profession.Dr. Purvi Parikh is an allergist and immunologist practicing in New York who has been involved in political advocacy since she was a medical student. She is also a fellow board member of Physicians for Patient Protection. Linda Lambert served as the executive director for the New York chapter of the American College of Physicians for over 20 years and has spent the last several years of her pseudo-retirement helping Physicians for Patient Protection build our organization.PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org

When it comes to discussing the differences between physician assistants (PAs) and physicians, there is no one better to address the issues than someone who has trained and worked in both professions.  Christin Giordano MD was a PA before deciding to return to medical school to become a physician. She has since completed residency training and a fellowship to become a nephrologist.  We are also joined by Elizabeth Ennis, PA-C, a former classmate of Dr. Giordano, who is currently practicing in California.  Together, we discuss the state of the PA profession, including the proposed name change from 'physician assistant' to 'physician associate' and independent practice for PAs.Read Dr Giordano's KevinMD post:  From PA to MD: An appreciation for physician educationGet the book Patients at Risk!PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org