Clinician's Roundtable

Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD Guest: John Nance, JD John Nance in Why Hospitals Should Fly: the ultimate flight plan to patient safety and quality care writes, from 2001 to 2006, passenger deaths aboard major US airlines hit a total of zero. During that same time frame, American hospitals killed an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 patients with medical mistakes. That's the equivalent of crashing 1400 fully loaded 747s with no survivors. John joins host Dr. Leslie Lundt to discuss what hospitals can learn from the aviation industry about safety.

Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD Guest: William Rich, MD Is the Resource Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) responsible for the looming physician shortage? Our Guest Dr. William Rich, medical director for Health Policy for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and chairman of the American Medical Association RUC Committee speaks to host, Dr. Bill Rutenberg about the relationship between RBRVS and physician pay. "There are income gaps and they are substantial but they are not due to the valuation of services," says Dr. Rich. Find out what he understands to be responsible for income gaps in physician pay and what role they play in the shortage of physicians.

Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD Guest: William Rich, MD Our Guest Dr. William Rich Medical Director for Health Policy for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Chairman of the AMA RBRVS (RUC) Committee says the entire medical profession is under pressure especially those dependent on public sources of compensation. In this segment Dr. Rich takes a historical and present day look at the forces a work in today's physician reimbursement system. Why have physicians had to bear the brunt of decreased payments? What can we hope to see change in the future? Join host Dr. Bill Rutenberg for an interesting segment about the Relative Value System.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Maria Simbra, MD It's not uncommon for someone to change careers after many years in one field. Not too many physicians, however, make the weighty decision to change professions, particularly to become a full-time medical television journalist. But that's exactly the trajectory which Dr. Maria Simbra has set for her career. As a board-certified neurologist transitioning to permanent work as a medical reporter for KDKA-TV, the CBS network station in Pittsburgh, Dr. Simbra has worked very hard to refine her standing as a medical professional. What advice would she give to those of us who have considered, or are still considering, a change in profession? She also talks with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill about the politics of the newsroom, and how this compares to the politics of medicine.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Maria Simbra, MD Have you ever encountered a medical professional working as a medical reporter and thought, "I could do that?" Many of you probably have, but it's not as easy as it looks. Dr. Maria Simbra, medical reporter for KDKA-TV, the CBS network station in Pittsburgh, and a board-certified neurologist, talks about the challenges of becoming a medical journalist: What lifestyle changes come with medical reporting? How do Dr. Simbra's medical colleagues view her work in journalism? Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Maria Simbra, MD Our patients often approach us with health-related articles from the Web, or advice from medical stories they saw on the evening news. Many of these stories are reported by certified medical professionals. Dr. Maria Simbra, medical reporter for KDKA-TV, the CBS network station in Pittsburgh, and a board-certified neurologist, talks about the process of developing a dual career in medicine and journalism with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill. How has Dr. Simbra achieved her success in medical journalism?

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Ted Schettler, MD, MPH Guest: Gary Cohen Imagine a cancer center built without any of the toxic carcinogens commonly used in construction. It’s a concept that many experts in the health care industry believe could soon become a reality. In hospital architecture and building, what are other promising examples of environmental responsibility that might apply to your clinical setting? Gary Cohen, co-executive director of Health Care Without Harm, an international campaign in support of environmentally responsible health care, evaluates the pros and cons of retrofitting old buildings versus new construction, and talks with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill about a range of cost-effective ‘green’ structural options, from recycled rubber flooring that would prevent injuries from falls and reduce hospital noise, to novel energy-efficient ventilation patterns that could curtail infection rates. Will we soon see a movement toward green initiatives factoring into accreditation for health care institutions?

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Ted Schettler, MD, MPH Guest: Gary Cohen As society progresses toward greater levels of environmental sustainability, the healthcare industry will play a leading role. From major public institutions to smaller private practices, every contribution matters. How can solo practitioners incorporate these projects into their practice, and what are the pervasive benefits, from a business standpoint and beyond? Gary Cohen, co-executive director of Health Care Without Harm, an international campaign in support of environmentally responsible health care, and Dr. Ted Schettler, science director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, and science advisor to Health Care Without Harm, suggest that as healthcare providers, we can even lend credibility to the 'green' movement simply by participating within our communities. They share their expertise and tips for your practice with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Ted Schettler, MD, MPH Guest: Gary Cohen Energy estimates project America to be among the leaders in energy consumption for years to come. Coupled with our dependence on modern chemicals, there is a lot of room for us to improve our approach to environmental responsibility. From waste disposal to indoor air pollution, how can we set ourselves on a path toward making this change? Gary Cohen, co-executive director of Health Care Without Harm, an international campaign in support of environmentally responsible health care, and Dr. Ted Schettler, science director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, and science advisor to Health Care Without Harm, guide us through a series of environmentally responsible initiatives with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Ted Schettler, MD, MPH Guest: Gary Cohen The modern hospital setting exposes our patients to a vast array of chemicals, some of which are therapeutic, others which can be particularly harmful. What are we doing to limit exposure to these harmful chemicals, for vulnerable patients and for those of us who work in hospitals every day? It may seem like an intrinsic goal for any healthcare venue, but it's a question that must be accounted for. Host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill explores the answer with Mr. Gary Cohen, co-executive director of Health Care Without Harm, an international campaign in support of environmentally responsible health care, and Dr. Ted Schettler, science director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, and science advisor to Health Care Without Harm.