Physicians Taking Back Medicine

Physicians Taking Back Medicine
  • 0.0 (0)
  • MEDICINA

Physicians Taking Back Medicine is a new podcast from Medical Economics. Hosted by Dr. Rebekah Bernard, each episode dives into the real-world challenges facing today’s doctors: MOC, scope of practice, direct primary care, and much more. Physicians Taking Back Medicine explores how doctors can reclaim their autonomy and shape the future of health care with candid interviews and actionable insights. Join Dr. Bernard and her guests each month as she guides you toward an empowered and sustainable medical career.

Episodios

  1. When facts become ‘arrogance’: Physicians push back against political theater

    25 FEB

    When facts become ‘arrogance’: Physicians push back against political theater

    Physicians don’t show up to legislative hearings expecting applause. In fact, most arrive knowing the vote may already be decided. They come anyway — on their own time, at their own expense, often canceling clinics or trading call shifts — because patient safety is worth two or three minutes at a microphone. What they don’t expect is to be personally attacked for telling the truth. Yet that is exactly what happened during a recent Florida legislative hearing on a bill that would allow psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to practice independently, without oversight by a psychiatrist. After calm, evidence-based testimony from multiple physicians outlining differences in training, patient safety risks and noncompliance with existing law, the bill sponsor closed not by rebutting the data — but by attacking the physicians themselves. They were described as “arrogant,” “obnoxious” and “greedy.” The sponsor claimed doctors were profiting off nurse practitioners, earning thousands of dollars per month per clinician, joking that physicians could use the money to “buy a plane and go to The Bahamas.” It was not a debate over policy. It was political theater — and physicians were cast as villains for refusing to play along. Read more at MedicalEconomics.com.Music CreditsMedical Education by Art Media - stock.adobe.comEditor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.0:00 – Florida legislator’s closing remarks attacking physician testimony 0:24 – Episode introduction: Physicians speak out against unsupervised psychiatric nurse practitioner legislation 1:38 – Dr. Vicki Norton’s committee testimony on training differences and patient safety 4:23 – Interview with Dr. Norton: Reaction to lawmaker’s comments 7:22 – Introduction of Dr. Ankush Bansal 7:57 – Dr. Bansal’s testimony on physician education, ethics, and access to care 9:58 – Dr. Bansal reacts to sponsor’s personal attacks 13:32 – Introduction of Dr. Mays DeBose (South Carolina advocacy effort) 13:57 – Dr. DeBose on physician image, humility, and legislative communication 15:11 – South Carolina “turf war” characterization 15:43 – Dr. DeBose describes committee hearing experience 16:02 – Dr. Phil Schaefer testifies on lack of data 16:18 – Legislator comments about AI replacing radiologists 16:42 – Dr. Schaefer responds to AI comment 18:27 – Florida bill sponsor closing remarks (“It’s going to be cool”) 19:06 – Dr. Schaefer on legislators’ understanding of medicine 19:46 – Call to physician advocacy 20:34 – Dr. Norton on overcoming personal attacks and getting involved 22:48 – Dr. Bansal’s advice for physicians interested in advocacy 23:43 – Dr. Schaefer on why physicians struggle to engage politically 24:33 – Dr. DeBose on supporting organized medicine 26:05 – Dr. DeBose on collective voice and combating learned helplessness 28:20 – Final encouragement to join local and state medical societies 29:02 – Closing remarks from host Dr. Rebecca Bernard

    30 min
  2. Avoiding the ‘P-word’: Why these physicians are taking the ‘no provider pledge’

    7 ENE

    Avoiding the ‘P-word’: Why these physicians are taking the ‘no provider pledge’

    “Please stand, raise your right hand, and repeat after me: I pledge not to use the word provider when referring to physicians and further, to encourage my colleagues to do so. You may be seated.” So began rheumatologist Dr. Robert McLean’s inaugural address as 2019 President of the American College of Physicians — and with it, his mission to eliminate the “P-word,” provider, as a term for physicians. “People stood, smiled, I got some claps, and several came up afterward to thank me,” McLean recalls. “It kind of became my moniker. For the rest of the year, at every committee meeting, I would start with the ‘No Provider Pledge. If somebody slipped up and used the word provider, they had to throw a dollar in the kitty.’” Six years later, McLean is still widely recognized among recent ACP physician leaders as the standard-bearer against the term. “At a recent AMA meeting, when the word ‘provider’ slipped into speeches by CMS Director Dr. Oz and AMA CEO Dr. Whyte, people sitting nearby would turn around and look at me and shake their heads,” he said. McLean notes that the AMA and other major physician organizations have longstanding policy opposing use of the term. While some may argue that fighting a word isn’t worth the effort, McLean and others believe replacing physician with provider represents far more than semantics. It reflects a deeper erosion of professional identity, clarity, and trust in American medicine. Read more at MedicalEconomics.com.Music CreditsMedical Education by Art Media - stock.adobe.com Editor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.Introduction to the "Provider" Problem (00:00:13) Overview of the episode’s focus on the term "provider" and its impact on physicians’ roles and identity. The "No Provider Pledge" and Its Reception (00:00:36) Dr. McLean introduces the "No Provider Pledge" and describes physicians’ reactions to it. Origins and Spread of the Term "Provider" (00:02:34) Historical background of the term, its use by insurance companies, and its effect on healthcare roles. Confusion in Clinical Titles and Patient Perception (00:04:06) How patients are confused by titles, and the implications for care and professional identity. Declining Standards in Nurse Practitioner Education (00:06:18) Concerns about the quality and rigor of nurse practitioner training and its consequences. Legislative Changes and Nurse Practitioner Autonomy (00:07:36) Dr. McLean’s advocacy experience and the evolution of laws allowing nurse practitioners more independence. Differences in Training: Physicians vs. Non-Physicians (00:10:10) Discussion of the rigorous, standardized training for physicians compared to other practitioners. Personal Sacrifice and Physician Burnout (00:13:07) Dr. Alaba shares the personal costs of becoming a physician and the emotional impact of being called "provider." Corporate Medicine and Physician Demoralization (00:15:14) How corporate healthcare, loss of autonomy, and generic titles contribute to physician burnout and suicide. Propaganda and the Visual Blurring of Roles (00:17:12) Analysis of social media posts that visually equate physicians and non-physicians, reinforcing the "provider" label. Physician Reactions to Lack of Recognition (00:18:22) Doctors’ emotional responses to being grouped with non-physicians and the importance of proper recognition. Strategies to Reclaim Physician Identity (00:19:33) Dr. McLean discusses ways to push back against the "provider" term and reclaim professional identity. Relational vs. Transactional Care (00:21:22) Emphasis on the unique physician-patient relationship and the dangers of commoditizing healthcare. Market Forces and Commoditization of Medicine (00:22:32) Discussion of how insurance and private equity treat healthcare as a commodity, harming the profession. Comparison to Legal Profession and Final Thoughts (00:23:25) Comparison to law, concluding with a call for physicians to reclaim their identity and resist being called "providers."

    26 min
  3. The rising toll of private equity in health care

    03/12/2025

    The rising toll of private equity in health care

    A newly published study in the Annals of Internal Medicine has added more fuel to the growing alarm over private equity’s expanding role in American health care. Researchers found that hospitals acquired by private equity (PE) companies experience a decrease in staffing and salaries, as well as an increase in emergency department patient deaths and patient transfers to other hospitals.This isn’t the first time such concerns have surfaced. Previous studies have shown that patients treated in private equity–owned hospitals suffer more hospital-related adverse events including bloodstream and surgical site infections and falls. A 2023 systematic review went further, concluding that private equity ownership was consistently associated with increases in costs for patients and payers with mixed to harmful impacts on quality, noting an association with reduced nurse staffing levels and a shift towards lower nursing skill mix. Researchers concluded: “No consistently beneficial impacts of PE ownership were identified.”To explore how these findings play out in the trenches, Physicians Taking Back Medicine spoke with two doctors — anesthesiologist Marco Fernandez, M.D. and emergency physician Robert McNamara, M.D. — both of whom have witnessed firsthand the consequences of private equity in health care and are now leading efforts to reverse its influence.Music CreditsMedical Education by Art Media - stock.adobe.comEditor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.0:00 – Intro Announcer tees up new study showing ED mortality rises after private equity hospital acquisitions. 1:22 – Guest Intro: Dr. Marco Fernandez Anesthesiologist; president, Midwest Anesthesia Partners and Association for Independent Medicine. 1:41 – Hospital Contracts Replaced by PE Firms Fernandez explains two contracts lost to TeamHealth and NorthStar, no RFP, community backlash, OR shutdowns. 4:32 – Dr. Robert McNamara’s Background Long-time critic of private equity’s role in emergency medicine; sets context from a 2021 interview. 5:00 – How Private Equity Operates Investment return expectations, cost-cutting, staffing model changes, profit over patient care. 6:34 – Study Data: Mortality, Staffing Reductions ED death rates, declines in FTEs, salary cuts in ED/ICU after PE acquisition. 7:21 – Personal Impact on Fernandez & His Family Private equity staffing squeezes, inadequate nursing support, and his mother’s suffering. 10:32 – Wider Trend: Mortality in PE-Owned Facilities Research also finds higher death rates in PE-owned nursing homes and hospice. 10:52 – “Penny Wise, Pound Foolish” Fernandez on leadership short-termism, physician exodus, higher long-term costs, persistent understaffing. 11:57 – Working With Legislators & AGs Corporate practice of medicine laws, tightening loopholes, educating state leaders. 13:03 – What Corporate Practice of Medicine Means McNamara explains non-physician control, enforcement failures, and harmful workarounds. 14:23 – Grassroots & Organized Medicine Joint advocacy efforts, silos among specialties, need for education and alignment. 15:47 – Reimbursement Reality for Anesthesiology The “30% problem”: Medicare valuation error in the ’90s, lower unit pay, subsidy dependence. 17:26 – How the Miscalculation Happened Time not accounted for in reimbursement; only anesthesia affected. 18:01 – Subsidies, Locums, Unsustainable Economics Why most anesthesia groups now require hospital subsidies; Fernandez’s pivot to independent contracting model. 19:39 – Private Equity Pitch: “Efficiency” and Subsidy Cuts Bait-and-switch promises to administrators; consolidation and extraction incentives. 21:29 – Golden Parachutes & Senior Partners Deals driven by outgoing partners, quotas, short visit times, erosion of practice control. 22:28 – Strategies to Fight Back Litigation, protecting physician groups from corporate replacement, expanding advocacy. 23:33 – Going Beyond AMA & Specialty Societies Coalition-building with large independent orthopedic groups; focusing on state-level strategy. 25:40 – Physician-Led Advocacy & Taking Action Host discussion on organized medicine vs. grassroots disruption and multi-front tactics. 26:41 – Advocacy as Antidote to Burnout Meaning, connection, and purpose through engagement. 27:46 – Changing Mindset & “Showing Up” Networking, persistence, attending meetings, building momentum. 29:08 – Closing Reflections & Call to Action Partnership, unity, and showing up as vehicles to reclaim medicine. 29:11 – Outro Host sign-off and thank you.

    30 min
  4. Keith Smith, M.D., and the free market revolution in surgery

    21/10/2025

    Keith Smith, M.D., and the free market revolution in surgery

    When patients walk through the doors of the Surgery Center of Oklahoma, they often bring stories of frustration, fear, and financial devastation from their encounters with America’s health care system. Yet, what they find in Oklahoma City is radically different: a transparent, patient-centered surgical experience at a fraction of the cost of most hospitals and surgery centers.At the heart of this revolution is Keith Smith, M.D. , an anesthesiologist and co-founder of the Surgery Center of Oklahoma. His model has become a beacon for patients and an inspiration for physicians, proving that health care can be both affordable and high quality—if physicians are willing to step outside of the traditional third-party payer system.I had the privilege of speaking with Smith for the Medical Economics podcast Physicians Taking Back Medicine. For me, the conversation was not only professionally inspiring but also deeply personal. As a family physician, I’ve referred my own patients across the country to Oklahoma for surgeries they could not afford locally.One of my patients without health insurance was quoted $20,000 at a local hospital for a life-saving surgery—so expensive he needed to sell his Harley-Davidson motorcycle to pay for it. Instead, he flew to Oklahoma, where he underwent surgery for under $5,000 (including travel and lodging), and returned home with his dignity, health, and savings intact.That kind of story raises the obvious question: Why isn’t this model being replicated everywhere?Music CreditsMedical Education by Art Media - stock.adobe.comEditor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.Patient Frustrations and Introduction to Keith Smith, M.D. (00:00:14) Overview of patient struggles with the healthcare system and introduction to Keith Smith, M.D., and the Surgery Center of Oklahoma.Smith’s Background and Motivation (00:00:54) Smith's early career, government payment frustrations, and decision to leave traditional hospital practice.Founding the Surgery Center of Oklahoma (00:01:40) How Smith built his reputation, gathered colleagues, and started the surgery center to protect patients financially and medically.Early 90s Healthcare Problems and Free Market Motivation (00:02:27) Declining quality of care, financial abuse by hospitals, and the decision to create a fair, market-driven alternative.All-Inclusive Cash Pricing Model (00:04:02) Explanation of the center’s cash pricing, initial patient stories, and dramatic cost differences compared to hospitals.Building the Price List and Industry Pushback (00:05:27) Development of a public price list, industry backlash, and the center’s role as a champion for affordable care.Posting Prices Online and Market Impact (00:06:35) Decision to post prices online in 2009, attracting patients nationwide, and sparking a price war in healthcare.Growth and Influence of the Surgery Center (00:07:42) Expansion to a larger facility, multi-specialty services, and inspiring other centers to adopt transparent pricing.Patient Success Story and Website Usability (00:08:39) A patient’s experience using the website, cost savings, and positive outcomes compared to traditional hospitals.Surgeon Compensation and Hospital Billing Disparities (00:09:55) Discussion of the vast difference between hospital charges and actual surgeon payments.Market Creation and Price Matching (00:10:09) How public pricing led to market competition, price matching by hospitals, and the creation of a healthcare marketplace.Eliminating Middlemen and Keeping Prices Low (00:12:19) How removing hospital profit motives keeps surgery prices reasonable and benefits both patients and physicians.Barriers for Surgeons Adopting the Model (00:12:38) Challenges and fears preventing more surgeons from leaving the traditional system for a free market approach.Entrepreneurship and Payment Systems for Physicians (00:13:11) The need for confidence, entrepreneurship, and understanding payment logistics for physicians considering this model.Atlas Billing Company and Free Market Medical Association (00:14:32) How Smith’s billing company and association help other physicians transition to cash-based or hybrid models.Headwinds and Examples of Success (00:15:46) Real obstacles, government resistance, and examples of other centers successfully adopting the model.Advice for Physicians Considering the Model (00:18:23) Practical steps for doctors: starting small, finding leadership, and considering relocation to more receptive areas.Overcoming Inertia and Finding Opportunities (00:20:29) Discussion of geographic and systemic barriers, and strategies for launching a physician-owned center.Risks of Insurance Contracts and Going Independent (00:22:14) Risks of working with insurance companies, benefits of independence, and advice to leave government payments.Economic Principles and Physician Value (00:23:44) Understanding value from an economic perspective and the importance of seeing value through the patient’s eyes.The Free Market Model as a Positive Alternative (00:25:03) The benefits of the free market approach for physicians and patients, and encouragement to explore the model.Closing Remarks (00:25:54) Host’s closing comments and invitation to future episodes.

    27 min
  5. Can DPC save the rural health crisis?

    24/09/2025

    Can DPC save the rural health crisis?

    Fifteen years ago, family physician Lee Gross, MD, was running a small private practice in southwest Florida and struggling to stay afloat. Reimbursements were declining, administrative costs were rising, and Medicare requirements grew more burdensome each year. The turning point came when a small business owner approached him with an unusual proposal: since all the employees already saw Gross as their doctor, why not pay him directly to take care of them?Music CreditsMedical Education by Art Media - stock.adobe.comEditor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.Introduction to DPC and Rural Health care Crisis (00:00:14) Overview of DPC, recent policy changes, and the episode’s focus on rural health care and DPC.Dr. Lee Gross’s Background and Early Practice Challenges (00:00:52) Dr. Gross describes his medical background, move to Florida, and frustrations with traditional practice.Electronic Medical Records and Medicare Barriers (00:01:53) Early adoption of EMR, government regulations, and financial penalties from Medicare.Medicare Payment Cuts and Practice Sustainability (00:02:47) Struggles with declining reimbursements, attempts to find alternative revenue, and the unsustainable fee-for-service model.Epiphany: Transition to Direct Primary Care (00:03:47) Realization that insuring primary care is inefficient; inspiration to start a subscription-based DPC model.DPC Business Model Details (00:04:50) Explanation of DPC pricing, services, and the elimination of third-party billing.DPC in Rural Florida: Practice Viability (00:05:22) Challenges of rural practice, patient volume, and how DPC enables sustainability with fewer patients.DPC as a Rural Health care Solution (00:06:28) Discussion on why DPC fits rural areas and legislative efforts to promote it.Telemedicine vs. DPC in Rural Settings (00:07:09) Limitations of telemedicine alone and the value of continuity with a known primary care doctor.Cost Comparison: DPC vs. Federally Qualified Health Centers (00:08:57) Senate testimony on DPC’s cost-effectiveness and the administrative overhead of traditional models.Introduction of Rural DPC Physicians (00:10:18) Transition to interviews with three rural DPC physicians.Dr. Lee Gillum’s Background and DPC Journey (00:10:24) Dr. Gillum’s return to rural Tennessee, dissatisfaction with traditional practice, and switch to DPC.Impact of DPC on Rural Community (00:11:45) How DPC has improved access for uninsured and underserved patients in rural areas.DPC and Rural Practice Sustainability (00:12:33) Challenges for small practices, Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement, and how DPC enables survival.Dr. Nehemiah Weimar: DPC in Rural Indiana (00:13:35) Dr. Weimar’s pediatric DPC practice, local hospital closures, and the importance of time in patient care.Dr. Katie Worden Greer: DPC in Rural Oklahoma (00:15:19) Dr. Greer’s background, transition from tribal health to DPC, and building a practice in a small town.Medicare Opt-Out Dilemma for DPC Doctors (00:16:51) Explanation of Medicare opt-out rules and the catch-22 for rural DPC physicians needing supplemental income.Dr. Lee Gross on Medicare Opt-Out Policy (00:17:56) Gross discusses the risks and advocacy efforts to change Medicare opt-out requirements for DPC.Dr. Lee Gillum on Medicare Challenges (00:19:25) Gillum shares his hybrid practice, difficulties with Medicare, and the impact on patient care and finances.Administrative Burdens of Medicare (00:21:00) Discussion of data submission requirements, reduced payments, and the impact on small practices.Balancing DPC and Community Roles (00:23:14) How DPC allows flexibility for rural doctors to serve multiple community roles.DPC’s Role in Rebuilding Trust in Rural Health care (00:24:24) Importance of time and trust in rural communities, and how DPC addresses these needs.Advice for Starting DPC in Rural Areas (00:25:25) Dr. Greer encourages physicians to consider DPC in rural settings and explains patient acceptance.Future of Direct Care Model (00:26:31) Dr. Gross reflects on DPC’s growth, its challenges, and the hope it offers for younger physicians.Podcast Conclusion (00:28:40) Host wraps up the episode, summarizing the stories and mission of the podcast.

    29 min
  6. ‘Suck it Up, Buttercup’: Why these doctors left medicine — and what they’re doing to fix it

    12/08/2025

    ‘Suck it Up, Buttercup’: Why these doctors left medicine — and what they’re doing to fix it

    “They need to just suck it up, buttercup.” That’s what an insurance executive told physicians who asked why the system was burning them out. For many physicians, that attitude is the last straw.Music CreditsMedical Education by Art Media - stock.adobe.comEditor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.Introduction and Dr. Wilbur’s Background (00:00:15) Dr. Wilbur shares her journey leaving clinical care due to systemic barriers in healthcare and her motivation to seek change.Systemic Problems and Physician Powerlessness (00:01:20) Discussion of systemic issues, lack of autonomy, and the inability of physicians to provide optimal care within current structures.Qualitative Research and Book Genesis (00:02:32) Dr. Wilbur explains her qualitative research interviewing physicians leaving medicine, leading to her book "The Doctor Is No Longer In."Physician Debt and Misconceptions (00:04:27) Addressing the misconception that society pays for physician training and the reality of massive medical school debt.Collapse of the Healthcare System (00:06:14) Rising physician attrition, suicide, and predictions of healthcare system collapse due to neglecting core resources.Patient and Physician Suffering; Greed in Healthcare (00:08:04) Exploring shared suffering of patients and physicians, and the impact of greed at multiple levels in healthcare.Physician Employment and Loss of Autonomy (00:09:12) Shift from independent practice to physician employment, and the resulting loss of decision-making power for doctors.Anecdote: Dr. Guy Clifton and Patient Safety (00:09:43) Story of a neurosurgeon advocating for patient safety, resistance from administration, and the power of physician integrity.Moral Injury and Physician Suicide (00:12:14) Defining moral injury, the existential crisis for physicians, and factors distinguishing those who leave from those lost to suicide.Messages of Hope and Community (00:14:37) Encouragement for physicians facing moral injury, the importance of community, and resources for support.Making Noise and the Documentary (00:16:16) The need for advocacy, public awareness, and the transition from book to documentary to amplify all stakeholder voices.Dr. Todd Otton's Story and Documentary Origins (00:17:21) Dr. Otton’s experience with burnout, meeting Dr. Wilbur, and the inception of the documentary project.Meaning Behind “Suck It Up, Buttercup” (00:18:42) Origin of the documentary’s title from both physician training and insurance executive attitudes.Documentary Goals: Impact and Network (00:19:33) Aims to combat learned helplessness, inspire hope, and create a network of healthcare change agents.Diverse Voices in the Documentary (00:21:12) Highlighting the inclusion of physicians, nurses, patients, and advocates in the documentary.Funding, Timeline, and Distribution Plans (00:21:49) Progress on funding, expected completion, and plans to reach a wide audience via streaming platforms.Ongoing Call to Action and Systemic Barriers (00:22:56) Vision for continuous calls to action, the entrenched status quo, and the urgent need for systemic change.Personal Impact of Systemic Decisions (00:23:53) Dr. Otton’s personal story of burnout, the ripple effect of administrative decisions, and the cost of short-term thinking.Connection, Support, and the Power of One (00:25:06) Emphasizing the importance of connection, mutual support among physicians, and the exponential impact of collaboration.Podcast Conclusion (00:26:01) Host wraps up, highlighting the mission to share stories of physicians working to improve healthcare.

    27 min

  7. 26/06/2025

    Is MOC contributing to the physician shortage?

    In this episode, host Dr. Rebekah Bernard explores whether maintenance-of-certification (MOC) requirements are quietly worsening the U.S. physician shortage. Retired rheumatologist Dr. Mark Lopatin recounts how escalating ABIM recertification demands—and their costs—pushed him to leave clinical medicine early. Neurologist Dr. Paul Mathew then explains how similar frustrations led him to help launch the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS), a low-cost, CME-based alternative to the American Board of Medical Specialties.

    24 min

  8. 28/05/2025

    Physician wellness beyond ‘The Pitt’

    Mona Masood, DO and Nicole Washington, MD are psychiatrists who have long focused on physician wellness, founding resources to destigmatize and improve physician mental health. In 2020, Masood developed the Physician Support Line, a peer-to-peer network of volunteer psychiatrists offering free and confidential support to medical students and physicians. The line is available from 8 AM to midnight (ET) Monday through Friday. For physicians who need ongoing mental health care, Washington created Physician Mental Health, a directory of psychiatrists treating physicians. Music CreditsMedical Education by Art Media - stock.adobe.comEditor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.

    24 min

  9. 03/04/2025

    Is there an emergency physician in the house?

    Consider this scenario: You are having a medical emergency. An ambulance takes you to the nearest emergency department, where you are met by a nurse practitioner (NP) or physician assistant (PA), who may or may not have extra training in emergency care. You ask for a physician, but there are none in the department, or even in the hospital.  In fact, there isn’t even a physician available by telephone to guide the NP or PA in your care. In the first episode of Physicians Taking Back Medicine, host Rebekah Bernard, MD, discusses this important topic, with insights from fellow physicians Deborah Fletcher, MD, and Mercy Hylton, MD. Studies referenced/discussed in this episode Lack of 24/7 Attending Physician Coverage in US Emergency Departments, 2022 Analysis of Nurse Practitioners’ Educational Preparation, Credentialing, and Scope of Practice in U.S. Emergency Departments - Journal of Nursing Regulation Patients at Risk: The Rise of the Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant in Healthcare:  Music CreditsMedical Education by Art Media - stock.adobe.com Editor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript produced using AI tools.Introduction to the Podcast (00:00:07)Dr. Rebecca Bernard introduces the podcast and its focus on inspiring stories from physicians.Meet the Guests (00:00:37)Dr. Debbie Fletcher and Dr. Mercy Hilton share their backgrounds in emergency medicine.Replacement of Physicians (00:00:53)Discussion on the alarming trend of replacing physicians with non-physician practitioners in emergency departments.Impact of Management Changes (00:01:15)Dr. Fletcher recounts her experience of being replaced by a nurse practitioner due to management decisions.Concerns During the Pandemic (00:02:28)Dr. Hilton discusses the replacement of pediatricians with nurse practitioners during fluctuating emergency department volumes.Patient Care and Supervision Issues (00:03:01)Concerns about inadequate supervision and care for patients by non-physician practitioners.Observations of Mismanagement (00:03:51)Dr. Hilton shares experiences of patient mismanagement and safety concerns in emergency care.Mismanagement in Emergency Departments (00:05:28)Dr. Fletcher agrees on the mismanagement issues observed, including overconfidence among non-physician practitioners.Study on Nurse Practitioners (00:06:36)Dr. Hilton discusses a concerning study on the educational preparation of nurse practitioners in emergency departments.Alarm on Educational Standards (00:08:34)Discussion on the alarming findings regarding nurse practitioners' training and its implications for patient safety.Workforce Study Initiative (00:08:43)Dr. Fletcher initiates a workforce study to assess physician staffing in emergency departments.Survey Findings on Physician Staffing (00:09:30)Dr. Fletcher reveals alarming statistics about emergency departments lacking 24/7 physician staffing.Access to Physician Communication (00:11:51)Findings on the lack of two-way communication between non-physician staff and physicians in emergency departments.Legislative Changes in Indiana (00:14:06)Dr. Hilton shares her advocacy efforts leading to Indiana's law requiring physician presence in emergency departments.Impact of the Alexis Ochoa Case (00:15:14)Discussion of the tragic case that motivated Dr. Hilton's advocacy for patient safety in emergency care.Legislation Journey (00:16:13)Dr. Hilton details the process of getting legislation passed to ensure physician presence in emergency departments.Legislative Advocacy (00:17:22)Dr. Hilton discusses gathering data to support the need for physician staffing legislation.Truth in Advertising for Emergency Departments (00:18:48)Discussion on the importance of transparency in advertising emergency departments' staffing levels to patients.Closing Remarks (00:20:09)Dr. Rebecca Bernard thanks the guests for their advocacy work and concludes the episode.

    21 min
  • 9 episodios

Acerca de

Physicians Taking Back Medicine is a new podcast from Medical Economics. Hosted by Dr. Rebekah Bernard, each episode dives into the real-world challenges facing today’s doctors: MOC, scope of practice, direct primary care, and much more. Physicians Taking Back Medicine explores how doctors can reclaim their autonomy and shape the future of health care with candid interviews and actionable insights. Join Dr. Bernard and her guests each month as she guides you toward an empowered and sustainable medical career.

Información

También te podría interesar