PermanenteDocs Chat

Permanente Medicine
  • 5.0 (7)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Permanente physicians and other health care leaders come together in an unscripted live chat, creating conversations among doctors about timely issues facing health care today. Hosted by Alex McDonald, MD, a family medicine physician with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group.

  1. NOV 25

    The future of care at home

    In this PermanenteDocs Chat, host Alex McDonald, MD, speaks with Hemali Sudhalkar, MD, hospitalist, inpatient palliative care physician, and National Medical Director of Strategy for Kaiser Permanente Care at Home, about how Advanced Care at Home delivers hospital-level care in patients’ homes. Dr. Sudhalkar explains why this shift is essential as the U.S. population ages and capacity strains grow, and how Kaiser Permanente’s integrated model enables safe, coordinated care beyond the hospital. She shares early results from Northern California, where nearly 4,000 patients have received care since 2020, with average length of stay reduced from 5.5 to 3.5 days, hospital readmissions 3 percent lower, and likelihood-to-recommend scores 10 points higher than inpatient care. The conversation covers clinician training, virtual nursing, and home visits — plus the policy steps needed to expand and sustain this model nationwide. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. Click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    31 min

  2. OCT 7

    Ep. 41 Leading the future of pediatric care

    In this episode, pediatric intensivist Eloa Adams, MD (Director of Inpatient Pediatrics Quality & Operations, TPMG) joins host Alex McDonald, MD to explore how integrated, community-based pediatrics keeps kids close to home. We dig into the rise of pediatric “care deserts,” why TPMG maintains local inpatient capacity, how tele-critical care links community EDs to specialists, and a sepsis-prevention effort summed up by “more awareness = more birthdays.” We also touch on supporting anxious parents, lessons for the wider system in value-based care, and what’s next for pediatric care delivery. Guest: Eloa Adams, MD Host: Alex McDonald, MD Thanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. Click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    36 min

  3. JUN 3

    Ep. 40: What every physician should know about care experience (and why it matters)

    In this episode of the PermanenteDocs Chat, host Alex McDonald, MD, discusses the latest innovations in care experience with Wadie Marcos, MD, access and experience lead with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group. Dr. Marcos shares his insights on the changing health care landscape, focusing on improving access and the care experience. They candidly discuss the unique challenges and opportunities health care organizations face in meeting patient expectations. Dr. Marcos highlights some groundbreaking practices at Kaiser Permanente, like enhancing booking systems and smoothing the onboarding process for new members to increase satisfaction. They also talk about the crucial role of soft skills in care experience, the importance of trust-building by physicians, and how a team-based approach enables high-quality care. Dr. Marcos also covers the role ethical, evidence-based medicine plays in practicing medicine today and how disease prevention is central to Kaiser Permanente’s mission. Don’t miss out on this compelling conversation — watch the chat on YouTube or listen to it on your podcast platform of choice. And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss future Permanente Medicine programming. #careexperience #patientexperience Thanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. Click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    27 min

  4. APR 8

    Ep. 39 Virtual oncology: Expert cancer care from anywhere

    In this episode of PermanenteDocs Chat, Alex McDonald, MD, speaks with Tatjana Kolevska, MD, about Kaiser Permanente’s Virtual Cancer Expert Review program—an innovative approach that ensures patients across the country have access to expert oncology care, no matter where they live. They discuss how Kaiser Permanente’s integrated model supports prevention, early detection, and coordinated treatment, and how AI and virtual consults are changing the game in complex cancer care. Topics covered include: How virtual reviews improve cancer outcomesReducing unnecessary treatments through expert inputEquity and access in oncologyThe power of team-based, value-based careThanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. Click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    25 min

  5. FEB 12

    Ep 38: Wildfires, medicine, and community resilience: A physician's role

    As devastating wildfires cut across Southern California, burning 16,000 structures and displacing more than 180,000 people last month, physicians and medical staff across Los Angeles faced unique challenges helping those in need while also ensuring their own safety. In the latest Permanente DocsChat episode, Christopher Subject, MD, assistant regional medical director, and Jeremy Maggin, MD, emergency medicine physician, joined host Alex McDonald, MD, to discuss disaster response and preparedness. All three are Southern California Permanente Medical Group physicians who were personally involved in wildfire response. Download and listen today to learn how Kaiser Permanente’s integrated structure and innovations supported rapid response, the challenges of delivering care during evacuations, and ways physicians can take a more active role in disaster planning and preparedness. #Californiafires #LosAngelesFires #Wildfires #LosAngelesWildfires #CaliforniaWildfires #DisasterPreparedness #WildfireResponse #EmergencyPreparedness #EmergencyPlanning #ClimateChange Thanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. Click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    34 min

  6. 11/18/2024

    Ep. 37: Trick or tweet: Navigating social media's impact on young people

    Listen to a special chat on social media’s influence on the health and well-being of young people. Melissa Garretson, MD, member of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees, joined host Alex McDonald, MD, of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, to explore the challenges adolescents face and how physicians can support their overall health. From screen time to sleep deprivation, Dr. Garretson shares strategies to help manage unhealthy social media use. Guest: Melissa Garretson, MD, Board of Trustees, American Medical Association Thanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. Click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    25 min

  7. 11/04/2024

    Ep. 36: Vaccines, variants, and trends for respiratory virus season

    Get prepared for respiratory virus season with an informative discussion on what every physician should know about this year’s flu, COVID, and RSV vaccines. In this episode of PermanenteDocs Chat, guest Connie Park, MD, clinical flu lead for The Permanente Medical Group and chief of Infectious Diseases, Greater Southern Alameda Area, joins host Dr. Alex McDonald of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group to discuss vaccine strains and practical strategies for addressing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. Guest: Connie Park, MD, Clinical Flu Lead, The Permanente Medical Group; Chief, Infectious Diseases, Greater Southern Alameda Area Thanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. Click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    29 min

  8. 09/27/2024

    Ep. 35: Pain points: Navigating the opioid crisis

    Listen to this episode for an up-to-date overview on opioid crisis from guest Bobby Mukkamala, MD, chair of the American Medical Association's Substance Use and Pain Care Taskforce. Dr. Mukkamala talks to host Alex McDonald, MD, of the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, about the latest data, systemwide steps to create change, and clinical strategies that can help doctors balance pain management with addiction prevention. Guest Bobby Mukkamala, MD, Chair, American Medical Association Substance Use and Pain Care Taskforce Thanks for listening! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook. Click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

    24 min
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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Permanente physicians and other health care leaders come together in an unscripted live chat, creating conversations among doctors about timely issues facing health care today. Hosted by Alex McDonald, MD, a family medicine physician with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group.

Information

  • Creator
    Permanente Medicine
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 PermanenteDocs Chat
  • Show Website
    PermanenteDocs Chat