BOSS Business of Surgery Series

Amy Vertrees, MD
  • 4.9 (50)
  • MEDICINE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
BOSS Business of Surgery Series

Welcome to BOSS Business of Surgery Series! This program was specifically designed to help surgeons learn concepts not taught in residency but necessary for a successful surgery career. We were not told that most of our job would be interacting with others. We thought it was about the technical success of surgery or the knowledge that we learn. But it is so much more. Difficult partners and colleagues. Dealing with complications. Negotiating with administration. Running a successful and efficient clinic that doesn’t take bleed into our home life. How to have a life outside of surgery But if we don’t learn these concepts, we will end up in a negative spiral that will lead us into misery. And all of the time we spent training for the job we love, that could be so rewarding, is lost. You know there has to be a solution out there. That you can’t be the only one unhappy or wondering if it is just you. It’s time for a program that addresses your specific problems run by someone who knows what you are going through. You need a fellow surgeon who knows the way. You need a surgeon who has been where you are and found her way out to the other side: -Loving surgery again -Not taking work home -finishing notes immediately after clinic and heading home on time -Not letting complications set you back -Interacting with others with confidence -Finally seeing that you can control the results you get at work and home You can find out more about Dr. Vertrees and her work at www.BOSSsurgery.com.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Ep 168 What you don't know about insurance contracts with Frank Lobb

    Summary The meeting featured Frank Lobb, a former Navy pilot, discussing healthcare insurance contracts and their impact on medical care. Lobb shared his personal experience of losing his wife after being denied healthcare coverage, despite offering to pay out of pocket. He explained how his investigation through legal proceedings revealed that healthcare insurance contracts are secret, state-approved documents that effectively allow insurance companies to ration healthcare. Lobb discovered that these contracts, standardized around 1990, contain provisions that prevent patients from paying for care when insurance denies coverage. He emphasized how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's recent involvement has shifted the burden of proof for billing accuracy to healthcare providers. The discussion highlighted how the current system disadvantages both patients and healthcare providers, with Lobb suggesting that medical organizations like the AMA should push for contract reform. Chapters Introduction to Frank Lobb and His Healthcare Experience Frank Lobb introduced himself as a former Navy pilot who became involved in healthcare contract analysis after personal tragedy. He shared his experience with DuPont's Clean Air Act negotiations, demonstrating his ability to analyze complex legal situations despite not being an attorney. Personal Tragedy and Legal Investigation Lobb described how his wife's illness led to his investigation of healthcare contracts. Despite offering to pay, multiple hospitals denied care after his insurance company's denial. Through legal proceedings, he gained rare access to typically secret insurance contracts. Evolution of Healthcare Insurance System Lobb explained how healthcare insurance evolved from a simple fee-for-service model in 1929-1930 to the current complex system. He highlighted the Supreme Court's 1990 ruling that confirmed insurance companies' right to ration healthcare. Contract Structure and Patient Rights Lobb revealed that unlike other insurance types, health insurance operates on a single contract system. He emphasized that patients don't actually have contracts with their insurance companies, only providers do. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Impact Lobb discussed how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's involvement has shifted the burden of proof for billing accuracy to healthcare providers, potentially creating leverage for system reform.

    49 min

  2. JAN 13

    Ep 167 Having difficult conversations with Dr. Jen Johannsen

    BOSS Business of Surgery Series

    49 min

  3. JAN 6

    Ep 166 Surgery mission work with Dr. Erin Stevens

    Summary The meeting featured Dr. Erin Stevens, a gynecologist oncologist at Prevea Health, discussing her experiences with medical mission trips to Bolivia through Solidarity Bridge since 2019. Dr. Stevens shared how she began these missions through a former surgery partner's invitation, initially working in Santa Cruz and later in Sucre. She detailed the significant differences between US and Bolivian healthcare systems, particularly in equipment usage and resource conservation. Dr. Stevens emphasized how Bolivian medical staff meticulously maintain and reuse equipment that would be discarded in the US. She highlighted the critical issue of cervical cancer in Bolivia, where screening rates are below 20% and treatment options are limited. The discussion also covered the evolution of her teaching approach, focusing on building sustainable surgical skills among Bolivian doctors and the importance of cultural understanding in medical missions. Chapters Introduction to Medical Mission Work in Bolivia Dr. Stevens described her background as a gynecologist with 11-12 years of experience in rural medicine, practicing in Montana and Wisconsin. She began mission trips to Bolivia with Solidarity Bridge in 2019, initially working in Santa Cruz and later in Sucre. Impact of COVID-19 on Mission Work Dr. Stevens discussed how the 2020 mission was cancelled due to the pandemic. She explained the lasting effects on Bolivia's healthcare system, including continued universal masking and delayed vaccine distribution. The pandemic significantly impacted cancer screening rates, which dropped to zero during 2020-2022. Equipment and Resource Management in Bolivian Healthcare Dr. Stevens detailed how Bolivian healthcare providers maximize resource utilization, including meticulous cleaning and reuse of surgical equipment. She highlighted the stark contrast with US practices regarding medical waste and equipment disposal. Teaching and Cultural Exchange Dr. Stevens emphasized the importance of working in solidarity with Bolivian medical professionals, focusing on teaching surgical skills while learning from their practices and culture. She described the progress made in teaching laparoscopic procedures and the relationship built with local medical staff. Action Items Stevens mentioned the need to continue providing essential surgical equipment to Bolivian hospitals Stevens highlighted the importance of establishing sustainable training programs for laparoscopic surgery Stevens emphasized the need to address cervical cancer prevention through increased screening and vaccination programs Stevens suggested exploring ways to improve medical supply conservation and reuse practicesFind her TEDx talk HERE

    40 min

  4. 12/23/2024

    Ep 165 Advocating for doctors with Physician Just Equity

    BOSS Business of Surgery Series

    59 min

  5. 12/16/2024

    Ep 164 Direct Surgical Care with Dr. Jillian Ciocchetti

    BOSS Business of Surgery Series

    1h 2m

  6. 12/09/2024

    Ep 163 Feeling stressed is optional with Dr. Robyn Tiger

    Summary Dr. Robyn Tiger, a double board-certified physician in diagnostic radiology and lifestyle medicine, discusses her book 'Feeling Stressed is Optional' and shares insights on stress management for physicians. She emphasizes that while stressors are inevitable, feeling stressed is optional. Dr. Tiger introduces the concept of 'stress-free snacks' - quick, implementable tools for managing stress in busy medical settings. She explains the six pillars of lifestyle medicine, including stress management, nutrition, sleep, social connection, exercise, and avoiding risky substances, with nature as an unofficial seventh pillar. The discussion covers the importance of breathing techniques, co-regulation with patients, and the distinction between lifespan and healthspan. Dr. Tiger emphasizes making 1% improvements daily rather than overwhelming changes. Chapters Introduction to Dr. Robin Tiger and Her Book Dr. Tiger introduces herself as a double board-certified physician in diagnostic radiology and lifestyle medicine, discussing her new book focused on transforming chronically stressed physicians' lives. Stress Management Through Breathing Techniques Dr. Tiger explains the four functions of breathing and introduces the concept of co-regulation with patients through breathing exercises, emphasizing how this can improve both physician and patient experience. The Six Pillars of Lifestyle Medicine Dr. Tiger outlines the six pillars: stress management, nutrition, sleep, social connection, exercise, and avoiding risky substances, with nature as an unofficial seventh pillar. She emphasizes how these pillars work together for optimal health. Book Features and Implementation Approach Dr. Tiger describes her book's interactive and multimodal approach, including videos, worksheets, and book club materials, emphasizing the importance of making 1% improvements daily. Action Items Tiger recommends implementing daily breathing exercises with patients for co-regulation Tiger suggests focusing on making 1% improvements daily rather than overwhelming changes Tiger advises incorporating all six pillars of lifestyle medicine into daily practice Tiger encourages utilizing the book's multimodal resources including videos under 5 minutes Tiger recommends connecting with the Stress Free MD community through website stressfreemd.netGet the book on Amazon HERE(affiliate link for Amazon)

    26 min

  7. 12/02/2024

    Ep 162 Becoming a surgeon entrepreneur with Dr. Shirin Towfigh

    The latest BOSS podcast features Dr. Shirin Towfigh a hernia specialist in private practice, owner of a hernia center in Beverly Hills and innovator in the field of surgery. She mentioned that innovation for her was born out of frustration. She never set out to be in private practice, she thought she would be a leader in academic medicine. She found significant benefits of being her own boss and the freedom to pursue her passions:  "I don't think I'll leave this job. I love my employer, who is me, and she doesn't discriminate based on gender. I don't have a pay discrepancy based on my chromosome.  And she's really great at allowing me to do what I like to do and not bombard me with fluff." Dr. Towfigh emphasized the importance of understanding the business side of medicine, including billing and revenue cycles. She also talks about her innovations in hernia care, including gender-based hernia mesh designs and her efforts to improve research in women's hernia care. She created an online patient education platform and leads international hernia collaborations.-- Dr. Shirin Towfigh is a Board Certified General Surgeon and owner of her own private practice at the Beverly Hills Hernia Center. Her practice is exclusively dedicated to hernias and their complications. Dr. Towfigh went to medical school at UC San Diego and finished her surgical residency at UCLA. She is internationally known for her tailored approach to treatment of hernias, with the goal of reducing chronic pain and related complication, much of which is outlined in her book, The SAGES Manual of Groin Pain. Her research includes innovations to promote the hernia field. She was awarded an honorary certificate in Abdominal Wall Surgery granted by the European Board of Surgery. As an advocate for patient perspectives in hernia care, she started the free patient discussion forum herniatalk.com and hosts the weekly podcast, HerniaTalk LIVE, which showcases topics and fellow physicians to discuss hernia related topics. She is CEO of her tech company, Hexagon Health, Inc., whose mission is to promote gender based advances in hernia care through innovation and research. She holds 9 patents for gender based inguinal hernia mesh designs. She also sponsors the annual Female Factors in Hernia research award at the American Hernia Society. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herniadoc Twitter/X: https://x.com/herniadoc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.Towfigh LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shirintowfigh/

    47 min

  8. 11/25/2024

    Ep 161 Redefining the role of the physician mom with Dr. Latoya Luces-Sampson

    BOSS Business of Surgery Series

    44 min
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4.9
out of 5
50 Ratings

About

Welcome to BOSS Business of Surgery Series! This program was specifically designed to help surgeons learn concepts not taught in residency but necessary for a successful surgery career. We were not told that most of our job would be interacting with others. We thought it was about the technical success of surgery or the knowledge that we learn. But it is so much more. Difficult partners and colleagues. Dealing with complications. Negotiating with administration. Running a successful and efficient clinic that doesn’t take bleed into our home life. How to have a life outside of surgery But if we don’t learn these concepts, we will end up in a negative spiral that will lead us into misery. And all of the time we spent training for the job we love, that could be so rewarding, is lost. You know there has to be a solution out there. That you can’t be the only one unhappy or wondering if it is just you. It’s time for a program that addresses your specific problems run by someone who knows what you are going through. You need a fellow surgeon who knows the way. You need a surgeon who has been where you are and found her way out to the other side: -Loving surgery again -Not taking work home -finishing notes immediately after clinic and heading home on time -Not letting complications set you back -Interacting with others with confidence -Finally seeing that you can control the results you get at work and home You can find out more about Dr. Vertrees and her work at www.BOSSsurgery.com.

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