Clinician's Roundtable

The single payer form of health insurance for all Americans: could this be the year that the long-debated model for medical care coverage becomes a reality? Dr. David Himmelstein, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a long-time advocate of single payer coverage, tells the Chicago Tribune's Bruce Japsen about the best chance in years for this model in the healthcare reform debate.

The stimulus package approved by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama promises unprecedented money for health IT and electronic medical records. But if the money is enough, are there enough health informatics specialists to pull it off? Dr. Bill Hersh, chair of the Department of Medical Informatics & Clinical Epidemiology in the School of Medicine at Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland, tells host Bruce Japsen about the healthcare system's needs from the world of health informatics.

It has been billed as the biggest boon to public health since tobacco taxes. And a one-cent per ounce tax on sodas could bring in as much as $400 million of annual revenue for the state of New York alone. How would a tax on sugared beverages impact our health and health care budget? Would the general public throw enough support behind this policy shift for politicians to think about putting it on the books? Host Dr. Larry Kaskel wades into the debate over soda taxes with Dr. Kelly Brownell, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, where he is also a professor of epidemiology, public health and psychology. Dr. Brownell, who recently co-authored a New England Journal of Medicine article with then-New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden in support of a soda tax, shares the scientific evidence that supports his position. He also considers other viewpoints in this debate: if a soda tax won't work, could we find a better way to discourage our insatiable taste for these sugary drinks?

When a mother was granted legal permission to collect her 21 year old deceased son's sperm in April 2009, questions were raised about posthumous reproductive rights. Although the mother declared that her son always wanted to have children, does this meet the criteria of informed consent, or is it an example of substituted judgment? Can this situation be compared to a spouse or girlfriend having an in depth discussion about having a posthumous child? How should we consider the welfare of the child in such a situation? Host Dr. Maurice Pickard discusses these ethical questions with guest Dr. Robert Brzyski, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and chair of the ethics committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Early arthritis of the knee is a frustrating and painful condition, especially for our more active patients. Some will begrudgingly accept the end of their adult sports league careers, others will be less inclined to hang up their sneakers. In this case, depending on the severity of the condition, there could be several procedural options, including a new arthroscopic resurfacing technique for those with less severe arthritis: could this be the quickest route back to the playing field? Dr. Anthony Miniaci, executive director of Cleveland Clinic Sports Health and one of the developers of this new procedure, explains why this procedure could be the answer for patients who have failed all biologic procedures, but are not yet ready for a total knee replacement. Which of your patients might be a candidate? Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

What if prescription costs were tied to outcomes and how patients do on their prescriptions? It's already happening. Eric Elliott, president of CignaPharmacy Management, tells the Chicago Tribune's Bruce Japsen about new ways health benefits companies are working to provide more effective treatments.

The burgeoning number of emergency patients who do not speak English because our nation has become so diverse is creating a greater imperative to bridge the language gap in the hospital. Live video interpretation and translation could be the answer, says Michael King, director of business development for the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council, in an interview with host Bruce Japsen of the Chicago Tribune.

What's it like to be a hospitalist? Many PAs are turning to this growing field. Ed Lopez, founder and president of La Palma Medicine and Surgical Associates in Tacoma, Washington, talks with host Lisa D'Andrea Lenell about the ins and outs of working in a hospital. They cover a typical day, and the type of personality best suited for this growing specialty.

With the growing shortage of healthcare professionals, the need is growing for PAs to become part of a hospitalist team. Ed Lopez founder and president of La Palma Medicine and Surgical Associates in Tacoma, Washington, joins host Lisa D'Andrea Lenell to discuss this growing field, including how to get a job in a hospital setting and the challenges and future for this specialty track within the PA profession.

How does a PA handle a patient who comes in following genetic testing, and how do they counsel that patient on their results? PA educators are realizing this scenario is becoming commonplace. Since 2008, genetics is now a required course for all PA students. Andrew Faucett, an assistant professor in the department of human genetics at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta joins host Lisa D'Andrea Lenell to discuss the importance of genetic medicine in your daily practice.