Date: 6/18/24
Name of podcast: Dr. Patient
Episode title and number: 23 In Doctors We Trust

Episode summary: What is trust as it relates to the doctor-patient relationship? How is it fostered when the very healthcare system itself works against it? Why is it important, and what can you do to foster it with your doctor?

Guest(s): none

Key Terms: none

References:
Trust, Race and Risk in American Medicine: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hast.1080

Patient Trust in Physicians:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1495476/

The importance of building trust in the physician-patient relationship:
https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/the-importance-of-building-trust-in-the-physician-patient-relationship

Physician perspectives on building trust with patients:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hast.1528?af=R

Summary table of survey questions of patients about trust:
https://www.drpatientpodcast.com/blog/eps-22-and-23-doctor-satisfaction-and-trust-in-doctors/

Podcast website: www.drpatientpodcast.com

Podcast email, become a guest: [email protected]

Date: 6/11/24
Name of podcast: Dr. Patient
Episode title and number: 22 Doctors in Distress

Episode summary: The majority of doctors today are dissatisfied with the healthcare system. That's not to say that they don't want to be doctors anymore. It's just that they're fed up with the same system that patients are stuck in and fed up with. It's important that doctors and patients see and understand each other more clearly to strengthen their relationships against the onslaught of external forces that are slowly degrading our health system in the US.

Guest(s): Dr. Karen Leitner

Key Terms: none

References:
Dr. Leitner's site: https://www.karenleitnermd.com/
NYTimes article (might require a sign-in, sorry): https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/15/magazine/doctors-moral-crises.html
Physicians Foundation report: http://physiciansfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/PF23_Brochure-Report_Americas-Physicians_V2b-1-2.pdf

Podcast website: www.drpatientpodcast.com

Podcast email, become a guest: [email protected]

Date: 6/4/24
Name of podcast: Dr. Patient
Episode title and number: 21 How We Learn to Be a Patient, Part 2

Episode summary: Continuing from the end of last season, Ep 12, where I talked with my own daughter about her experience going to an urgent care center alone for the first time, here's the follow up with a group of young women going through similar challenges of trying to understand health insurance, how to make an appointment, how to make healthcare decisions for themselves, and more.

Guest(s): Berit, JeeSoo, Maya, Gabby, Lena and Ashley

Key Terms: none

References: none

Podcast website: www.drpatientpodcast.com

Podcast email, become a guest: [email protected]

Date: 5/28/24
Name of podcast: Dr. Patient
Episode title and number: 20 Short Stories on Being a Patient

Episode summary:
I have this never-ending quest to help doctors and patients understand each other better. This collection of short stories on what it's like to be a patient are meant to do just that. These are a few years old - I wrote them when I had breast cancer in 2020-2021 and went through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Hope they paint a realistic picture for you.

Guest(s): none

Key Terms: none

References: none

Podcast website: www.drpatientpodcast.com

Podcast email, become a guest: [email protected]

Date: 5/21/24
Name of podcast: Dr. Patient
Episode title and number: 19 US Drug Costs Are Insane, Part 2

Episode summary: Part 2 follows the last episode, where I reviewed how we got to where we are with insane drug costs in the US and a bit on how the Pharma system works. This week I did a deep dive on how someone can save on their medication costs. I review some cost comparing websites, online pharmacies, direct discounts from manufacturers and more.

Guest(s): none

Key Terms: none

References:
Convoluted drug cost diagram from last episode: https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2023/12/14/pharmacy-benefit-managers-the-middleman-that-decides-what-you-pay-for-medications
How to shop around: https://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/features/medication-shop-around
How does a place like GoodRx work: https://support.goodrx.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004944026-What-is-GoodRx-How-does-it-work
Ozempic.com with discounts and coupon info: https://www.ozempic.com/savings-and-resources/save-on-ozempic.html?utm_medium=banner&utm_source=goodrx&utm_campaign=trizone&utm_content=wstpay25&utm_id=nmtDC00004081
General ideas on how to save: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/personal-finance/save-money-on-prescription-drugs/
How Medicare drug costs work: https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/costs-for-medicare-drug-coverage
Getting help with Medicare drug costs: https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/costs-for-medicare-drug-coverage/costs-in-the-coverage-gap/5-ways-to-get-help-with-prescription-costs
Overview of Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefits: https://www.kff.org/medicare/fact-sheet/an-overview-of-the-medicare-part-d-prescription-drug-benefit/

Cost comparing websites:
GoodRx
RxSaver
WebMDRx
RxPriceQuotes
SingleCare
NeedyMeds

Online pharmacies:
HoneybeeHealth
DiRX
Mark Cuban’s CostPlus Drugs
Marley Drug

Podcast website: www.drpatientpodcast.com

Podcast email, become a guest: [email protected]

Date: 5/07/24
Name of podcast: Dr. Patient
Episode title and number: 18 US Drug Costs Are Insane, Part 1

Episode summary: Wow, drug costs in the US have skyrocket in recent years. The popularity of Ozempic and other weight loss drugs have really brought this issue into the light lately. Why do our drugs cost so much more than the same medications sold in other countries? How is the system set up? Who sets the list price? Hear answers to all these questions and more in this episode, part 1 of a 2 part series. 

Guest(s): none

Key Terms: none

References:
CONVOLUTED DIAGRAM OF US DRUG COSTS: https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2023/12/14/pharmacy-benefit-managers-the-middleman-that-decides-what-you-pay-for-medications
Flow of Money Through the Pharmaceutical Distribution System: https://healthpolicy.usc.edu/research/flow-of-money-through-the-pharmaceutical-distribution-system/
Why do your prescription drugs cost so much: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-do-your-prescription-drugs-cost-so-much-202401183007
Prescription Drug Payment Policy: Past, Present and Future: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4193453/
Here's How Much More Ozempic Costs in the U.S. Compared to Other Countries: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/heres-how-much-more-ozempic-costs-in-the-u-s-compared-to-other-countries
Bernie Sanders's letter to Novo Nordisk CEO: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/Letter-from-Sen.-Bernard-Sanders-to-Novo-Nordisk.pdf
Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) Industry: Definition: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets/070215/what-pharmacy-benefit-management-industry.asp
Acquired podcast episode that I mentioned on Novo Nordisk: https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/novo-nordisk-ozempic

Podcast website: www.drpatientpodcast.com

Podcast email, become a guest: [email protected]

Date: 4/30/24
Name of podcast: Dr. Patient
Episode title and number: 17 Big Hospital Break Up

Episode summary: I’m breaking up with my hospital. I live in Chicago, with its plethora of academic medical centers. I’ve long believed that these are generally good places to receive healthcare, but I’ve become exhausted at how hard I have to work to receive the actual care. As a retired physician, and a daughter and sister of physicians, I cannot help but to speak out about the troubling way that today’s healthcare is being practiced. I did not name the hospital out of respect, but I’ll be sending them a copy of this break up letter, and also releasing it as a mini-episode on my podcast, Dr. Patient.  

Guest(s): none

Key Terms: none

References: none

Podcast website: www.drpatientpodcast.com

Podcast email, become a guest: [email protected]

Date: 4/23/24
Name of podcast: Dr. Patient
Episode title and number: 16 Race and Healthcare: Teaching Med Students

Episode summary: Episode 3 of 3 of a miniseries on racial disparities in healthcare. We've heard from Linda Villarosa on how we got to where we are today and what some of the harsh realities of health disparities are, from Michael Tyler on a real life story of how his race actually impacted his care. Today we're pivoting towards solutions as I speak with Dr. Patricia Poitevien, Associate Dean at Brown University's medical school on how to teach this stuff to the next generation of physicians.

Guest(s): Dr. Patricia Poitevien, Senior Associate Dean of Diversity, Inclusion & Equity at Brown University's medical school. https://diversity.biomed.brown.edu/people/patricia-poitevien-md-msc-faap

Key Terms:
[22:57] MCAT - Medical College Admission Test; the test that college students take to be able to apply for medical school
[22:58] STEP - the examination that medical students take close to the end of school to be able to apply for residency training
[32:48] FTE - full time equivalent - 1.0 means a full time job

References: none

Podcast website: www.drpatientpodcast.com

Podcast email, become a guest: [email protected]

Date: 4/16/24
Name of podcast: Dr. Patient
Episode title and number: 15 Race and Healthcare: One Man's Story

Episode summary: Last week we heard from Linda Villarosa on the impact slavery still has on our modern healthcare system and how it leads to racial health disparities in the US. Today we’ll hear from Michael Tyler, children’s author, about his specific experience with race impacting his care.

Guest(s): Michael Tyler, children's author: www.michaeltylerwrites.com

Key Terms:
[07:02] PSA – prostate specific antigen, a blood-based screening tool for prostate cancer
[08:30] BPH – Benign Prostate Hypertrophy, a condition where the prostate enlarges and causes urinary symptoms. Annoying, but generally not dangerous
[08:38] Biomarkers - https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/biomarkers-for-better-prostate-cancer-screening#:~:text=Biomarkers%20are%20%22chemicals%22%20that%20can,and%20potentially%20catch%20it%20early  
[10:35] “Broke the seal” and Prostatectomy – a tumor has “broken the seal” of the prostate when it grows outside of the actual prostate wall. A prostatectomy is the partial or complete removal of the prostate
[19:35] “Prostate cancer gene” – some cases of prostate cancer are caused by genetics. There are some genes that can be inherited (sort of like the BRCA breast cancer genes for women. Men with variants in these genes have a high risk of developing prostate cancer and, in some cases, other cancers during their lifetimes

References:
2014 Study about the difference in location of prostate biopsies depending on race: “Pathological examination of Radical Prostatectomy Specimens in Men with Very Low Risk Disease at Biopsy Reveals Distinct Zonal Distribution of Cancer in Black American Men”:  https://www.auajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1016/j.juro.2013.06.021

Podcast website: www.drpatientpodcast.com

Podcast email, become a guest: [email protected]

Date: 4/9/24
Name of podcast: Dr. Patient
Episode title and number: 14 Race and Healthcare: Historical Roots
Episode summary: Many of the health inequities that we see in healthcare today stem from beliefs held in the time of slavery that have led to "myths" about black bodies and black health. Compounded by historical policy making related to socioeconomics, red lining, civil rights and more, people of color in the US are still facing inequity in healthcare today, from access to treatment to outcomes. Linda Villarosa is  an author on race and health in America, professor and journalist in residence at The City College of New York, contributing writer to the NY Times and a contributor to the 1619 project.

Guest(s): Linda Villarosa

Key Terms:
11:12 – Drapetomania
11:32 – Spirometer
23:04 – Momnibus bill

References:
03:29 – Black women in the US have a higher death rate in pregnancy than white women with the same socioeconomic status
03:39 – Big review article showing how black patients receive pain meds less often
03:45 – Study from University of Virginia 2016 medical students beliefs about black body myths
04:04 – Race correction on PFTs (pulmonary function tests)
05:51 – A black woman with a PhD is more likely to die in childbirth than a white woman with a high school degree
07:51 – The history of Dr. J Marion Sims
09:23 – Statue of Dr. J Marion Sims  taken down in NYC
09:39 – Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey (The Mothers of Gynecology) art installation in Montgomery, AL
09:47 – Say Anarcha book
10:20 – Dr. Cartwright
12:32 – (Lack of) science behind the spirometer race correction
15:07 – Weathering book
21:23 – CA maternal death rates
23:41 – Dr. Mary Bassett, NY Health Commissioner, requires anti-bias training
26:03 – “Lightly Black and Green” movement at HBCUs

Podcast website: www.drpatientpodcast.com

Podcast email, become a guest: [email protected]