A basic understanding of statistics is essential for being a savvy medical consumer. But for many, thinking about statistics brings back painful high school memories. In today's episode, primary care physician Dr. Steven Hochman -- my brother -- helps distill it in a manageable and engaging way. And you shouldn't need to dust off your old high school textbooks to understand it!

Over the last several years, a handful of states have passed legislation authorizing physicians to provide medical aid in dying for terminally ill adults. This typically comes in the form of a prescription to relieve discomfort and promote a peaceful death. According to our guest today, medical aid in dying should not only be legal everywhere, but this compassionate option should be made more accessible. For example, Dr. Chandana Banerjee, a palliative care specialist at the City of Hope Cancer Center, says that extended waiting periods before patients can avail themselves of this option should be eliminated. Dr. Banerjee also discusses her poetry books in today's episode!

American medicine is fast-paced, high tech and aggressive, but it does not consistently produce excellent outcomes. In the U.S., life expectancy, maternal mortality and patient satisfaction, among other indicators, compare poorly to those in many other nations. My guest today -- Dr. Elena Hill, a family physician at the Bronxcare Health System in New York -- recommends a shift in our approach to what she describes as "Slow Medicine." Dr. Hill believes that a greater focus on the simple things -- which often require more time and patience -- may help our health system get back on track.

Other episodes mentioned:

Dr. Steven Hochman on the challenges and joys of serving the homeless population - https://youtu.be/xzEOZj-2b6k

Dr. Rita Redberg on Statins and Cholesterol Medication - https://youtu.be/7psjRfJ-uXc

National Health Insurance with Drs. Steffie Woolhandler and David Himmelstein -  
https://youtu.be/B8f1ojsr7MQ

Anyone following the news has probably seen the alarming headlines about the recent COVID-19 surge and children. Pediatric hospitals – particularly in southern states – have been filling up. Could this mean that the delta strain is more aggressive than prior strains in kids? Let’s not panic quite yet, says today’s guest, Pediatrician Dr. Jessica Hochman. While rates of COVID-19 are indeed surging, overall kids continue to have excellent outcomes with COVID-19, and with effective vaccines now available for those 12 and older, there is reason to be optimistic.

Dr. Drew Pinksy -- better known simply as "Dr. Drew" -- is one of the best known media doctors in the nation. But unlike some other "TV doctors", he has spent decades working on the front lines with patients. In fact, he has dedicated his medical career to the care of one of the most vulnerable populations: those experiencing addiction. In today's episode, Dr. Drew offers his take on the COVID-19 pandemic: what policy makers have done well and where they have fallen short. He also provides insights on a topic near and dear to his heart: healthcare for the homeless.

John Maceri has spent his career working with those experiencing homelessness. He now leads "The People Concern", one of the largest social services agencies in the western United States. In today's episode, he makes the case that homelessness is a solvable issue -- we just need the political will to fix it.

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Growing up in the deep south and facing the challenges of discrimination, Joe Greer’s journey to medical school – and ultimately to the inner health policy circles of the George H. Bush and Clinton administrations – might have seemed unlikely. But his journey getting there was fascinating, and in the process he established one of the most renowned healthcare programs for patients experiencing homelessness in Miami. During the second half of his career, Dr. Greer turned his attention to the future, helping found two medical schools, including the Roseman University College of Medicine, where he now serves as Dean. In today’s episode, we hear about Dr. Greer’s journey, and his thoughts on the future of healthcare.

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In 2020, Kaiser Permanente launched a new medical school in Southern California – the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine. Dr. Mark Schuster was charged with leading this new school, in his role as the Founding Dean and CEO. In today’s episode, Dr. Schuster talks about why doctors of the future may require a different skillset than the current generation, and how Kaiser plans to prepare them for this new frontier.

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Loneliness correlates more strongly with health outcomes than many other traditional risk factors, such as tobacco use and high cholesterol. In today’s episode, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, a Professor Psychology at Brigham Young University and Lisbeth Briones-Roberts, the Chief Togetherness Officer for SCAN Health Plan, talk about the problem and what to do about it. Also hear the latest on the Delta variant of COVID-19.

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In his new book The Problem of Alzheimer’s, Dr. Jason Karlawish from the Penn Memory Center traces the history of a condition that impacts nearly 6 million Americans at a cost of more than $225 billion annually. These numbers may triple over the next decade. In today’s episode, Dr. Karlawish discusses potential breakthroughs in the years ahead – both pharmacologic and social – that can help us weather this storm. We also review the FDA’s controversial approval last week of aducanumab, the first new drug for Alzheimer’s in nearly two decades.
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