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In this Diving Deep episode, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr examine two big questions facing American medicine: how generative AI can make healthcare more affordable and what the World Cup can teach doctors about strategy, teamwork and leadership.

The conversation begins with a counterintuitive point: In other industries, technology often lowers costs by allowing companies to produce the same output with fewer workers. But Dr. Pearl knows medicine is different. In healthcare, the biggest costs arise when preventable and controllable conditions turn into life-threatening complications. Therefore, he does not believe GenAI’s greatest financial value in healthcare will come from replacing doctors and nurses.

Pearl argues that the surest way to lower healthcare spending is by keeping people healthier. Poorly controlled hypertension, diabetes, heart failure and kidney disease drive many of the nation’s most expensive complications, including heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, hospitalizations and surgeries. GenAI can help prevent those outcomes, and the savings could far exceed anything gained by reducing clinician headcount.

From there, Pearl identifies three major opportunities for GenAI-driven improvements:

Control chronic diseases by helping patients understand their conditions, track data from home devices and get medication adjustments sooner (rather than waiting months between office visits).
Expand access to medical expertise after hours and on weekends.
Improve care coordination and medication safety, especially for older adults with multiple chronic conditions.

But technology alone will not be enough. So, the second half of the episode turns to entrepreneurship and leadership. Pearl discusses new research comparing expensive physician-facing AI tools with general-purpose large language models such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini.

His takeaway for entrepreneurs is clear: the biggest opportunity may not be building costly tools for hospitals, but helping patients use the AI tools already available on their computers and smartphones to manage their health more effectively.

That point leads into a broader lesson from the recent World Cup. Pearl argues that American medicine, like many talented teams that failed to win soccer’s biggest prize, has extraordinary resources but lacks a shared strategy. The United States has exceptional doctors, world-class hospitals and more healthcare spending than any nation, yet outcomes remain inconsistent, access unreliable and costs unaffordable.

The episode closes with a warning and a challenge. American medicine already has the talent, technology and financial resources to succeed. What it lacks is a clear strategy, coordinated teamwork and effective clinician leadership. If doctors want to improve care for patients and preserve the profession’s values, Pearl argues, they will need to embrace new technology, work together differently and take responsibility for the system’s performance.

For more, tune into this month’s episode and check out the links below.

Helpful links:

Entrepreneurs Beware: Inexpensive AI Is The Future Of Medicine (Forbes)
GenAI Won’t Lower Medical Costs By Replacing Doctors And Nurses (Forbes)
47 World Cup Teams Fell Short. US Medicine Should Learn From Them (Forbes)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #223: How GenAI & World Cup strategy can help fix healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this week’s episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl dig for the facts beneath healthcare’s biggest headlines. Today’s show opens with the issue most likely to shape how Americans think about healthcare heading into the midterm elections: affordability.

Dr. Pearl explains that medical costs have now reached $5.7 trillion, rising more than 7% for the third consecutive year. Federal actuaries project that healthcare spending could approach $9 trillion by 2034, accounting for more than 20% of the U.S. GDP. For voters, employers, patients and families, those numbers aren’t just an endless string of zeroes. They’re impacting everyday life.

Premiums, deductibles, copays and prescription drug costs are forcing people with private insurance, Medicare and exchange coverage to delay care, take on debt or choose worse coverage. Two major drivers stand out: hospital spending and drug costs. Hospital care remains the largest share of national healthcare expenses, while drug spending is rising fastest, driven in part by the growing use of GLP-1 medications. Pearl sees enormous potential in these drugs to improve health and reduce complications over time, but only if prices fall low enough for the long-term savings to justify the near-term expense.

That tension becomes clearer in the discussion of Medicare’s new GLP-1 pilot program for weight loss. Under the “bridge program,” eligible Medicare enrollees will be able to obtain GLP-1 medications for $50 a month, far below current retail prices. Pearl calls the program an important experiment, but also notes its limitations: coverage is not automatic, eligibility is restricted, administrative hurdles remain and the pilot may end after 18 months. If patients lose access and regain weight, the program could fail despite the promise of the medication.

The episode then moves into several unusual and important stories, including new research into the origins of life, the medical risks of cannibalism, the promise and limitations of wearable health data, a large cyclosporiasis outbreak, rising e-bike injuries among children and adolescents, a new cholesterol-lowering pill, CDC leadership and measles.

Here are the major storylines from episode 109:

Researchers studying the origin of life made progress by taking a counterintuitive approach: building a synthetic cell from simple inorganic materials rather than stripping existing life forms down to their minimum parts.
“Spud cell” research could eventually help scientists understand which genes are essential and create engineered cells capable of producing new medical treatments.
A new study suggests cannibalism may have disappeared in part because of medical consequences, including infections and prion diseases that harmed tribes practicing it.
Wearable devices are generating valuable health data, but most doctors lack the time, reimbursement and regulatory pathways needed to integrate that information into clinical care.
A large cyclosporiasis outbreak has raised concerns about foodborne illness surveillance, produce safety and the difficulty of identifying contamination sources when symptoms appear one to two weeks after exposure.
E-bike injuries are rising, especially among children and adolescents, with head, face and neck injuries posing particular concern.
The FDA has approved a new pill that can lower LDL cholesterol to very low levels, though Pearl emphasizes that most average-risk patients should still rely on low-cost generic statins.
The nomination hearing for Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director highlighted the continuing tension between science and politics, especially around vaccines, RFK Jr. and public trust in federal health agencies.
Measles cases continue to rise, with nearly all occurring among unvaccinated people and with serious risks for those whose immunity has waned.
Generative AI may reduce costs and accelerate parts of drug development, but no AI-generated medication has yet obtained FDA approval.

The episode closes with a broader reflection on Season 11 of Fixing Healthcare. Pearl notes that the concerns raised by guests with large public followings are often different from the priorities emphasized by clinicians and national medical societies. Most Americans are not asking for unreasonable things. They want healthcare that is easier to access, affordable for their families and personalized to their circumstances. That gap, Pearl argues, may change how patients use technology. Large language models such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are available 24/7, provide information at no additional cost and become more personalized as patients share more details. While many doctors worry that hospitals or insurers will replace them with AI, Pearl sees a different threat emerging: patients at home, frustrated by delays, high costs and feeling unheard, turning to generative AI because the healthcare system has not met their needs.

Tune in to hear the full discussion and subscribe to Medicine: The Truth for more fact-based analysis of the medical, scientific and policy stories shaping American healthcare.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #109: Healthcare affordability, GLP-1s and the patient revolt ahead appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare, Drs. Robert Pearl and Jonathan Fisher explore what medicine can learn from positive psychology, elite sports teams and the daily pressures facing clinicians, leaders and patients.

The conversation begins with Fisher’s recent trip to Ireland, where he spoke at a conference on positive psychology, organizational well-being and leadership. Fisher explains that positive psychology is not simply about optimism or self-help. At its best, the field asks a more useful question: What can we learn from people, teams and organizations that are already flourishing?

That shift applies greatly in healthcare. Fisher argues that physician burnout cannot be solved by treating it only as an individual failure or by focusing only on what’s broken.

Pearl connects that idea to leadership. In business and medicine, he says, leaders often try to motivate people through fear, urgency and the “burning platform.” But both he and Fisher question whether threat-based leadership can produce the creativity, teamwork and judgment healthcare needs. Fisher points to research showing that when people feel threatened, their attention narrows. When they feel supported, curious and connected to a larger purpose, they can see more possibilities and make better decisions.

The conversation then turns to the World Cup. Pearl uses the tournament as a metaphor for medical practice, asking whether some doctors, like great athletes, are simply better performers than others. Fisher says yes, although the answer depends on what is being measured. Technical excellence matters, but so do teamwork, emotional regulation, communication and the experience of patients and colleagues.

That leads to one of the episode’s most important questions: What should healthcare do with brilliant clinicians who deliver exceptional technical results but damage the teams around them? Fisher argues that leaders must widen the definition of performance. Safety and volume matter, but so do turnover, culture, communication and the psychological impact one physician has on the rest of the team. A doctor can care deeply about patients and still harm the people required to care for them.

The final portion of the conversation returns to medical training. Fisher describes his work with new residents, where he teaches self-awareness, self-regulation, compassion and the ability to reset between difficult patient encounters. Pearl pushes the idea further, arguing that future physicians will also need strategic training: how to lead through others, apply technology, redesign care delivery and help medicine shift from disease reversal to health creation.

Cohost Jeremy Corr closes with a patient-centered question that extends the conversation beyond medicine: What should people do when work consumes their lives and leaves no space for health, relationships or meaning? Fisher cautions against simple hacks, arguing that people often need courage, help and boundaries to step off the hamster wheel. Pearl adds that for many Americans, the pace and expectations of modern life have become unsustainable. Strategy, he says, is not only about what people choose to do. It is also about what they are willing not to do.

For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources:

‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s newest book)
‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl’s newest book)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #222: From burnout to leadership: how physicians can flourish appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Dr. Jerry Penso leads one of the most influential organizations in American healthcare. As president and CEO of AMGA, the American Medical Group Association, Penso represents 440 medical groups and health systems that care for nearly 100 million Americans.

That vantage point makes him an ideal guest for Season 11 of Fixing Healthcare with cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr.

This season’s guests are being asked what they are hearing from patients, clinicians and healthcare leaders right now. For Penso, three concerns rise above the rest:

A payment system that is fundamentally broken.
Worsening access to care.
A workforce under severe strain.

Penso begins with payment, especially Medicare and Medicaid. He explains that Medicare’s physician fee schedule has failed to keep up with inflation, leaving medical groups paid less in real terms while the cost of running a practice continues to rise. Medicaid cuts, he warns, will add further financial strain, especially for hospitals and medical groups that cannot choose which patients come through the emergency department or clinic doors.

The second major concern is access. Penso describes emergency rooms backed up across the country, patients waiting weeks to see specialists and primary care practices unable to accept new patients. He shares the story of his own mother, who spent five days in an emergency department before a hospital bed became available. For Penso, this is a symptom of a system in which demand is rising, the population is aging, chronic disease is growing and clinicians cannot simply “turn the hamster wheel” any faster.

That leads to the third issue: workforce. Physicians, nurses, advanced practice clinicians, pharmacists and staff are being asked to operate inside a system not designed for today’s volume, complexity or patient needs. Penso notes that most physicians are now employed by hospitals, health systems, insurers or private equity-backed organizations, a shift that has changed the psychology and day-to-day experience of medical practice. Loss of autonomy, bureaucracy and poor integration across systems all contribute to frustration and burnout.

There’s much more in this conversation, including the role of employer-sponsored health benefits, the limits of government reform, the promise and risk of generative AI, the future of physician autonomy and how AMGA is helping medical groups learn from one another.

Tune in to hear one of healthcare’s most experienced physician-executives explain what medical groups are seeing now, what must change next and why he remains optimistic that American healthcare can still move toward better payment, easier access and a more sustainable workforce.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #221: What 440 medical groups are saying about healthcare today appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this Diving Deep episode, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr explore what a breakthrough in mathematics can teach healthcare about generative AI, outdated assumptions and the future of medical practice.

The conversation begins with Paul Erdős, the brilliant Hungarian mathematician whose unit-distance problem stumped experts for 80 years. Generations of mathematicians tried to prove Erdős’ conjecture using the tools and assumptions of geometry. Then OpenAI announced that one of its models had found a different path, one that challenged the assumptions of humans.

For Pearl, the lesson for medicine is not about math. It is about the danger of staying trapped inside old models of thought. American healthcare faces persistent crises in quality, access and affordability, yet the proposed fixes focus on small adjustments to a system that has failed for decades. Pearl argues that generative AI will not reach its full potential if clinicians continue to use it merely for administrative tasks, documentation support or occasional diagnostic assistance.

Instead, he says, medicine must be willing to abandon three longstanding fallacies.

The second half of the episode shifts the discussion from assumptions to urgency. Pearl compares generative AI in medicine to the sudden invention of cars in a world where people could only travel by foot, bicycle or horseback. If faster transportation could save far more lives than it cost, society would not wait until cars were risk-free before building roads and teaching people to drive. He argues medicine should think similarly about GenAI: not as a finished product, but as a rapidly improving tool that could save lives if implemented wisely and quickly.

In the episode, Pearl highlights three areas where GenAI could have immediate impact. In each case, he returns to the same point: the greatest risk is not only that AI might make mistakes, but that medicine will ignore the harms already caused by today’s failures.

For more, tune into this month’s episode and check out the links below.

Helpful links:

What GenAI’s Math Breakthrough Means For Medicine (Forbes)
GenAI Is Ready To Change Medicine. America Isn’t Prepared (Forbes)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #220: How AI is challenging old assumptions in medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this week’s episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl probe the facts beneath healthcare’s biggest headlines. Today’s show opens with a scientific breakthrough that could change the future of inherited disease: a new gene-editing technique that may allow researchers to correct DNA errors in human embryos with far greater precision than earlier CRISPR approaches.

Dr. Pearl explains that the advance, developed by researchers at Columbia University, uses a method called base editing. Unlike traditional CRISPR, which cuts out and replaces sections of DNA, base editing can alter individual nucleotides (the “letters” that make up genetic code). The difference, Pearl says, is comparable to moving from rewriting entire pages of text to correcting a single wrong letter inside a single word.

The promise is extraordinary. For families affected by one of the thousands of rare genetic diseases caused by single DNA errors, this technology could one day make it possible to prevent devastating inherited conditions before birth. Children who otherwise might face blindness, severe disability or premature death could instead be born free of the genetic defect.

But the ethical concerns are equally profound. The same technology that could prevent horrific disease could also be used to modify embryos for non-medical traits. Pearl warns that this possibility raises fears about “designer babies,” eugenics, private-sector incentives and the lack of federally funded oversight for embryo research in the United States.

Here are the other major storylines from episode 108:

A large study of 9 million patients found that four risk factors (high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and smoking) are associated with nearly all heart attacks and strokes.
The FDA approved a new sunscreen ingredient already used in Europe for decades, highlighting both the promise of better melanoma prevention and the slow pace of U.S. sunscreen regulation.
Employers are preparing for further increases in healthcare premiums, deductibles and copayments, with many companies limiting or eliminating GLP-1 coverage for obesity.
Preliminary data show U.S. infant mortality has reached an all-time low, but progress remains slow.
Medicaid work requirements could cause millions of eligible people to lose coverage because of paperwork errors, shifting costs to emergency rooms, hospitals and state budgets.
New rules under the No Surprises Act aim to speed dispute resolution between insurers and providers, but Pearl warns that payment disputes will continue as long as healthcare costs rise faster than people’s ability to pay.
Pearl outlines three requirements for real healthcare transformation: keeping people healthy by controlling chronic disease, moving more care into the home with generative AI support and shifting payment from fee-for-service to capitation.
The episode closes with two examples of AI already helping clinicians see what they might otherwise miss.

Tune in to hear the full discussion and subscribe to Medicine: The Truth for more fact-based analysis of the medical, scientific and policy stories shaping American healthcare.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #108: Designer babies, chronic disease & AI-powered care appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare, Drs. Robert Pearl and Jonathan Fisher join cohost Jeremy Corr for a fascinating conversation about the physician’s mind, the promise and limits of generative AI, and what medicine risks losing when technology advances faster than humans can tolerate.

In this episode, Pearl turns to a realization he had during a recent hiking trip in Portugal: his brain felt different while walking through the woods than it does while solving analytical problems.

That observation leads to a deeper discussion of “left brain” and “right brain” thinking in medicine. Fisher explains that while the popular labels are oversimplified, the underlying challenge is real. Doctors must integrate structured reasoning with emotional awareness, diagnosis with relationship, and technical expertise with the human experience of illness.

The discussion then moves into one of the episode’s most provocative questions: Can generative AI be taught to express empathy and relational intelligence as well as humans? Pearl points to studies showing that AI-generated responses to patient questions can be rated as highly empathetic, comprehensive and accurate. Fisher pushes back, arguing that there is a difference between perceived empathy in written answers and the embodied presence of a physician sitting with a fearful patient and family in a vulnerable moment.

What follows is a thoughtful disagreement about the future of medicine. Pearl sees generative AI as a way to fill dangerous gaps in American healthcare, including lack of access after hours, rural shortages, diagnostic errors, preventable medical mistakes and poorly controlled chronic disease. Fisher worries that if AI begins taking over both analytical and relational parts of care, physicians may feel even more threatened in a profession already marked by burnout and uncertainty.

This leads to the debate’s central question: Will generative AI become the enslaver of clinicians or the liberator? Pearl argues that AI could help physicians escape the growing corporatization of medicine by taking on routine work, expanding access and enabling doctors to practice with more autonomy. Fisher agrees that this future is possible but cautions that in a fee-for-service system, efficiency gains may simply become an excuse to increase volume, billing and pressure on clinicians.

Finally, Jeremy brings the conversation back to everyday life by asking whether heavy reliance on technology and AI could weaken the mind the same way physical inactivity weakens the body. Fisher warns that when people offload too much thinking, emotion and relationship-building to devices, they risk losing cognitive sharpness and emotional attunement. Pearl agrees that every technology carries benefits and harms, arguing that the goal should be balance: using AI to learn, understand and solve problems without letting it flatten life’s richer, more meaningful experiences.

For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources:

‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s newest book)
‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl’s newest book)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #219: Can AI help doctors think without losing medicine’s humanity? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Dr. Anthony “Mazz” Mazzarelli brings a rare combination of perspectives to American healthcare: physician, executive, lawyer, bioethicist, author and media voice.

As co-president and CEO of Cooper University Health Care and associate dean of clinical affairs at Cooper Medical School, Mazzarelli leads a major safety-net health system while continuing to see patients himself. He is also co-author of Compassionomics, a book that makes the evidence-based case that compassion in medicine improves outcomes, lowers costs and reduces clinician burnout.

That combination makes him an ideal guest for Fixing Healthcare with cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr.

This season’s guests are being asked what they are hearing from patients, clinicians and the public right now.

For Mazzarelli, three themes rise to the top:1. Growing concern over Medicaid cuts and rising uninsurance 2. Excitement about generative AI and other new technologies 3. Awe at the speed of change healthcare leaders will need to manage

Key episode highlights include: Medicaid cuts will hit safety-net patients hardest. At Cooper, roughly one-third of patients are covered by Medicaid or are self-pay. Mazzarelli explains that many of these patients live paycheck to paycheck or depend on coverage to manage chronic disease. When they lose access, prevention disappears and patients often delay care until they show up sicker in emergency departments and hospitals. * Generative AI is a promising tool for rethinking how care is delivered. Ambient listening and automated notes are helpful, he says, but the larger opportunity lies in decision support, preventive outreach, chronic disease management, medication adherence and giving clinicians more time to connect with patients. * Fraud prevention should not become a barrier to legitimate care. Mazzarelli supports catching fraud and abuse in Medicaid and Medicare, but argues that AI should be used to identify bad actors more precisely so the system can reduce unnecessary checkboxes. * Employer-based healthcare has hidden the true cost crisis. Employers and government programs have absorbed much of the rising cost of care, preventing individuals from feeling the full impact. That delay has reduced pressure for major reform, even as the system becomes increasingly unaffordable. * Payment reform remains the real lever for change. While Mazzarelli supports incremental improvements, he says the biggest changes will require addressing the way care is paid for, including the misaligned incentives that shape nearly every part of American healthcare. * AI can help clinicians reconnect with patients. Compassion is not a soft concept. Stronger patient connection has been linked to better outcomes, lower costs, fewer unnecessary tests and less burnout among clinicians. * Technology should redesign care, not automate bad workflows. Mazzarelli cautions that healthcare does not simply need better AI models. It needs leaders willing to redesign workflows in an “AI-native” way rather than layering technology on top of broken processes. * Convenience must be balanced with human connection. Jeremy raises concerns about the broader health consequences of modern convenience, including loneliness and isolation. Mazzarelli agrees, noting that loneliness is a major public health risk and that healthcare organizations have a responsibility to address it. * Burnout requires more than wellness programs.* Mazzarelli argues that yoga, walks and wellness initiatives are not enough if clinicians feel disconnected from the work itself. The real antidote, he says, is restoring meaning at the point of care by helping clinicians connect with patients and see the difference they make.

There’s much more in this conversation, including Cooper’s co-president model, the impact of private equity on physician practice, the future of 24/7 access and how policymakers should think about AI safety without slowing progress.

Tune in to hear what one of healthcare’s most thoughtful physician-executives believes patients, clinicians and leaders should expect from the next era of medicine.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #218: Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli on healthcare’s next burning platform appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this Diving Deep episode, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr examine the rapid advance of generative AI, along with the growing conflict between medicine’s mission to heal and doctors’ need for financial security.

The conversation begins with a question now echoing across every profession: Will AI replace highly trained workers? In medicine, Dr. Pearl argues, the answer is less about replacement than redefinition. Drawing on recent changes in software development, he explains how “vibe coding” has allowed programmers to stop writing much of the code themselves and instead use generative AI to build, test and refine applications from plain-language instructions. Rather than feeling diminished, many coders report greater satisfaction because AI has taken over the repetitive, error-prone work and left them more time for problem-solving.

Pearl sees a similar possibility in healthcare. Like coding, medicine relies on years of training, structured reasoning and repeatable processes. Chronic disease management offers the clearest example. Hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol are leading causes of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure, yet proven treatments often fail because doctors lack the time to monitor patients continuously and adjust medications quickly. With home devices, physician-set targets and generative AI support, care could shift from occasional office visits to ongoing management, helping more patients achieve control while freeing physicians to focus on complex cases.

The second half of the episode turns from technology to mission. Using Tim Cook’s legacy at Apple as a case study, Pearl examines what happens when values and financial incentives collide. Cook’s tenure produced extraordinary business results, but critics have questioned whether some of his choices conflicted with his own values and Apple’s public statements around privacy, dignity and human-centered technology.

Pearl uses that as background for a similar question about medicine: What happens when doctors, who train to help and heal others above all else, feel increasingly forced to make career decisions shaped by money?

For generations, medicine was understood as a calling. Today, most physicians no longer own their practices. Many now work for hospitals, health systems, insurers or private equity-backed groups, while others have moved into concierge or direct primary care models. Pearl stresses that these choices are rational.

But the financial upside comes with psychological and moral consequences that are rarely discussed — and that may shape the future of physician fulfillment.

For more, tune into this month’s episode and check out the links below.

Helpful links

The AI Revolution In Coding Offers A Preview Of Medicine’s Future (Forbes)
What Tim Cook’s Legacy Teaches Doctors About Money And Mission (Forbes)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #217: GenAI, physician fulfillment & the future of medical practice appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this week’s episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl probe the facts beneath healthcare’s biggest headlines. Today’s show examines the accelerating progress of generative AI, the political turmoil inside America’s leading health agencies and the infectious disease threats testing the nation’s public health readiness.

The conversation opens with a listener question about how close generative AI is to matching clinicians. Dr. Pearl explains that the technology is advancing faster than he predicted in ChatGPT, MD, with recent research showing an OpenAI model outperforming experienced physicians on emergency room triage and management in text-based clinical cases. He cautions that medicine is more complicated than written scenarios but argues that the trajectory is clear: before today’s incoming medical students finish training, generative AI tools are likely to be used in emergency rooms across the country

From there, the episode turns to the resignation of former FDA commissioner and Dr. Marty Makary, a two-time Fixing Healthcare guest. Pearl describes Makary as a respected clinician and patient-safety expert who found himself caught between scientific rigor, political pressure, industry opposition and public health critics. His departure, along with other leadership upheaval at FDA, CDC, NIH and HHS, raises a larger concern about whether America’s once-trusted scientific agencies can regain their independence and credibility.

Here are the other major storylines from episode 107:

RFK Jr. removes preventive-care leaders. Pearl criticizes the firing of two respected co-chairs of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, warning that prevention policy may be pushed away from scientific evidence.
The surgeon general nomination moving toward confirmation. Nicole Safier appears more confirmable than Dr. Casey Means because her vaccine views are closer to the scientific mainstream.
A hantavirus outbreak raises public health concerns. A cruise ship outbreak involving the Andes virus appears to have spread person-to-person, causing at least 13 cases, several severe illnesses and three deaths.
The U.S. remains vulnerable to fast-moving outbreaks. Pearl says the slow federal response to hantavirus shows how weakened public health capacity could become dangerous if a highly lethal virus were also easily transmissible.
Tick bites are rising sharply. ER visits related to tick bites have climbed well above typical levels, driven in part by warmer temperatures and the spread of deer ticks into the Midwest and South.
Ebola exposes the cost of global health cuts. A new Ebola strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo has no vaccine or effective treatment, and the outbreak was recognized only after spreading for weeks.
USAID and WHO cuts increase risk to Americans. Pearl argues that reducing global public health support does not put “America first” because viruses ignore national borders.
Patients should be more concerned when doctors avoid AI entirely. Pearl says he would worry more about clinicians who refuse to use reliable generative AI tools than those who consult them regularly.
Opioid overdose deaths are falling but remain devastating. New CDC data show overdose deaths down for the third straight year, but annual fatalities still total roughly 70,000, with overdoses remaining the leading cause of death among adults ages 18 to 44.
Vaccine safety data are being suppressed. Pearl closes by describing blocked FDA and CDC research showing COVID and shingles vaccines to be safe and effective, warning that political censorship undermines trust and harms patients.

Tune in for more fact-based analysis and practical perspective on the healthcare policies, technologies and trends shaping medicine today.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #107: How politics is weakening America’s public health defenses appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare, Drs. Robert Pearl and Jonathan Fisher explore three questions that reach across medicine, leadership and life itself: What legacy do physicians leave behind? How does mindset shape health and longevity? And can doctors still find fulfillment as medical practice shifts from independence to employment?

The conversation begins with Tim Cook’s legacy at Apple, using his tenure as CEO to ask a larger question about values, mission and compromise. Pearl and Fisher examine whether legacy is something others assign after a career ends or something professionals create daily through their choices, actions and alignment with their deepest values. For physicians, the question becomes especially personal when financial, organizational or career decisions collide with the promise to put patients first.

Midway through, the discussion turns to longevity and the science of mindset. Drawing on research from Yale and Fisher’s work in Just One Heart, the two physicians explore how beliefs about aging can influence physical function, cognitive health, inflammation and long-term well-being. Fisher explains why optimism is not merely a pleasant attitude but a physiologic force that can shape stress hormones, inflammatory pathways and the daily behaviors that determine health.

Finally, Pearl and Fisher examine one of the biggest structural shifts in modern medicine: the movement from physician-owned practices to employment by hospitals, health systems and insurers. Fisher notes that independent doctors may report lower burnout, but autonomy is no longer guaranteed when administrative burdens, call schedules and financial pressures consume the practice of medicine. Employment offers support and stability, but often at the cost of control.

By the end, the episode connects all three themes: legacy, health and professional fulfillment are rooted in purpose. Whether through family, patient care, mission trips, mentoring or the daily work of medicine, Pearl and Fisher suggest that doctors may live longer, healthier and more meaningful lives when they preserve the mission that brought them to medicine in the first place.

For listeners who connected with Fisher’s reflections on burnout, autonomy and the search for renewed purpose in medicine, his upcoming ASPIRE physician retreat offers a deeper opportunity for reflection and recovery. Co-facilitated with Dr. Robyn Tiger, ASPIRE is a CME-accredited retreat designed exclusively for healthcare professionals, taking place June 12-14 at the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina. Use code ASPIRE15 for 15% off registration.

For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources:

‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s newest book)
‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl’s newest book)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #216: An unfiltered look at what legacy means in medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Fixing Healthcare hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl are revisiting a past episode of Diving Deep while Dr. Pearl travels and keynotes events around the world. And like last week’s replay, this conversation was selected for a reason.Originally recorded more than three years ago, this episode explores two issues that remain central to the future of American medicine: how healthcare leaders respond to technological change and whether the nation can finally move beyond fee-for-service reimbursement.

Looking back now, the discussion feels strikingly current. Many of the opportunities Dr. Pearl identified at the time still exist today. Generative AI has advanced dramatically. Remote monitoring tools are more powerful and accessible than ever. And healthcare leaders continue to acknowledge the need for better chronic disease management, prevention and lower-cost care delivery.

Yet despite these advances, many of the nation’s biggest healthcare problems remain unresolved. U.S. quality outcomes still lag peer nations. Life expectancy remains years shorter than in comparable countries. And healthcare costs continue rising at rates that far exceed inflation, wage growth and GDP.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Pearl argues that these failures are not primarily technological. The tools to improve care already existed — and continue to improve rapidly today. The greater challenge is leadership itself: helping clinicians embrace change, aligning incentives around patient outcomes and building the operational systems required to make better care possible at scale.

The conversation also revisits capitation and value-based care, themes that have resurfaced repeatedly in recent Fixing Healthcare episodes. Dr. Pearl explains why fee-for-service reimbursement continues to reward volume over outcomes and why meaningful progress in affordability will require shifting financial incentives toward prevention, chronic disease control and long-term patient health.

Revisiting this episode now offers a useful perspective on the past several years of healthcare transformation: technology has accelerated, but the deeper structural changes required to improve affordability and outcomes have moved far more slowly.

Helpful links

The Anatomy Of Healthcare Leadership: A Mind For Technology (Forbes)

Healthcare Leadership: Following The Money Can Lead To Positive Change (Forbes)

Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #215: Revisiting healthcare leadership, technology & capitation appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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For this Thanksgiving week, we’re revisiting an important and emotionally charged episode from the first season of “Medicine: The Truth.” = When this episode debuted in 2020, the podcast was called “Coronavirus: The Truth,” which began when readers of Dr. Robert Pearl’s newsletter, “Monthly Musings on American Healthcare,” started asking for much-needed facts and context surrounding the pandemic.

It was a moment hard to fathom now. Covid cases were climbing fast, the nation was exhausted and vaccines weren’t yet available. Fear and frustration were everywhere. Five years later, with vaccines protecting all but the most vulnerable, it’s worth remembering just how uncertain and divisive the world felt heading into those holidays.

A big question people wanted answered was whether they should change their Thanksgiving plans. Dr. Anthony Fauci had urged Americans to avoid big gatherings. The reaction was immediate and intense. Polls showed three in four people were less excited about the holidays than the year before. Families were fighting over safety. Many felt hopeless and isolated. Against that backdrop, listeners asked the question weighing on millions: Should we gather at all?

In this rerun, Dr. Robert Pearl revisits the facts that mattered most at the time: why drug makers were pausing some vaccine and treatment trials, what was happening on college campuses and why premature births had unexpectedly declined during lockdowns. He explains why he expected 500,000 Covid deaths, a number that shocked listeners in 2020 but ultimately proved accurate (by half).

The episode also dives into deeper issues that shaped the national mood. Most of all, it captures the anger and divisiveness that blanketed the country. A tension that continues today.

There is much our nation can learn today from the experiences of five years ago. This Thanksgiving rerun offers a powerful reminder of where we were and how far we’ve come.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn

The post FHC #196: Revisiting Thanksgiving 2020 at Covid’s peak appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This special episode of Unfiltered departs from its usual cadence and lineup as cardiologist Jonathan Fisher is joined this week by his wife, oncologist Dr. Julie Fisher.

Together with hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl, the group embarks on a candid, unscripted conversation that begins with a literal and metaphorical climb. Julie and Jonathan recount their joint ascent of Mount Everest (Julie’s idea, not Jonathan’s) and then quickly moves into deeper terrain: the persistence of sexism in medicine.

In this important conversation, Julie opens up about her experiences as a woman in a field where hierarchy and status remain firmly entrenched. She offers a nuanced yet unflinching account of the barriers she’s faced, from inappropriate comments and dismissiveness to more insidious forms of bias in academic and clinical settings. She describes the pressure to be more nurturing, friendly, likeable and even more accessible to patients than male colleagues. And yet, when it came time to seek a promotion, Julie was told these skills – which were both encouraged and expected – weren’t valued as much as significantly as other skills (namely, getting published in academic medical journals).

To this day, these unequal pressures undermine a woman’s ability to lead with authority, to express frustration or to achieve equal footing in the medical profession.

Though born from a partnership between husband and wife, this Unfiltered episode invites a broader reckoning in medicine. It is a chance to look closely and honestly at questions of power, perception and equality in American healthcare.

For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources:

Breast cancer diagnoses rising fastest among young women (Charlotte Talks interview with Julie Fisher)
‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s newest book)
‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl’s newest book)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #195: Dr. Julie Fisher on medicine, marriage & misogyny appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Before TikTok myth-busting and Instagram reels took over the health education space, Dr. Jen Gunter dominated Twitter (now “X”) as medicine’s fiercest advocate for women’s health.

Dr. Gunter built a massive following by calling out dangerous pseudoscience, exposing sexism in medicine and championing evidence‑based care. In this flashback episode of Fixing Healthcare, we revisit a standout conversation from Season 5 (air date: March 15, 2021). This one feels especially relevant during the show’s current Season 11, which highlights medical influencers who hear directly from millions of patients and can reflect those concerns and conversations back to us.

With more Americans relying on influencers for answers about their bodies, brains and overall health, this rerun brings back the voice of an original myth‑buster: a physician who helped build the very space that others now occupy.

Dr. Gunter, a board‑certified OB‑GYN and bestselling author of The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto, continues to use her platforms to challenge misleading products, expose medical gaslighting and normalize conversations surrounding women’s bodies. Her newest book, Blood: The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation, takes aim at decades of cultural myth and medical misinformation about periods with the aim of replacing shame with science.

In this episode, she speaks with Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr about:

the harm caused by pseudoscience and wellness influencers.
the ways sexism shapes the medical system and patient care.
why clinicians must fight misinformation as fiercely as disease itself.

This timely flashback pairs perfectly with recent Season 11 conversations featuring Dr. Danielle Jones and Dr. Joel Bervell, two leaders in the next generation of medical myth‑busting. Listen to this episode and ask yourself: What has changed in the 4.5 years since Gunter’s original interview? What hasn’t?

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on X and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #194: A flashback to Dr. Jen Gunter’s fearless fight for truth in women’s health appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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When this podcast launched in March 2020 as Coronavirus: The Truth, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr set out to give listeners clear science and accurate analysis during a moment of chaos. Now, 100 episodes later, as Medicine: The Truth, the duo sit down and revisit the most important medical stories of the past five years, explaining what the nation learned, what it didn’t and what urgent questions remain.

The episode opens where the show began: the early days of COVID-19, when exponential spread of the virus threatened to overwhelm U.S. hospitals. Pearl walks through the original goals of public-health measures like masking and social distancing. He reflects on what the country got right, what it got wrong, and why communication failures around testing and vaccines deepened distrust that still affects medicine today.

But as the crisis evolved, so did the podcast. What began as a weekly pandemic explainer shifted into a broader analysis of why the United States spends more on healthcare than any other wealthy nation, yet it delivers worse outcomes.

In this episode, the conversation moves from reflections on the pandemic to a look at some of the show’s longest-running themes: clinician burnout, workforce shortages and a healthcare system struggling to meet rising demand.

Alongside the difficult news that lingers in American healthcare, episode 100 also highlights genuine progress: breakthroughs against Alzheimer’s and colon cancer, advances in prevention and diagnosis, and a growing role for generative AI.

Pearl explains how GenAI could save hundreds of thousands of lives, reduce medical errors, increase healthcare affordability and alleviate clinician burnout. But, none of this will happen unless the financial incentives shift away from fee-for-service and toward value.

Pearl closes with a simple message: crises will return, and science can save lives. However, success will require Americans to follow the research rather than be distracted by politics. To prepare for the next pandemic, he argues that the nation must better control chronic disease, rely on scientifically validated clinical evidence, and reward superior clinical outcomes, rather than simply the volume of care provided.

The first 100 episodes of what is now Medicine: The Truth serve as clear and powerful reminders of the dedication and courage of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. But they also warn of how easy it can be for the American healthcare system to lose its way.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn

The post MTT #100: From COVID-19 to ChatGPT, a close look at the last 5 years appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this Diving Deep episode of Fixing Healthcare, cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr examine two pressing topics: the hidden causes of patient mistrust in doctors and the top reasons healthcare startups fall short.

The episode begins with a striking question: Why don’t Americans trust their doctors anymore?

For most of the past century, physicians were among the most trusted professionals in America. But recent Gallup data reveals that just 44% of Americans now rate their care as “good” or “excellent,” and trust in physicians’ honesty and ethics has fallen to its lowest level in over 20 years.

While COVID-19 and political division may seem like obvious culprits, Pearl traces the real cause to an inflection point back more than two decades ago. That’s when medicine’s greatest challenge shifted from treating short-term illnesses to managing chronic diseases, conditions that require time, coordination and repeated follow-up.

Instead of adapting, the system stagnated. Doctors remained siloed in fee-for-service models that reward volume over outcomes. Insurers rationed access. Appointments became harder to get. Visits were rushed. Misdiagnoses rose. And patients began to feel abandoned.

In the second half of the episode, the hosts turn to the topic of healthcare innovation and why so many startups fail to live up to their promise. Despite record funding, the graveyard of failed startups keeps growing.

Pearl outlines the five most common pitfalls but also offers hope. Startups that understand patient needs, partner with clinicians and understand the system’s reimbursement models can still succeed.

HELPFUL LINKS

The Hidden Reason For Americans’ Declining Trust In Their Doctors (Forbes)
How To Avoid 5 Common Mistakes Healthcare Startups Make (Forbes)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #193: What’s fueling medical mistrust & why startups fail appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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With Dr. Jonathan Fisher’s upcoming Ending Clinician Burnout Global Summit (Nov. 6–7) just around the corner, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr revisit one of the trio’s most powerful Unfiltered conversations ever.

When this episode first aired a year ago, burnout among doctors was at crisis levels, fueled by long hours, bureaucratic burdens and a culture that rewarded perfectionism over self‑care.

Dr. Fisher, a cardiologist, mindfulness expert and organizational well‑being leader, brought both science and empathy to the discussion. The group explored how systemic challenges — such as burnout, the loss of physician autonomy and the growing influence of private equity — are reshaping the trajectory of medical careers.

Listeners concerned about clinician wellness will gain fresh perspective ahead of this year’s summit, where Dr. Pearl’s bestselling book ChatGPT, MD will be featured as a guide to how AI‑empowered physicians can reclaim time, reduce burnout and refocus their energy on what matters most: caring for patients.

Topics from this episode included:* The burnout epidemic. Dr. Fisher reflects on how increasing administrative burdens, declining autonomy and career dissatisfaction have led many physicians to leave the field or seek non-clinical roles. * Restoring meaning and fulfillment. Drs. Pearl and Fisher discuss the importance of restoring meaning to physicians’ work by offering leadership opportunities and emphasizing the creative, humanistic aspects of medicine. * The role of leadership in medicine. Drawing from his experience as CEO at Kaiser Permanente for 18 years, Dr. Pearl highlights how leadership training can empower doctors to take control of their practice. * Balancing career and personal life. Both Fisher and Pearl emphasize the difficulty of balancing the demands of a medical career with personal fulfillment.

For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources:

‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s newest book)
‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl’s newest book)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #192: Flashback to ‘burnout and the physician career arc’ appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Season 11 of Fixing Healthcare continues its exploration of medicine’s rising influencers with a conversation that reveals how patients can advocate for themselves, how doctors can confront bias they don’t even realize they have, and how storytelling on TikTok is changing medical education.

Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr welcome Joel Bervell, a Ghanaian-American physician, resident in training, Peabody award winner and social media star. Known to millions on TikTok and Instagram as the “Medical Mythbuster,” Bervell shares how he uses short-form video content to expose racial and cultural bias in medicine, challenge misinformation and make complex science more engaging for the next generation of healthcare professionals and patients alike.

Bervell kicks off the conversation by identifying three of the most common and compelling questions he hears from his followers:

What should I ask my doctor to make sure I feel heard?
Bervell explains that many patients, especially those from marginalized communities, worry about being dismissed or misunderstood during doctor visits. What physicians may view as “basic” questions often reflect deeper fears about not being taken seriously. He reminds listeners that the “curse of knowledge” in medicine can cause clinicians to forget what it feels like to lack expertise and power in the exam room.
How can I best advocate for a loved one receiving care?
From hospitalizations to end-of-life decisions, Bervell says he frequently receives messages from people unsure how to support a friend or family member facing a serious health challenge. These questions reveal the deep emotional labor patients and families take on, as well as the need for better health literacy tools and guidance from clinicians.
How do race and background affect the care I receive?
Every day, Bervell is inundated with personal stories from people of color who feel ignored, disbelieved or mistreated in medical settings. His content sheds light on how bias, systemic inequality and flawed clinical guidelines contribute to these experiences. He also highlights the lack of formal education around these topics in many medical schools (a gap he’s working to fill with his mythbusting videos).

Throughout the episode, Bervell and the hosts explore the tension between clinical intent and patient perception, the power of storytelling in medical education, and the critical role of representation both in medical school and in the media.

Dr. Pearl closes the conversation by telling Bervell, “We’ve had clinical experts, leaders of national societies and presidential candidates on our Fixing Health Care podcast, and I can tell you I’ve learned more from you today than from any guest that I can think of in the past … I’m sure our listeners have enjoyed the show, and they too are much smarter when it comes to healthcare now than they were before you began.”

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #191: Dr. Joel Bervell on medical bias & the power of storytelling appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This Halloween-themed episode of Medicine: The Truth finds hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr confronting the real horrors haunting American medicine today.

When Corr asks what scares him most, Dr. Pearl doesn’t hesitate: it’s the chaos, confusion and politicization that have replaced science and reason. From vaccine policy to drug and insurance pricing to Medicaid cuts, Pearl explains how bad decisions by government and industry leaders are endangering lives.

The conversation begins with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s newly appointed vaccine advisory committee, whose erratic decisions could jeopardize national immunization efforts and patient trust. It moves quickly to Donald Trump’s claim that Tylenol use during pregnancy causes autism. Pearl explains why the claim is biologically implausible, breaks down the real risks of acetaminophen overdose, and warns of the harm caused when political figures replace data with personal belief.

The hosts then turn to Mississippi’s infant mortality crisis, where a lack of OB-GYNs and the state’s refusal to expand Medicaid have pushed death rates to record highs. It’s a chilling illustration, Pearl says, of what happens when ideology trumps compassion.

From there, the episode moves through a series of pressing stories:

Affordable Care Act turmoil: Subsidies that keep exchange plans affordable are set to expire, threatening coverage for millions and sending premiums soaring by up to 15%.
Private equity in emergency rooms: A new study shows higher mortality rates in PE-owned hospitals, where cost-cutting has replaced patient safety.
A new oral GLP-1 pill: Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss drug could improve convenience but only if pricing reflects fairness, not greed.
Cardiovascular disease data: Despite progress, heart disease remains America’s top killer, with worsening risk factors across income groups.
Generic approval for mifepristone: The FDA’s move to expand access to abortion medication marks a rare policy victory for evidence-based care.
Music as medicine: Brazilian researchers find that music before heart imaging reduces anxiety and lowers blood pressure (an example of low-cost care with real impact).
HPV-linked cancer breakthrough: New AI-driven blood tests may detect head and neck cancers years before symptoms arise.
Obesity and cancer: Death rates tied to obesity have quadrupled in two decades, rising fastest among women and rural Americans.

As the episode continues, Dr. Pearl highlights grim data on America’s declining health outcomes compared to other wealthy nations, the spread of Chagas disease across U.S. states, and the crushing cost of employer-based insurance. Together, these stories reveal a nation spending more, living shorter and losing faith in its medical institutions. A scary story, indeed.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn

The post MTT #99: The frightening state of U.S. medicine as politics replace science appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Season 11 of Fixing Healthcare continues its exploration of medicine’s new voices and rising influencers with an eye-opening conversation about sexuality, vaccinees and misinformation. Today’s guest, originally from rural Texas, joins the show from the other side of the world.

Cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr welcome Dr. Danielle Jones, better known to millions as Mama Doctor Jones. An OB-GYN by training, Jones has built a worldwide following on TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, and now brings her perspective from New Zealand, where she lives and practices today.

This season isn’t just about guests with massive online audiences. It’s about what happens when those influencers listen. By engaging directly with millions of patients, they hear first-hand what people are curious about, confused by or struggling with—and then translate those voices back into the larger medical conversation.

This season highlights guests with massive online audiences. But their value isn’t just in reach, it’s in their ability to listen closely to what millions of patients are saying, then translate those insights back into the wider medical conversation.

From the start, Jones makes clear why she’s become a trusted voice for so many.

Her mission isn’t just to provide facts, but to help people distinguish what is real from what is not, a skill that’s more urgent than ever in an era of viral misinformation. Drawing on her roots in rural Texas, Jones describes how she had to unlearn many of the taboos she grew up with before becoming comfortable talking openly about abortion, contraception and sexual health.

Key topics in this conversation:

The power of online health education. Jones explains how she flips the tactics of disinformation campaigns to spread accurate medical knowledge, making it “work for the good guys.”
Persistent myths about contraception. She addresses head-on the false claim that birth control causes infertility, emphasizing that age (not contraception) drives fertility challenges.
HPV vaccines and cultural pushback. Dr. Jones discuss how misogyny and paternalism fuel opposition to one of the safest, most effective vaccines ever developed.
Supporting teens navigating sexuality. Jones describes how she avoids judgmental “ready/not ready” labels, instead encouraging self-reflection, autonomy and safety.
Menopause and hormones. She calls out predatory marketing and misinformation around hormone therapies, urging clearer communication about the real risks and benefits.
A global lens. Living in New Zealand has given Jones new perspective on how cultural context shapes both medical care and public health trust.

Tune in for the full interview and join the conversation on social media.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #190: TikTok’s favorite OB-GYN reveals what millions of women really ask their doctors appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this Diving Deep episode of Fixing Healthcare, cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr explore two urgent shifts reshaping the patient-doctor relationship in American medicine.

First, they tackle a generational divide that’s growing wider by the year. Gen Z and Millennial patients (now 40% of healthcare consumers), are increasingly turning away from traditional medical providers. Distrust in institutions, a preference for shared decision-making and frustration with outdated communication methods are driving these younger patients to seek answers elsewhere.

Pearl outlines what physicians must do to bridge the gap. Listen more, collaborate often and meet younger patients where they are: digitally, flexibly and with empathy. If doctors don’t evolve, patients will look elsewhere.

And increasingly, “elsewhere” means artificial intelligence. That leads to the second half of the episode, where Pearl maps out a new reality: for the first time in history, patients can climb the ladder of medical expertise with help from GenAI. Large language models like ChatGPT and Claude are enabling patients to move beyond awareness and application into true analysis, synthesis and even innovation.

Pearl explores what this means for clinical care. Will patients one day use GenAI to monitor chronic conditions like diabetes or asthma on their own? Could AI triage symptoms, suggest follow-ups or even nudge lifestyle changes more effectively than a rushed primary care visit?

These questions are no longer theoretical. As Pearl warns, clinicians must either guide the change or risk being sidelined by it.

HELPFUL LINKS

3 Ways Doctors Can Win Back Gen Z, Millennial Patients (Forbes)
Will GPT-5, Claude, Gemini Break Doctors’ Monopoly On Medical Expertise? (Forbes)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #188: Why younger patients turn away from doctors & toward GenAI appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this episode of Medicine: The Truth, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr dig into growing public distrust in the two government agencies charged with protecting Americans’ health: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Recent shakeups, including the resignation of top leaders and staff reductions, highlight just how politicized these organizations have become. Pearl doesn’t mince words. He calls the situation “chaotic and unscientific,” warning that the politicization of vaccine policy under the Kennedy administration could undermine decades of scientific progress and further erode public trust in medical guidance.

He walks listeners through what changed, why it matters and what might happen next—including how states and medical societies are beginning to defy federal policy by issuing their own vaccine recommendations.

Other key topics discussed:

New vaccine restrictions under RFK Jr.: COVID vaccines now limited to high-risk individuals under 65, with added barriers for children under 18.
Loss of expert oversight: RFK Jr. fired all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, replacing them with politically aligned individuals, some lacking immunization expertise.
Fragmented guidance: For the first time in 30 years, national medical societies have issued their own vaccine guidelines that contradict CDC policy.
mRNA research halted: A $500M grant program supporting mRNA vaccine innovation has been canceled, threatening progress in cancer, autoimmune disease and rare conditions.
A clear explainer on mRNA tech: Pearl delivers a step-by-step explanation of how mRNA vaccines are developed and why they’re safer, faster and potentially life-saving in pandemics and cancer prevention.
RFK Jr.’s false claims: Pearl debunks Kennedy’s assertion that mRNA vaccines are the “deadliest ever made,” calling it one of the most unscientific claims in recent memory.
Draft autism report warning: Pearl criticizes an upcoming government report on autism that he expects will repackage discredited vaccine-autism links.
Food industry appeasement: The “Make America Healthy Again” agenda is criticized for lacking concrete actions on nutrition policy, instead promising more studies of already well-documented problems.
Medicare funding risks: If federal deficits continue, automatic cuts could slash Medicare by $500B between 2027–2034, which would further destabilize the system.
Price transparency report: A new analysis from Trilliant Health reveals 9-to-1 variation in what insurers pay for the same surgery, even within the same state or hospital.
Tech & dementia risk: A meta-analysis of 37 studies finds that older adults using smartphones, computers and the internet may have a reduced risk of cognitive decline, possibly due to reduced social isolation.
Stalking & heart disease: Women who are stalked or file restraining orders have a significantly higher risk of heart attacks and strokes (up to 70% more) due to prolonged stress and fear.
Flu shots & allergies: A listener asks about egg allergy risk. Pearl reassures listeners that even in patients with anaphylaxis history, flu vaccines are safe and strongly recommended.
HPV awareness gap: More than one-third of U.S. adults haven’t heard of HPV, and over half don’t know it causes oral and cervical cancer—despite a highly effective vaccine.
Child mortality shame:S. babies and children are nearly twice as likely to die before adulthood compared to peers in other wealthy nations.
Screwworm fly case: A Maryland man becomes the first confirmed U.S. case this year after travel to El Salvador. Pearl explains the biology behind this gruesome but rare parasite.

Tune in to hear Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr cut through the noise with their signature mix of clarity, candor and evidence-based analysis. Once again, the duo exposes misinformation, challenges political spin and helps listeners make sense of what’s really going on.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn

The post MTT #98: Can patients and doctors still trust the CDC, FDA? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this candid episode of Unfiltered, cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr sit down with cardiologist Dr. Jonathan Fisher to examine why so many clinicians feel trapped between rising bureaucracy and shrinking autonomy.

Together, they detail what it will take to build a system that serves both patients and physicians. Drawing on Fisher’s experiences in small private practice and in a large health system, the trio explores RVUs and metric overload, private equity’s growing footprint and the treadmill effect driving burnout.

They then turn to solutions: team-based care, capitation/value-based models and new primary-care designs (from direct primary care to micro-IPAs). In the second half of the episode, the conversation widens from lifespan and health span to “joy span,” arguing for practical, low-cost ways to strengthen social connection, meaning and wellbeing without overburdening clinicians.

Later, a listener question prompts a timely discussion of Gen Z and younger millennials who avoid traditional primary care, and how medicine must adapt communication, access and expectations to meet people where they are.

For more unfiltered conversation, listen to the full episode and explore these related resources:

‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s newest book)
‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl’s newest book)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #187: Autonomy, burnout & the future of medical care appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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FHC #186: From rare diseases to rural America, Optum’s CEO talks healthcare’s future

In this special return to Season 10, which focused on transformative technologies in medicine, Fixing Healthcare hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr interview Dr. Patrick Conway, CEO of Optum, a $250 billion division of UnitedHealth Group. A pediatrician and former CMS leader, Dr. Conway has spent his career driving innovation at the intersection of medicine, policy and business.

Conway argues that healthcare stands on the brink of a transformation driven by artificial intelligence, breakthrough therapies, prevention strategies and big data analytics. As CEO of Optum (one of the most influential players in U.S. medicine, employing over 310,000 people worldwide), Conway explains how his organization is using technology and integration to improve quality, lower costs and expand equity.

Here are five key insights from the episode:

AI will be like the internet: changing everything.Conway predicts generative AI will rapidly move beyond administrative tasks into clinical decision-making, diagnosis and personalized training for physicians. He shares a story of diagnosing a child’s rare disorder and imagines how AI could make such insights instantaneous for every doctor.
Prevention is the ultimate cost-saver.Chronic disease prevention, he says, is America’s greatest healthcare challenge. Apps, gamification and continuous monitoring could replace the outdated “come back in four months” model. Managing hypertension and diabetes in real time could radically lower costs and improve lives.
Big data enables personalized care at scale.Optum uses analytics to stratify patients (such as “dual eligibles” living with multiple chronic conditions) and deliver tailored interventions at home. Conway recounts how one 91-year-old patient, once hospitalized eight times a year, went to zero admissions after joining Optum at Home.
Value-based care must expand faster.Optum already assumes full financial risk for 5 million patients, but Conway argues the majority of Americans deserve this model. Capitation aligns incentives around outcomes, quality and cost, and generative AI could accelerate its adoption, even in rural communities.
Drug costs remain unsustainable.Here, Conway is blunt. U.S. drug prices are too high, with GLP-1 drugs costing eight to 10 times more than abroad. Optum has committed to 100% rebate pass-through. It has also eliminated many prior authorizations and shifted its entire pharmacy business to lower-cost generics and biosimilars.

After the interview, Dr. Pearl tells Corr that he was struck by the Optum CEO’s optimism about generative AI and its role in reshaping healthcare, noting that Conway sees beyond administrative savings to its potential for improving clinical outcomes and managing chronic disease. Pearl noted Conway’s clear commitment to capitation and value-based care; what Pearl called his “North Star.” Pearl concluded that Conway is a mission-driven leader, highly capable of pushing UnitedHealth Group to accelerate change, and urged him to move faster than feels comfortable in scaling prevention, AI and integrated care.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #186: Optum CEO on AI, big data & preventing disease appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this Diving Deep episode of Fixing Healthcare, cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr tackle two timely topics shaping the future of American medicine.

First, the pair explore a growing concern among health policy experts and clinicians alike: Is the U.S. medical system headed for economic collapse? Dr. Pearl outlines three troubling trends in support of this concern. Ballooning healthcare costs, an unsustainable rise in medical employment (without associated gains in quality), and the accelerating burnout and exit of practicing physicians. Together, these forces threaten to push American healthcare off a cliff.

More alarming still, the traditional “exit ramps” that once helped the system avoid disaster — federal borrowing, employer cost-shifting and physician overwork — are rapidly disappearing. With options dwindling, Pearl and Corr consider what comes next: Will private equity lead a wave of cost-cutting? Will crisis force rationing? Or could new technology offer a better way forward?

That question sets the stage for part two of the episode: a deep dive into generative AI’s future in medicine. Pearl describes two emerging paths: one led by tech startups developing FDA-approved tools to manage disease, and another championed by physicians who teach patients how to use existing large language models for self-care and symptom triage. Both models aim to reduce costs and improve outcomes. But each comes with tradeoffs.

Throughout the episode, Pearl encourages clinicians to lead (not follow) the adoption of GenAI. Whether American healthcare descends into austerity or rises toward innovation, the decisions made now will shape the system’s trajectory for decades to come.

HELPFUL LINKS

These 3 Medical Trends Predict A Massive Healthcare Crisis (Forbes)
With OpenAI Set To Launch GPT-5, Here’s How To Monetize Healthcare GenAI (Forbes)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #185: A System in crisis, a technology in waiting appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this episode of Medicine: The Truth, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr cover a whirlwind of headlines, from a White House push to tie U.S. drug prices to wealthy-nation benchmarks (with tariff threats) to a Big Tech pledge to make medical records truly interoperable. They also unpack what ACA exchange enrollees should expect in 2026 as cost-sharing subsidies teeter and insurers file double-digit premium hikes.

On care delivery, the hosts examine the direct primary care + HSA shift: what it could improve, and where it might widen disparities. They then turn to the FDA’s accelerated approvals, gene-therapy turmoil and why scientific independence matters.

Other key topics discussed:

Kids’ health: Hand-foot-and-mouth disease basics (spread, home care, when to call) and a rare, deadly flu-related encephalopathy — another reason childhood flu vaccination matters.
Cancer prevention: How hepatitis B/C control, metabolic health and alcohol use drive (and can prevent) liver cancer.
Exercise clarity: Why 7,000 steps/day delivers nearly all the health gains long credited to 10,000.
Lyme 101: Ticks, timelines, treatment (and why prompt checks for bites are protective).
Pharma’s DTC pivot: Drugmakers selling directly via telemedicine, and what that means for GLP-1 access and brand bias.
Rural stability: A new $50B Rural Health Fund aimed at offsetting Medicaid-related shortfalls for hospitals.
Maternal health: 56% of new moms miss recommended postpartum visits, even as one-third of maternal deaths occur after discharge.
CTE explainer: What we know (and don’t) about repetitive head trauma and long-term brain disease.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn

The post MTT #97: Drug prices, Big Tech EHR promises & the 7,000-step surprise appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In the first episode of Fixing Healthcare’s 11th season, cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr speak with Dr. Uché Blackstock, an emergency physician, bestselling author and health equity expert.

This season turns the spotlight on voices from social media, offering insights into what patients actually want from the U.S. healthcare system. Dr. Blackstock (whose online following is both massive and deeply engaged) shares the concerns she hears most often: fears about rising insurance premiums, confusion around preventive screenings and frustration with a system that feels inaccessible, dismissive or even dangerous for many women and people of color.

Dr. Blackstock is the founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity and author of Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine, a memoir that blends personal history with data and policy analysis. In her conversation with Dr. Pearl and Jeremy Corr, she highlights several ways the U.S. healthcare system must change to better serve all patients:

Bridging The Access Gap
Dr. Blackstock discusses the urgent need to expand access to preventive care, particularly for groups at higher risk of being overlooked or underserved. She emphasizes the role of health literacy, equitable coverage, and primary care investment in closing these gaps, especially in communities where hospitals and clinics remain out of reach.

Rebuilding Trust
From maternal mortality to COVID response, Dr. Blackstock explains how structural racism, sexist bias and historical injustice continue to shape patient outcomes. She urges clinicians and institutions to take these realities seriously, listen more closely to patients’ concerns and build relationships rooted in dignity and respect.

Rethinking The System Itself
Rather than settle for incremental fixes, Dr. Blackstock calls for a complete overhaul of American medicine. She argues we must reduce administrative waste, center community-based care, and treat universal access to healthcare as a moral and civic imperative. She believes Gen Z, with its strong values, optimism and technological fluency, may be the generation to lead that change.

Throughout the episode, the conversation returns to a central question: What does it mean to be seen, heard and cared for in today’s healthcare system. And how can we ensure everyone receives that kind of care?

Tune in for the full interview and join the conversation on social media.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #184: Dr. Uché Blackstock on racism, sexism and fixing medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this Diving Deep episode of Fixing Healthcare, cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr tackle two of the most pressing questions in healthcare today, each focused on the future of medical practice in the era of generative AI.

First, the hosts explore the controversial question: Will AI replace doctors? Dr. Pearl argues that, despite recent advances in AI that now outperform physicians in a growing number of diagnostic tasks, the answer is “no.” He explains why the healthcare system’s worsening physician shortage, its rising costs and patients’ enduring need for human connection all point to a future in which doctors remain essential.

However, he warns that clinicians won’t be immune to the pressures GenAI brings. If the technology is controlled by insurers or private equity firms, it will likely be used to speed up visits and reduce costs, not improve care. To avoid that outcome, Pearl urges physicians to lead AI’s integration into medicine, organizing into high-performing groups and shaping how the tools are used. Otherwise, he cautions, GenAI won’t replace doctors. But it will make their jobs miserable.

Later in the episode, the conversation turns to medical education. Pearl argues that U.S. medical schools are falling dangerously behind in preparing students for the AI revolution. While colleges and universities across the country are rapidly integrating generative AI into undergraduate curricula, most medical schools still rely on outdated teaching methods that emphasize memorization rather than application of information in clinical practice.

Pearl calls for an urgent overhaul of faculty training and curricular design, encouraging hands-on exercises where students use GenAI as a clinical partner. With this foundation, students can engage in diagnostic reasoning, design care plans, and collaborate with AI tools to improve patient outcomes. Without these changes, he warns, tomorrow’s physicians may be ill-equipped to lead in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

Together, these topics speak to some of the greatest fears – and greatest opportunities – in the medical profession today. Listen to the episode to hear the full conversation and decide for yourself.

HELPFUL LINKS

GenAI Won’t Replace Doctors, But It Could Make Them Miserable (Forbes)
In The AI Revolution, Medical Schools Are Falling Behind U.S. Colleges (Forbes)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #183: Will GenAI replace docs? How should medical schools respond? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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As we prepare to usher in 2025—with a new presidential administration and shifting congressional landscape—it’s the perfect time to revisit the politics of medicine, both in the workplace and on the national stage.

This Fixing Healthcare flashback features a December 2022 episode of Unfiltered, where cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr dive into this thorny topic with Zubin Damania, better known as ZDoggMD.

For Pearl, the relationship between medicine and politics wasn’t always so clear cut. He recalls his college decision to pursue healthcare, imagining it as a field free from the messiness of politics.

“Healthcare is about life and death,” Pearl reflects, laughing at his teenage naivety. “How could there be politics entwined inside that esteemed world?”

Of course, the reality proved far different, with politics and medicine deeply intertwined at every level—from hospital boardrooms to Capitol Hill.

In this lively discussion, ZDoggMD brings his characteristic humor and insight to the table as the trio explores how politics—whether institutional, cultural or governmental—shapes American healthcare. Together, they ponder whether logic and common sense have any chance of prevailing in a system so heavily influenced by competing interests.

To navigate the political landscape of medicine, press play and listen to this insightful episode.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #160: Fixing Healthcare flashback with Zubin Damania appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This holiday season, Fixing Healthcare hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr invite listeners to reflect on the most valuable gift you can give yourself: a healthier, happier heart.

In the spirit of well-being and renewal, we’re revisiting one of the first-ever “Unfiltered” episodes featuring Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a respected cardiologist and advocate for physician wellness. This flashback episode highlights timeless lessons from his acclaimed book, Just One Heart: A Cardiologist’s Guide to Healing, Health, and Happiness.

Originally aired in mid-2023, the interview dives into the “Seven Timeless Traits of the Heart”: steadiness, wisdom, openness, wholeness, courage, lightness, and warmth. Each trait offers actionable strategies and exercises to cultivate greater health, joy, and meaning in life.

“As you strengthen the seven traits of your heart,” Fisher says, “you will find more health, joy, meaning, and connection in your own life and have the tools to help others do the same.”

This episode serves as a perfect reminder that, during the holidays, taking care of your heart—both physically and emotionally—is a gift that keeps on giving. To discover more, press play and check out these helpful links:

‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s new book)
A Cardiologist on Leading From the Heart (‘Human Leaders’ on LinkedIn)
Meet ‘the mindful heart doctor’ (NHF)
Brain, Heart, Spine: The Anatomy of Healthcare Leadership (Forbes)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #159: Fixing Healthcare flashback with Jonathan Fisher appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this month’s Diving Deep episode, part of the Fixing Healthcare podcast series, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr tackle three critical topics shaping the future of medicine: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services, the escalating healthcare cost crisis and the potential of primary care to mitigate it, and the challenge of distinguishing hype from reality in the world of generative AI.

The episode begins as Dr. Pearl acknowledges the controversy surrounding Kennedy’s anti-establishment views, particularly on vaccines, but also highlights an upside: his focus on food reform. Pearl says that Kennedy’s willingness to challenge the food industry could create meaningful change, and he points to successful soda taxes and lead removal as examples of how bold action can improve public health.Next topic on today’s show: Pearl outlines his Enhanced Primary Care model to combat obesity and chronic disease:

Align incentives. Pay doctors for better patient outcomes, not just office visits.
Empower patients. Use generative AI and real-time monitoring tools to help patients manage their health between visits.

Finally, Dr. Pearl closes with a reality check on AI. While AI can’t override biology, it holds immense promise in empowering patients, improving outcomes, and reducing clinician burnout.

Click play to hear these insights and more, and explore how healthcare leaders can improve care for patients at all stages of life.

HELPFUL LINKS

How RFK Jr. Could Reverse Our Nation’s Illogical Approach To Obesity (Forbes)
Healthcare’s Cost Crisis: How Primary Care Can Deliver The Savings We Need (Forbes)
3 Simple Questions To Separate AI Reality From Hype In Medicine (Forbes)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #158: RFK Jr., obesity, the healthcare cost crisis and AI appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this latest episode of Fixing Healthcare, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr welcome Kimberly Powell, vice president of healthcare at NVIDIA, to explore how the company’s technologies are reshaping healthcare.

Powell provides a fascinating lens through which to view healthcare’s future, especially as AI begins to play a more prominent role in patient care, diagnostics and clinical decision-making. The interview, part of Season 10’s deep dive into transformative healthcare technologies, kicks off with a question from Pearl: “What are the three technologies that will have the greatest impact on healthcare over the next five to 10 years?”

Here’s what Powell had to say:

1. Accelerated computingPowell explains how NVIDIA’s GPUs (graphics processing units) have revolutionized data processing, enabling breakthroughs in medical imaging, molecular simulations and AI-driven diagnostics. She highlights how GPUs’ parallel processing power surpasses traditional CPUs, unlocking new possibilities in real-time medical applications.

2. Generative AIThe conversation turns to the explosive growth of generative AI, powered by NVIDIA’s latest technologies. Powell details GenAI’s capacity to handle massive datasets, train neural networks and power applications like ChatGPT and digital health agents. These tools, she notes, will transform everything from clinical documentation to patient monitoring, and in turn will help to reduce clinician burnout, improve patient engagement and drive personalized treatments.

3. Robotics and physical AIPowell introduces the concept of “physical AI,” where robots equipped with advanced AI capabilities will redefine patient care. Powell highlights how this technology could automate surgical procedures, creating smarter hospital systems and deploying robots that enhance patient care and safety. She paints a picture of a future where AI technology not only optimizes operations but also enhances safety and outcomes.The company hopes to leverage its technologies—from real-time patient monitoring systems and digital avatars for mental health to clinical trial optimization tools—to solve healthcare’s thorniest problems.

A recurring theme in the episode is Powell’s emphasis on the “ecosystem of innovation” NVIDIA has built, fostering partnerships with startups and healthcare institutions worldwide. The company is planning to leverage its technologies—from real-time patient monitoring systems and digital avatars for mental health to clinical trial optimization tools—to solve healthcare’s thorniest problems.

Pearl and Powell also reflect on the implications of generative AI in healthcare, as explored in Pearl’s recent Forbes article, “Nvidia’s AI Bot Outperforms Nurses, Study Finds. Here’s What It Means” and his 2024 book “ChatGPT, MD.” Powell speaks to how NVIDIA’s innovations will complement, rather than replace, human expertise.

Pearl concludes the interview by predicting that generative AI will save hundreds of thousands of lives annually, make healthcare more affordable and alleviate the burnout crisis plaguing clinicians. He sees the triad of a dedicated clinician, an empowered patient and generative AI as the key to unlocking medicine’s full potential, delivering outcomes that far exceed what any one component could achieve alone.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about how technology is reshaping medicine.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #157: NVIDIA expects AI, robots to cure healthcare’s biggest problems appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this week’s Fixing Healthcare podcast, co-hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr revisit one of the show’s most memorable interviews: Malcolm Gladwell’s first appearance in 2022.

Known for his sharp insights and masterful storytelling, Gladwell joined the podcast during a season focused on “breaking the rules of healthcare,” offering his perspective on what it takes to drive transformative change in medicine.

Note: Listeners are encouraged to check out Gladwell’s fabulous new book, Revenge of the Tipping Point, a re-evaluation of his groundbreaking work on social epidemics, now reframed for the modern world. It’s an excellent holiday gift for friends and family, alongside Dr. Pearl’s ChatGPT, MD, which Gladwell personally endorsed as a must-read for anyone curious about AI’s role in the future of healthcare.

This flashback episode highlights Gladwell’s exploration of rule breakers in healthcare, emphasizing the delicate balance between innovation and recklessness. Gladwell examines the personalities and motivations of iconoclasts, using vivid examples like Dr. Emil Freireich, the father of combination chemotherapy, and Elizabeth Holmes, the fallen biotech entrepreneur.

Dr. Pearl introduces this flashback by reaffirming the timeliness of Gladwell’s insights, noting that the qualities needed to break medicine’s entrenched rules are as relevant today as they were when the episode first aired. Gladwell’s stories and analysis offer inspiration and a framework for identifying the kinds of leaders who can disrupt American medicine for the better.

HELPFUL LINKS

Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering by Malcolm Gladwell (available now)
Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History (podcast link)
ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine (available now)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #156: Fixing Healthcare flashback with Malcolm Gladwell appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this episode of the Fixing Healthcare podcast, co-host Dr. Robert Pearl marks the two-year anniversary of ChatGPT’s public launch with an exclusive reading from his 2024 book, “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.”

With the holiday season approaching, listeners are encouraged to consider ChatGPT, MD as a gift for friends and family. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

The book was featured recently in a list of 25 nonfiction works recommended by bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell, who wrote: “I was skeptical about the value artificial intelligence will bring to medicine, until I read ChatGPT, MD. Now I’m a believer. There is no one who writes more clearly and persuasively about the challenges and opportunities of modern medicine than Robert Pearl.”

In this episode of Fixing Healthcare, Pearl reads from two pivotal chapters. Chapter 11, “The Road to AI-Empowered Healthcare,” outlines a compelling vision for Healthcare 4.0—an era where the introduction of generative AI tools like ChatGPT empower patients and doctors to enhance efficiency, reduce burnout and restore patient-centered care. In Chapter 11.5, “ChatGPT’s Critical Analysis of Chapter Eleven,” Pearl’s AI co-author critiques his predictions, emphasizing the technological, economic and societal challenges that must be overcome to realize this future.

Pearl’s reading reveals the book’s central argument: generative AI offers a path to better healthcare, but success hinges on systemic reform, human-AI collaboration and leaders who are willing to confront medicine’s entrenched inefficiencies. As Pearl notes, the AI revolution in healthcare is not a foregone conclusion. If Americans fail to act decisively, the promise of Healthcare 4.0 will collapse under the weight of its own unrealized potential, leaving both doctors and patients at the mercy of corporate interests.

HELPFUL LINKS

ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine (available now)
A list of Malcolm Gladwell’s 25 book recommendations (link)
Robert Pearl’s Monthly Musings on American Healthcare newsletter (link)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #155: The road to AI-empowered healthcare (from ‘ChatGPT, MD’) appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this episode of Medicine: The Truth, co-hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr tackle a wide array of medical issues, from the potential healthcare impact of a second Trump presidency to the latest trends in obesity treatments and respiratory infections.

With a historical election in the rearview mirror, the hosts dive into what a second Trump term could mean for Medicare, Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act and rural health. Among the key predictions: stricter work requirements for Medicaid, potential elimination of ACA subsidies and a likely push toward healthcare block grants for states.

The conversation also spotlights GLP-1 drugs, hailed as breakthroughs in weight-loss treatment. Dr. Pearl explains the pros and cons of these medications compared to bariatric surgery and the shifting dynamics they’ve introduced into obesity care.

Here’s a snapshot of just some of the topics covered on this episode of Medicine: The Truth:

The implications of Trump’s second term
GLP-1 drugs vs. bariatric surgery
Rising prevalence of walking pneumonia
Ethics of Alzheimer’s drug trials
Why sitting too long can harm you—and why standing might not be the solution
An unexpected outcome with advancements in IVF
Artificial intelligence in diagnosis

Join Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr as they unpack these complex healthcare issues and shed light on the path ahead for American medicine.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine“ about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #89: Trump’s second term, weight-loss drugs & the rise of ‘walking pneumonia’ appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare, cardiologist and well-being advocate Dr. Jonathan Fisher joins healthcare leader Dr. Robert Pearl and host Jeremy Corr to explore how healthcare professionals handle stress and what can be learned from other high-stakes fields like athletics.

The trio delves into various aspects of pressure in medical practice, comparing it to the intensity athletes experience in major sporting events. Drawing on their own medical experiences, they discuss how clinicians can find the right balance to achieve peak performance while maintaining their mental and physical health.

The show’s primary topics include:

Understanding pressure in healthcare. Dr. Fisher explains the concept of “good” vs. “bad” pressure, citing research that shows the impact of too much stress on cognitive function and patient care. He draws parallels to the “Yerkes-Dodson” curve, which suggests an optimal level of stress for peak performance.
Impact of external pressures. Drs. Pearl and Fisher talk about the variety of pressures doctors face today, from financial and administrative burdens to life-and-death decisions that impact patient care. They consider how these pressures affect different medical specialties and the importance of balancing professional demands with personal well-being.
Lessons from athletics. Dr. Fisher reflects on how athletes manage social and performance pressures, comparing it to the scrutiny doctors face in healthcare settings. He emphasizes that, like athletes, healthcare professionals need to understand and manage both internal and external expectations to prevent burnout and sustain their careers.
Leadership and support in high-stakes environments. Dr. Pearl shares insights from his experience leading Kaiser Permanente, highlighting the role of supportive leadership in helping clinicians manage pressure effectively. The discussion also addresses the importance of team dynamics and creating a culture where medical professionals feel empowered and defended in their roles.

To hear more about how to manage pressure in the workplace, listen to the full episode and check out these helpful links:

‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s newest book)
‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl’s newest book)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #154: Handling pressure in medicine with tips for doctors, leaders appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In the latest episode of Fixing Healthcare, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr welcome back Vinod Khosla, legendary investor and co-founder of Sun Microsystems, to discuss the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on healthcare. As the head of Khosla Ventures and an early investor in OpenAI, Khosla brings a unique perspective to the potential and challenges AI presents in medicine.

This interview is part of the show’s tenth season, which focuses on the future of technology in healthcare—the central focus of Dr. Pearl’s newest book ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine, with all profits going to Doctors Without Borders.

Khosla, known for his bold, often disruptive views on tech, shares a vision for AI-driven solutions that have the potential to reshape medical practice. Here are three key insights from the episode:

1. AI as an amplifier of physician capabilities

Khosla envisions a future where every physician could work with multiple “AI interns” to handle routine tasks, analyze data and assist in diagnostics. He argues that AI has the potential to vastly expand physician capacity, allowing doctors to provide more preventive and personalized care.

2. Continuous, AI-driven patient monitoringWith AI-enabled systems, Khosla sees healthcare shifting from reactive, episodic care to proactive, continuous monitoring. He believes wearable devices and AI models will enable real-time patient data analysis, catching health issues early and reducing the need for costly interventions.

3. The power of startups in driving healthcare innovationKhosla emphasizes that true innovation often comes from entrepreneurial startups rather than established companies. He advocates for partnerships between startups and large healthcare organizations to scale transformative technologies, noting that small, agile teams can push boundaries more effectively.

Tune in to hear Khosla’s bold predictions for the future of medicine, along with his advice for physicians, healthcare leader, and entrepreneurs seeking to navigate the chaos of American healthcare.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #153: Vinod Khosla on AI, disruption & the future of medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In the latest episode of Diving Deep, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr explore three timely healthcare topics that are shaping the future of medicine. This episode focuses on denial in public health, the rise of patient consumerism and a potential fix for U.S. healthcare’s cost crisis.

The episode begins with an in-depth discussion about how denial functions as an unconscious defense mechanism that prevents patients, clinicians and health officials from acknowledging and reacting to health threats. Dr. Pearl highlights how denial not only hampered the response to COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS, but also to emerging health crises like mpox, along with chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes.

Next, the conversation shifts to the growing trend of patient empowerment through consumerism. The hosts examine how advances in generative AI and at-home diagnostics are transforming the doctor-patient dynamic. Pearl notes that patients increasingly prefer convenience over traditional in-person visits, and with AI becoming more accurate and empathetic, the doctor’s role is evolving.

Finally, the hosts tackle the financial challenges plaguing the U.S. healthcare system. Pearl explains how capitation—a payment model that rewards doctors for keeping patients healthy—would flip the traditional fee-for-service model on its head. He draws on game theory principles to illustrate how trust and cooperation between payers and providers could lead to better patient outcomes and lower costs. A win-win for both sides.

Join the conversation as Dr. Pearl and Jeremy Corr dive deep into the most critical issues in American healthcare today.

HELPFUL LINKS

Denial: The Hidden Link Connecting Mpox, COVID-19, HIV/AIDS
The Consumer Revolution In Medicine Is (Finally) Here. What Comes Next?
A Strange Way To Fix American Medicine: Game Theory

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Diving Deep is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #152: Tackling healthcare denial, consumerism & the cost crisis appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In the latest episode of Medicine: The Truth, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr return with timely insights on some of the most pressing issues in healthcare today.

From the chilling implications of abortion restrictions on women’s health to the opaque and controversial role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in driving up drug prices, the episode covers a lot of ground.

The conversation kicks off with an update on COVID-19 and the flu season, emphasizing that while hospitalizations remain stable, low vaccination rates may raise concerns in the months ahead. Dr. Pearl also delves into the new abortion laws sweeping the nation, shedding light on tragic cases where legal fears prevent doctors from acting swiftly, endangering women’s lives.

The hosts then dive into the murky world of PBMs, where just three companies control nearly 80% of drug sales in the United States. Pearl explains how PBMs manipulate prices to favor expensive drugs while profiting off hidden rebates, all at the expense of patients and insurers. As legal battles between PBMs and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) unfold, the episode highlights the growing outrage over pharmaceutical price gouging.

Here’s a snapshot of just some topics covered in this episode of Medicine: The Truth:

COVID-19 and flu season updates
The dangers posed to women’s health by restrictive abortion laws
A deep dive into the role of PBMs in the U.S. healthcare system
Why healthcare costs are projected to rise by 8% next year
The troubling future of drug pricing in America
Why more parents aren’t vaccinating their kids
A surge in at-home diagnostic testing
The Nobel Prize in chemistry goes to …
Why 98.6 isn’t the average body temperature
Superbugs are coming

Join Dr. Pearl and Jeremy Corr as they unravel these complex healthcare challenges and offer insight into the future of medical care in America.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine“ about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #88: Abortion restrictions, PBMs and the rising cost of care appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Six years ago, Fixing Healthcare launched as a “podcast with a plan to fix American healthcare.” After more than 150 episodes—spanning three election cycles—the show has explored countless ideas for reform. Still, American healthcare remains plagued by high costs, uneven quality and limited access.

One of our earliest guests left us with some of the most provocative solutions to these problems: Dr. Don Berwick, a name synonymous with medicine’s “Triple Aim.” With the November elections less than a month away, we thought listeners would find value in revisting Berwick’s groundbreaking vision for healthcare reform.

As Berwick explained, “We need a system of three goals: better care for people when they’re in the care system, better health for populations, and lower per capita cost through improvement, not through rationing or withholding.”

Supporting the Triple Aim, Berwick called for healthcare to be recognized as a human right and advocated for a shift toward global, population-based budgets—moving away from the inflationary fee-for-service model that dominates today.

Cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr were intrigued by the clarity and cohesiveness of Berwick’s plan.

“We have a highly fragmented system in which people are trying to solve problems separately,” Berwick said. “That is just not going to work … we’re going to have to fix healthcare together.”

Berwick is clinical professor of pediatrics at the Harvard Medical School and professor of health policy and management at the Harvard School of Public Health. He is the former head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), the co-founder of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and leader of the organization’s 100,000 Lives Campaign.

Helpful links:

Season 1 explainer: ‘Welcome to the toughest interview in healthcare’

Episode 5 recap: ‘Don Berwick brings a global perspective to fixing US healthcare’

The full transcript of this episode with Don Berwick

Don Berwick: Profiles in leadership

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #151: Six years later, Don Berwick’s vision for healthcare remains unfulfilled appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare, cardiologist and physician well-being advocate Dr. Jonathan Fisher joins healthcare leader Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr, CEO of Executive Podcast Solutions, for a candid discussion about the evolving role of physicians in modern medicine.

The trio explores how systemic challenges—such as burnout, the loss of physician autonomy and the growing influence of private equity—are reshaping the trajectory of medical careers.

Today’s topics include:

The burnout epidemic. Dr. Fisher reflects on how increasing administrative burdens, declining autonomy and career dissatisfaction have led many physicians to leave the field or seek non-clinical roles. He emphasizes the need for healthcare organizations to support doctors across different career stages, from early-career residents to seasoned clinicians.
Restoring meaning and fulfillment. Drs. Pearl and Fisher discuss the importance of restoring meaning to physicians’ work by offering leadership opportunities and emphasizing the creative, humanistic aspects of medicine. They argue that physicians need more than just financial incentives. They also need a sense of purpose and the ability to make meaningful changes in patient care.
The role of leadership in medicine. Drawing from his experience as CEO at Kaiser Permanente for 18 years, Dr. Pearl highlights how leadership training can empower doctors to take control of their practice environments, improve health outcomes and reduce medical errors.
Balancing career and personal life. Both Fisher and Pearl emphasize the difficulty of balancing the demands of a medical career with personal fulfillment. They call for a broader cultural shift in healthcare, one that allows doctors to find meaning not just in their work, but in their lives outside the clinic as well.

To hear more about how these experts believe we can bring meaning back to medicine, listen to the full episode and check out these helpful links:

New book: ‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher)

New book: ‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl)

Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #150: Restoring meaning in medicine—burnout and the physician career arc appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In the second episode of Fixing Healthcare’s 10th season, cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr welcome back Dr. David Feinberg, chairman of Oracle Health, for a discussion centered on the future of technology in medicine.

Given the season’s focus on transformative technologies in medicine, Dr. Feinberg brings a wealth of experience as the former CEO of Cerner, VP of Google Health, and CEO of Geisinger Health.

As Dr. Pearl has highlighted throughout the season, technology—including artificial intelligence—is becoming a pivotal force in healthcare. His own book on the subject, ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine, explores this theme in great detail, and it debuted on the list of Amazon’s Top New Releases. All profits from Pearl’s book benefit Doctors Without Borders.

During the interview, Dr. Feinberg shares his thoughts on the three most important technological developments in healthcare over the next five to 10 years:

1. Technology stepping aside: Dr. Feinberg says one of the most critical advances in healthcare will involve technology getting “out of the way” of the doctor-patient relationship. He notes that while innovations have advanced healthcare, they often interfere with the time and connection between clinicians and their patients. Feinberg envisions a future where technology is present but not disruptive, allowing physicians to focus on their patients rather than on navigating electronic systems.

2. AI’s role in anticipatory medicine: Like many healthcare leaders, Feinberg identifies artificial intelligence as a major player in the future of healthcare. However, he offers a unique perspective by discussing AI’s potential beyond current applications like diagnostics and documentation. He predicts that AI will develop anticipatory abilities, allowing clinicians to foresee medical issues and prevent serious health problems. This could allow doctors to say to patients, “If we don’t get this [health issues] in order, the computer is telling us you won’t make it to your grandchild’s college graduation,” helping patients take critical action before it’s too late.

3. The power of the cloud: Here, Feinberg highlights the immense potential of cloud technology. He explains how the cloud can significantly enhance healthcare, particularly in terms of cybersecurity and data management. By leveraging cloud systems, hospitals can not only protect sensitive patient data but also streamline operations, enabling more effective analysis and use of healthcare information across platforms.

Tune in for the full interview and join the conversation on social media.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #149: Tech needs to get out of the way of healthcare, says Feinberg appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this month’s Diving Deep episode, part of the Fixing Healthcare podcast series, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr dive into two vital topics in healthcare: lessons learned from experts on end-of-life care and innovative solutions to address chronic disease in underserved communities.

The episode begins with an exploration of end-of-life care, revisiting Season 9 of the podcast series, which focused exclusively on this emotionally charged topic. Dr. Pearl reflects on his conversations with guests like Dr. Atul Gawande, author of Being Mortal, and the powerful lesson that “people have goals besides living longer.” The hosts discuss how clinicians need to respect patient autonomy, particularly when the choices revolve around what makes life worth living versus prolonging survival at all costs.

Next, the conversation shifts to the topic of chronic disease management in underserved communities. Dr. Pearl references his recent Forbes article, which outlines how social determinants of health (SDOH) contribute to health inequities in the U.S. He introduces a practical solution: GenAI-driven health hubs, designed to combat chronic disease in low-income areas.

The hosts discuss the implementation of these hubs, explaining how they could provide affordable, targeted and technologically advanced support to individuals in areas where healthcare resources are limited. By leveraging generative AI tools, the hubs would help manage chronic diseases, reduce the burden on overworked doctors and prevent life-threatening complications. With a small investment, Dr. Pearl argues, these hubs could yield significant cost savings by preventing just one major health event, such as a heart attack or stroke.

Click play to hear these insights and more, and explore how healthcare leaders can improve care for patients at all stages of life.

HELPFUL LINKS

9 Powerful Lessons On Life You Can Learn From Experts On Death (Forbes)
GenAI-Driven Health Hubs Can Combat Chronic Disease In Underserved Areas (Forbes)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #148: End-of-life lessons and combatting health disparities appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In today’s episode of Medicine: The Truth, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl dive into timely and significant medical topics, focusing on the resurgence of COVID-19, rising healthcare costs and a growing shift toward patient empowerment through at-home testing solutions.

The episode kicks off with an update on the recent summertime surge of COVID-19, particularly in the Western and Southern parts of the country. Despite rising case numbers, researchers have noted that hospitalizations and deaths remain stable. The hosts discuss the release of new COVID-19 boosters, which are tailored to emerging variants. This comes at a time when skepticism about vaccinations persists, still fueled by misinformation and politics.

Shifting gears, the conversation moves to healthcare costs, particularly the burden on small businesses. Rising inflation and the increased use of costly GLP-1 (weight loss) medications are driving up medical costs, with premiums projected to rise sharply in the coming year.

Here’s a snapshot of the topics covered on this episode of Medicine: The Truth:

COVID-19 resurgence
Rising healthcare costs
Long COVID updates
Climate change and public health
Mpox (formerly monkeypox)
Medicare drug price negotiations
At-home testing revolution
Uterine transplants and advances in reproductive medicine

Throughout the episode, the hosts touch on the transformative potential of generative AI and other technological advances, arguing that patient empowerment and consumerism will continue to shape the future of healthcare.

Join the conversation as Dr. Pearl and Jeremy Corr tackle the latest medical news and discuss the implications of these trends for the future of healthcare.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine“ about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #87: COVID-19 resurgence, soaring healthcare costs and the push for patient empowerment appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare features Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a respected cardiologist and advocate for physician well-being, and Dr. Robert Pearl, healthcare leader and author of ChatGPT, MD. Jeremy Corr, CEO of Executive Podcast Solutions, adds the patient’s perspective, as always.

In this episode, the trio takes a deep dive into the intriguing applications of Game Theory in healthcare. Dr. Pearl introduces Game Theory—a concept that analyzes how individuals or groups make decisions in competitive situations—drawing from its use in business to better understand interactions between physicians, insurers and healthcare organizations.

Today’s topics include:

Game theory and healthcare economics: Dr. Pearl explains how Game Theory can help reframe the often adversarial relationships between doctors and insurers, exploring ways to move from lose-lose situations to more collaborative, win-win outcomes.
The role of autonomy: Dr. Fisher explores the inherent conflict between physician autonomy and collective decision-making, noting how the fragmented nature of healthcare impacts both patient outcomes and physician satisfaction.
Collaboration vs. competition: The group discusses the need for healthcare professionals to shift from tribalism and competition within and between specialties to a more cooperative approach that benefits patients.
The prisoner’s dilemma: Dr. Pearl introduces this classic Game Theory scenario to illustrate the difficult choices doctors face when limited healthcare resources force tough decisions about patient care.

To discover more, press play and check out these helpful links:

New book: ‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher)

New book: ‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl)

Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #147: Game theory and healthcare—the complex relationship between doctors, payers and patients appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In the first episode of Fixing Healthcare’s 10th season, cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr speak with Dr. Eric Topol, a healthcare visionary and global technology leader.

This season focuses on the future of technology in healthcare, a topic close to Dr. Pearl’s heart. His newest book, ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine, debuted as an Amazon top new release. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Dr. Topol is a renowned cardiologist and founder of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. He has been a pioneer in predicting how technology will shape the future of medicine. His bestselling book, Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again, explores the transformative power of AI in healthcare. During the interview, Dr. Topol highlights three ways technology will break the traditional rules of medicine:

Precision Preventive Care: Dr. Topol emphasizes that AI will revolutionize preventive care by moving beyond the outdated practice of relying solely on age and sex to determine who needs screening. Instead, generative AI will analyze vast datasets, including polygenic risk scores, biomarkers and proteomic data, to identify individuals at the highest risk of developing life-threatening diseases like cancer or heart disease. This proactive approach will allow for targeted prevention, significantly improving outcomes.
Reducing Misdiagnoses: The conversation turns to the persistent issue of diagnostic errors, a leading cause of preventable harm in healthcare. Dr. Topol discusses how AI can alleviate this problem by giving clinicians more time to think critically, providing deep analysis of patient data and interpreting medical images with unparalleled accuracy. This would dramatically reduce the current rate of misdiagnoses, which remains a significant life ending failure in healthcare.
Transforming Clinical Documentation: Dr. Topol also explores how generative AI is already freeing from the burden of administrative tasks, particularly documentation. By automating the creation of high-quality electronic health records from conversations between doctors and patients, AI will allow clinicians to focus more on patient care, improving both efficiency and the patient experience.

Throughout the episode, Drs. Topol and Pearl discuss the broader implications of these technologies, including the potential to revolutionize medical research, the challenges of data security and the cultural shift required in healthcare to fully embrace these innovations.

Tune in for the full interview and join the conversation on social media.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #146: Dr. Eric Topol on how AI is changing healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In the final episode of season nine, Fixing Healthcare cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr sit down with Brad Stulberg, a renowned author and public health expert, to discuss the keys to living (and eventually dying) well. The interview concludes a season-long focus on ways to improve end-of-life care in the United States.

The hosts start with Stulberg’s recent New York Times recent op-ed, “The Key to Longevity Is Boring.” Stulberg, known for his work on human performance and well-being, emphasizes the power of simple, evidence-based habits for achieving a long and healthy life.

The conversation covers the importance of regular exercise, a nutritious diet, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, and nurturing meaningful relationships. While these practices might seem mundane compared to the latest health fads and biohacks, Stulberg argues that they are the true keys to a life well lived.

He highlights research demonstrating that people who consistently follow these five principles live seven years longer on average, with six of those years spent in good health.

Key topics explored in this episode include:

The myth of biohacking: Stulberg critiques the growing trend of biohacking, emphasizing that many popular supplements and extreme health practices are not supported by science and can detract from the joy of living.
Exercise as a movement practice: Stulberg encourages a shift from viewing exercise as a chore to seeing it as a sustainable movement practice, whether it’s through sports, walking or other enjoyable activities.
Nutrition without obsession: The discussion moves to the challenges of maintaining a nutritious diet amidst a culture obsessed with quick fixes and fad diets. Stulberg advises focusing on whole foods and avoiding ultra-processed products.
Social connections: The episode delves into the vital role that relationships play in both mental and physical health, drawing on findings from the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which identified strong social connections as the most important factor for a long and healthy life.
Debunking health anxiety: Stulberg touches on the rise of health anxiety fueled by the wellness industry and social media, urging listeners to focus on the basics rather than getting caught up in the latest trends.

Throughout the episode, Stulberg’s insights remind us that the path to longevity doesn’t require radical change or cutting-edge science. Instead, it’s about mastering the fundamentals—habits that are accessible to everyone.

Tune in for the full interview and join the conversation on social media.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the upcoming book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #145: The boring secrets to longevity with Brad Stulberg appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this month’s Diving Deep episode, part of the Fixing Healthcare podcast series, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr tackle two crucial issues in American healthcare: the need for radical reform in medical education and the growing crisis surrounding Medicare’s payment model.

The episode opens with a critical examination of medical education in the United States. Dr. Pearl discusses how current medical training is rooted in outdated practices that fail to prepare future doctors for the challenges of modern medicine. He emphasizes the need for integrating generative AI into medical school curricula—not just as an add-on but as a core component—in order to improve chronic disease management, diagnostic accuracy and clinical research.

Next up in the episode, the hosts turn their attention to Medicare’s payment model, comparing it to the “cobra effect” where well-intentioned policies inadvertently worsen the problem they aim to solve. Dr. Pearl outlines the flaws in the current system, particularly how today’s fee-for-service model incentivizes volume over value, driving up healthcare costs while compromising patient care. He calls for a shift to a capitated payment model that rewards quality care and preventive medicine.

Click play to learn more or check out the various links below for additional information.

HELPFUL LINKS

Medical Education Needs Radical Reform: AI, Alone, Isn’t The Answer
Why Congress Should Change How Medicare Pays Physicians
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #144: Medical education reform and Medicare’s payment crisis appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In today’s episode of Medicine: The Truth (MTT), hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl explore the latest developments in Alzheimer’s disease, colon cancer detection, COVID-19’s resurgence and other significant news.

The episode begins with a discussion on the surge of new COVID-19 cases, particularly in the western and southern U.S., where wastewater surveillance data indicates high virus levels. The hosts emphasize the importance of continued vaccination, especially with new variants emerging.

The conversation then shifts to advancements in cancer detection, highlighting a new blood test for colon cancer that shows promise in identifying early-stage cancers but falls short in detecting precancerous growths. This test, though not yet a replacement for colonoscopy or the fecal Immunochemical test (FIT), could encourage more people to undergo further screening when necessary.

In Alzheimer’s research, a new blood test offers a less invasive alternative as a first step in diagnosing the disease. While it represents a significant advance, the test is not yet a gamechanger due to the lack of effective treatments for Alzheimer’s.

Other topics covered in this episode include:

COVID-19 updates and the impact of vaccination on long COVID
Advances in genetic research for rare diseases like progeria
The rise of new weight-loss medications and market competition
The continued influence of pharmaceutical payments to physicians
The potential of drones in cardiac arrest response
Climate change’s impact on children’s health and education
Increasing cancer rates among Gen X and millennials
The rise of sexually transmitted diseases in older adults
Mental health challenges and access to care
Insights into the potential impact of the upcoming presidential election on healthcare policy

Join us for this insightful episode as we delve into these critical healthcare issues and explore the future of medicine.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine“ about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #86: New hope for Alzheimer’s, colon cancer and mental health appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Fixing Healthcare welcomes Dr. Atul Gawande, a renowned surgeon, writer and public health researcher who currently serves as the Assistant Administrator for Global Health at USAID.

He has a rich background as both a medical professional and a compassionate individual. Ten years ago, Dr. Gawande published the bestselling book “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End,” which explored the intersection of medicine, aging, and the end-of-life journey. His father’s battle with a spinal tumor profoundly influenced the book, serving as a catalyst for Gawande to confront the limitations of medical interventions and the importance of addressing patients’ individual goals and fears as they approach the end of their lives.

This episode explores:

Gawande’s personal story as he reflects on his father’s battle with a spinal tumor, highlighting the complexities and emotional challenges of dealing with serious health issues within a family.
His father’s journey from being a vibrant individual and a dedicated surgeon to facing the limitations imposed by his illness provides; a profound context for the discussion on end-of-life care.
Difficult decisions that families and patients face when confronted with terminal illnesses, along with the nuances of choosing between aggressive treatments and palliative care.
Approaches to end-of-life care that respect the patient’s wishes and focus on enhancing the quality of life rather than merely extending it.
The significance of having open and honest conversations about end-of-life preferences and the limitations of medical interventions.

This episode is part of the ninth season of Fixing Healthcare with cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr.

Tune in for the full interview and join the conversation on social media.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC#143: Navigating life’s final chapter with Atul Gawande appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This “Unfiltered” episode of Fixing Healthcare features Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a respected cardiologist and advocate for physician well-being; Dr. Robert Pearl, healthcare leader and author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD”; and Jeremy Corr, CEO of Executive Podcast Solutions, who adds the patient’s perspective.

On the show today, the trio delves into the intriguing concept of luck and its impact on medicine and life, exploring how perceptions of luck influence happiness, health outcomes and success.

Today’s topics include:

Luck vs. serendipity: The distinction between luck and serendipity and the importance of recognizing and seizing opportunities.
Optimism and mindset: The significance of optimism and a growth mindset, with references to Carol Dweck’s and Martin Seligman’s research.
Privilege and social inequities: The role of privilege in perceived luck and how systemic factors contribute to opportunities and outcomes.
Autonomy in medicine: The balance between autonomy and standardization in healthcare, and the conflict between individual clinician intuition and best practices.
Community and accountability: The tension between personal autonomy and community responsibility, particularly in healthcare behaviors that impact public health and finances.

To discover more, press play and check out these helpful links:

New book: ‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher)

New book: ‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl)

Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #142: The role of luck in medicine and life appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this poignant episode of Fixing Healthcare, cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr engage in a deep and heartfelt conversation with Lucy Kalanithi, MD.

Dr. Kalanithi, a clinical assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University, reflects on the enduring impact of her late husband Paul Kalanithi’s memoir, When Breath Becomes Air, and her experiences navigating life, loss and love.

Dr. Pearl begins by acknowledging the profound influence of the memoir and commends Kalanithi for her beautifully written epilogue. The discussion delves into various aspects of her journey, highlighting the personal and philosophical reflections that have shaped her understanding of life and death.

This episode explores:

Paul’s legacy. Kalanithi shares insights into Paul’s life as a neurosurgeon and writer, his philosophical interests, and how his terminal diagnosis profoundly influenced their lives and his writing.
The decision to have a child. The episode explores the couple’s choice to have a child despite Paul’s terminal illness and the impact it has had on Kalanithi and their daughter, Cady.
Coping with loss. Kalanithi discusses the challenges of facing Paul’s death, the physical and emotional toll it took, and how she found ways to process her grief.
Legacy and memory. Paul’s memoir has helped keep his memory alive for friends, family and, most importantly, for Lucy and Cady. Kalanithi explains the importance of maintaining connections with the deceased while moving forward in life.
Finding new love. Finally, she explains the complexities and nuances of falling in love again after such a significant loss, and how it does not diminish the love and memory of the deceased.

Throughout the episode, Kalanithi offers valuable advice for those navigating similar experiences, emphasizing the importance of palliative care, finding support, and allowing oneself to grieve fully. Her reflections on balancing the pain of loss with the beauty of new beginnings provide a deeply human perspective on end-of-life issues.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the upcoming book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #141: Reflections on life after loss with Lucy Kalanithi appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This month’s “Diving Deep” episode, part of the Fixing Healthcare podcast series, takes a close look at two critical topics in the realm of healthcare: OpenAI’s newest update, GPT-4o, and the exorbitant pricing of GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic.

Cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr explore the profound implications that these advancements and challenges hold for the future of medicine.

The episode begins with an in-depth discussion on OpenAI’s GPT-4o update. Dr. Pearl and Corr analyze how this generative AI tool, which now features human-like interactions, can revolutionize healthcare by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, treatment recommendations and patient monitoring.

Next, the conversation shifts to the high costs of GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic. Dr. Pearl sheds light on why these effective weight-loss medications remain out of reach for many Americans. The discussion includes a critical look at the disparity in global pricing and the urgent need for legislative action to make these life-saving drugs more affordable.

Click play to learn more or check out the various links below for additional information.

HELPFUL LINKS

OpenAI’s Rule-Shattering GPT-4o Update Will Be Lifesaving, Too (Forbes)
Wegovy And Ozempic Are Overpriced By 400-500% — Here’s A Quick Solution (Forbes)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #140: Diving deep into GLP-1 drug prices and ChatGPT’s newest update appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Medicine: The Truth covers the latest news and most pressing issues in medicine today.

In this episode, hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl discuss the latest updates in healthcare costs, COVID-19, the spread of bird flu, and several other critical medical issues.

Starting with skyrocketing healthcare costs, new figures show that U.S. spending on medical care has surged to $4.8 trillion, with projections indicating a rise to $7.7 trillion by 2032. This increase threatens to outpace both general inflation and wages, affecting employer-based coverage, Medicare and Medicaid.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases are rising again, particularly in the western and southern U.S., as people gather indoors during hot weather. However, the current variants are not more dangerous than previous ones, keeping hospitalizations and deaths low. Today’s show also takes a look at a new report about the challenges and uncertainties of long COVID, which affects millions of adults and children.

The spread of H5 bird flu to cattle has raised alarms, with recent human cases in Michigan and Colorado. The CDC’s monitoring and potential vaccine development efforts are crucial to prevent a broader outbreak. With the failures of COVID-19 serving as backdrop, are health experts responding appropriately to this threat?

Join us to explore these critical issues and more. Here’s a snapshot of all the topics covered on this episode of Medicine: The Truth.

Rising healthcare costs
Bird flu concerns
Supreme Court decision on abortion medication
Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy drug
Mortality rates post-pandemic
Psychedelic therapy for PTSD
New Alzheimer’s drug
Social media’s impact on mental health
STI rates and new CDC guidelines
Unexpected outcomes of abortion restrictions
Gender affirming treatment legislation
Weight loss medications
Economic impact of healthcare prices
Long COVID insights

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine“ about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #85: Skyrocketing healthcare costs and new insights into long COVID appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this special episode of “Diving Deep,” part of the Fixing Healthcare podcast series, cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr dive deep into the economic and societal implications of rising healthcare costs with Zack Cooper.

Cooper, an associate professor of public health and economics at Yale, serves as director of health policy at Yale’s Institution for Social and Policy Studies. He is a health economist whose data-driven insights have helped reshape public policy.

On today’s show, Cooper explains how employer-sponsored health insurance, which covers most Americans under 65, is anything but free. As healthcare prices rise, the costs are passed down to workers through increased premiums and, more insidiously, through job losses. Cooper’s research highlights that when healthcare prices increase, employers often respond by reducing their workforce to manage the higher insurance premiums, disproportionately affecting workers earning between $20,000 and $100,000 a year.

Cooper also discusses the broader impact of rising healthcare costs on communities. These costs contribute to decreased tax revenue and increased government spending on unemployment benefits and subsidies, leading to a negative cycle of economic decline in affected areas. The psychological toll of job losses, including increases in suicides and opioid overdoses, underscores the far-reaching consequences of healthcare inefficiencies.

Click play to learn more or check out the various links below for additional information.

HELPFUL LINKS

1% Steps for Health Care Reform Project (website)
How to Fix the Hot Mess of U.S. Healthcare (Freakanomics)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #139: The hidden costs of rising healthcare prices with Zack Cooper appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This “Unfiltered” episode of Fixing Healthcare features Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a respected cardiologist and advocate for physician well-being; Dr. Robert Pearl, healthcare leader and author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD”; and Jeremy Corr, CEO of Executive Podcast Solution, who adds the patient’s perspective.

The trio explores the evolving roles of parents in modern families and their profound impact on health. Dr. Fisher shares insights on how traditional and contemporary parenting roles affect cardiovascular health and emotional well-being. Dr. Pearl delves into the long-term effects of secure and insecure attachments formed in childhood, while Jeremy Corr brings a relatable perspective from the patient’s viewpoint.

Topics include:

The significance of secure attachment in preventing chronic stress and heart disease
The challenges faced by single parents and the importance of a supportive community
How celebrities and influencers affect our emotions and health through parasocial relationships
The impact of digital devices on parenting and children’s mental health

To discover more, press play and check out these helpful links:

New book: ‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher)

New book: ‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl)

Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #138: Examining unhealthy relationships with parents, celebs & AI appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this special episode of Fixing Healthcare, co-hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr dive into surprising insights and lessons drawn from Dr. Pearl’s literary works. Focusing on his 2017 book “Mistreated: Why We Think We’re Getting Good Healthcare—and Why We’re Usually Wrong,” and his new release, “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine,” Pearl compares the world healthcare, now and then.

The episode opens with Corr asking Pearl about the motivation behind his newest book and how it connects to his previous works. Dr. Pearl recounts his journey, starting with the revelations from his time as CEO of Kaiser Permanente, where he realized the systemic flaws in American healthcare. His first book, “Mistreated,” was written to highlight these issues, comparing healthcare to a 19th century cottage industry that was stuck in the past.

Despite the optimism following the publication “Mistreated,” Dr. Pearl observed that little had changed in the following years. This led him to explore the deep-seated cultural issues in medicine in his second book, “Uncaring: How the Culture of Medicine Kills Doctors and Patients.” Yet again, change remained elusive.

Pearl’s newest book, “ChatGPT, MD” emerged from the realization that a powerful tool like generative AI could finally catalyze the much-needed transformation in healthcare. This book, co-authored with ChatGPT itself, delves into the potential of AI to enhance diagnoses, manage chronic diseases and streamline patient care, making healthcare more efficient and equitable.

To illustrate the ongoing challenges and the potential impact of AI, Dr. Pearl reads excerpts from the first and last chapters of “Mistreated,” recounting the harrowing story of his father, Jack Pearl. Through this personal narrative, he highlights the tragic consequences of medical errors and systemic failures that led to his father’s untimely death.

Dr. Pearl then discusses three significant ways his father’s care could have been improved with the advent of generative AI. And he expresses optimism that the introduction of generative AI into healthcare can finally drive the changes he has long advocated for, making the system more effective, compassionate and patient-centered.

Tune in to this compelling episode to hear Dr. Pearl’s reflections and visions for the future of healthcare, and join the conversation on social media.

HELPFUL LINKS

Buy “ChatGPT, MD” with all profits going to Doctors Without Borders (Amazon)
Learn more about “Mistreated” and “Uncaring” (RobertPearlMD.com)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (monthly digital newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the upcoming book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #137: How generative AI could have saved my father appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This episode of Fixing Healthcare continues the ninth season’s focus on end-of-life issues by exploring the often overlooked topics of love and sexuality during this critical time.

Cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr welcome Dr. Pebble Kranz, a sexual medicine specialist and medical director at the Rochester Center for Sexual Wellness.

In a recent Medscape column titled “Physicians: Don’t Ignore Sexuality in Your Dying Patients,” Dr. Kranz wrote: “I have a long history of being interested in conversations that others avoid. In medical school, I felt that we didn’t talk enough about death, so I organized a lecture series on end-of-life care for my fellow students. Now, as a sexual medicine specialist, I have other conversations from which many medical providers shy away.”

She brings a unique perspective to the podcast, highlighting the importance of addressing sexual concerns for patients nearing the end of their lives. She discusses the need for healthcare providers to have open, honest conversations about sexuality, noting that patients often want to discuss these issues, but clinicians are frequently uncomfortable or unprepared to do so.

Throughout the interview, Dr. Kranz emphasizes that sexuality is a vital part of human identity and well-being, extending from young adulthood through old age, and even in illness. She shares insights from her work, including the story of a 75-year-old patient with cancer who sought to maintain her sexual health despite her illness.

The episode addresses several key points:

The cultural and medical taboos surrounding discussions of sexuality, especially for patients at the end of life.
The importance of medical education in preparing clinicians to handle sexual health concerns.
Strategies for expanding the concept of sexual play and intimacy to accommodate the changing needs and capabilities of patients.
The role of healthcare providers in facilitating conversations about sexual health and providing appropriate treatments.

Dr. Kranz also touches on the emotional and existential dimensions of sexuality, explaining how physical intimacy can help patients feel more connected to themselves and others, even as they face terminal illness. She advocates for more privacy and support in hospital settings to allow patients to express their sexuality and maintain close relationships.

Tune in for the full interview and join the conversation on social media.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the upcoming book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #136: Love and sexuality at the end of life with Dr. Pebble Kranz appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This month’s “Diving Deep” episode, part of the Fixing Healthcare podcast series, delves into a pair of stories that will have a significant impact on the U.S. healthcare workforce. Cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr explore the intricate legalities surrounding medical malpractice in the age of AI, as well as the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent rule to ban non-compete clauses.

The episode begins with an in-depth look at a new set of liability issues in medicine: What happens when AI harms a patient? Dr. Pearl discusses how concerns among clinicians are shifting—from AI reliability to liability. Highlighting insights from Michelle Mello, a professor of law and health policy at Stanford University, the segment addresses the complexities of determining liability when AI tools are involved in patient care. Dr. Pearl outlines key considerations for healthcare professionals, emphasizing the importance of understanding AI’s limitations, negotiating terms of use with AI developers, and staying informed about the legal landscape.

Next, the conversation transitions to the FTC’s groundbreaking decision to ban non-compete agreements. This ruling, set to take effect in September, is anticipated to have a profound impact on the medical profession by boosting career mobility, increasing competition and potentially reducing healthcare costs. Dr. Pearl and Jeremy Corr discuss the winners and losers of this new regulation, focusing on how the ban will benefit newly trained clinicians and patients in competitive healthcare markets while posing challenges for large health systems and hospital administrators.

Click play to learn more or check out the various links below for additional information.

HELPFUL LINKS

If AI Harms A Patient, Who Gets Sued? (Forbes)
Healthcare Winners And Losers After FTC Bans Noncompete Agreements (Forbes)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #135: Diving Deep into AI-medical malpractice & FTC’s non-compete ban appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Today’s episode of Medicine: The Truth examines important updates in women’s health, focusing on mammograms and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), among other pressing news topics in medicine.

The U.S. Preventive Task Force has updated its mammogram guidelines, now recommending that screenings start at age 40 instead of 50 and occur every two years. This adjustment responds to data showing that breast cancer is occurring earlier, potentially due to changes in pregnancy timing and related hormonal impacts. By starting screenings a decade earlier, the Task Force projects a 19% reduction in breast cancer deaths in the U.S.

The hosts discussion then revisits the use of hormone replacement therapy. After concerns in the early 2000s about its link to increased cancer risks, new studies indicate HRT is safe for younger post-menopausal women under 60. These studies correct earlier misconceptions, showing no increase in heart risk or mortality and a lower risk of breast cancer with estrogen-only treatments. Dr. Pearl highlights the necessity of data-driven medical practices to prevent the overreactions of the past.

The episode advocates for informed healthcare decisions, particularly in how women are treated during menopause. Join us to explore these critical issues and more. Here’s a snapshot of all the topics covered on this episode of Medicine: The Truth.

Medical debt now affects more than 100 million Americans
Seniors have seen the biggest rise in mental health diagnoses
Why drug ODs are down for the time since the onset of Covid-19
New recommendations for mammogram screenings
New data on hormone medications for menopause
Hospitals now demanding patients pay in advance
The mystery of Beethoven’s deafness finally solved
320,000 children lost a parent to a drug overdose from 2011-2021
A new program to attract more people to mental health counseling
The newest research on Alzheimer’s Disease treatments
Why half of rural hospitals are losing money
Status of the pig-kidney transplant recipient?
AI vs. clinician’s diagnostic accuracy in the emergency room
Does H5N1 have what it takes to become a viral pandemic?
Longevity vs. “healthy life expectancy”
The death of Walmart Health and what it means for other retailers

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine“ about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #84: The latest research on mammograms, hormone (HRT) medications appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This “Unfiltered” episode of Fixing Healthcare features Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a respected cardiologist and advocate for physician well-being; Dr. Robert Pearl, healthcare leader and author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD”; and Jeremy Corr, CEO of Executive Podcast Solution, who adds the patient’s perspective.

Today, the trio dives deep into why lifestyle medicine improvements—such as diet, weight loss, mental health, and relaxation—are so challenging for people. Dr. Fisher discusses the psychological and motivational factors that create barriers to change, while Dr. Pearl explores how generative AI could assist in overcoming these hurdles. Jeremy Corr brings the patient’s viewpoint, emphasizing the real-world difficulties and potential solutions from a non-clinician’s perspective.

Join the panel as they explore the complexities of human behavior, the role of healthcare professionals in coaching patients, and the innovative technologies that could revolutionize how we approach health and well-being. This episode provides insightful strategies and compassionate advice for anyone looking to make lasting, positive change in their life.

To discover more, press play and check out these helpful links:

New book: ‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher)

New book: ‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl)

Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #134: An unfiltered look at the challenges of lifestyle medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This episode of Fixing Healthcare dives into the essential yet often misunderstood world of palliative and hospice care—part of this ninth season’s continued focus on end-of-life issues.

Our guest today, Dr. Monique Danielle Schaulis, MD, MPH, is a board-certified physician in both Emergency Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She is currently practicing at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco. With extensive experience and a compassionate approach, Dr. Schaulis sheds light on the critical role of palliative care in modern healthcare.

Alongside cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr, Schaulis tackles common myths and misunderstandings surrounding palliative care. She explains why palliative care is not just for end-of-life situations, and how it can be integrated with curative treatments at any stage of a serious illness. She emphasizes that palliative care is a holistic medical specialty focused on improving the quality of life for patients of all ages by addressing physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and existential distress.

This episode also explores why American culture struggles with the acceptance of death and palliative care. Dr. Schaulis reflects on how historical developments in medical technology and a lack of training for physicians on end-of-life conversations contribute to this issue. Tune in to learn more about the transformative potential of palliative care and how it can enhance quality of life for patients—and their families.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #133: The many misconceptions of palliative care appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This month’s “Diving Deep” episode, part of the Fixing Healthcare podcast series, takes a close look at two transformative AI developments in healthcare. Cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr explore the profound medical potential of ChatGPT’s new “memory” and Nvidia’s new AI bots, which the company claims can outperform nurses in some tasks.

The episode begins with a spotlight on ChatGPT’s enhanced memory capabilities. This breakthrough could revolutionize healthcare by making interactions more contextual and patient-specific, potentially leading to more accurate diagnoses and personalized care. Dr. Pearl discusses how this new AI feature could integrate vast amounts of medical data, dramatically improving clinical outcomes by overcoming the current limitations of electronic health records and knowledge accessibility.

Next, the conversation shifts to Nvidia’s latest innovation: AI bots that have shown promising results in performing certain nursing tasks more accurately than humans. This segment examines the implications of such technology in healthcare, discussing both the efficiency gains and the ethical considerations of integrating AI at this level of care.

Throughout the episode, Corr quizzes Pearl on these advancements, unpacking their medical relevance and vast potential. The discussion is not only a deep dive into the current capabilities of AI in medicine but also a thoughtful exploration of its future trajectory and the ethical landscape that accompanies it.

Click play to learn more or check out the various links below for additional information.

HELPFUL LINKS

3 Ways ChatGPT’s ‘Memory’ Can Spark Breakthroughs In Healthcare (Forbes)
Nvidia’s AI Bot Outperforms Nurses, Study Finds. Here’s What It Means. (Forbes)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #132: Diving deep into ChatGPT’s ‘memory’ and Nvidia’s AI bot appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Medicine: The Truth covers the latest news and most pressing issues in medicine today. The headline story for this episode focuses on the FTC’s vote to ban non-compete agreements.

Co-host Dr. Robert Pearl explains how these clauses were originally designed to protect trade secrets, but have been used in healthcare to prevent doctors from taking new positions—and taking their patients with them.

Non-compete policies not only disrupt the doctor-patient relationship but also contribute to higher healthcare costs. As Pearl has written about in Forbes and other outlets, hospital consolidation has long been a strategic move to control market share, leading to increased medical bills and facility fees. Non-compete clauses have been central to maintaining this monopoly. It’s no surprise the ban is being fiercely opposed by the American Hospital Association and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Alongside cohost Jeremy Corr, Pearl unpacks this issue and the following topics in this episode of Medicine: The Truth.

Care organizations led by primary care physicians are most effective, efficient
263,000 docs have become employees since 2012
The FTC ban on non-compete clauses
Research finds weight-loss drugs also treat sleep apnea
Patient receives a pig’s kidney in experimental transplant
S. doctors accepted $12.1 billion from drug companies over the past 10 years
Paxlovid ineffective for vaccinated individuals with Covid-19
Why financial breaks didn’t spur insulin usage among diabetics
The impact of Covid-19 on child development
HHS mandates attending doctors get permission for pelvic, prostate exams
ChatGPT becoming more reliable and accurate in diagnosing disease
Unnecessary inpatient care cost $6 billion last year
Republicans reported 25% more severe reactions to Covid-19 vaccine

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine“ about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #83: How will the FTC’s non-compete ban affect healthcare workers? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Today’s episode of Fixing Healthcare is a true sign of the times in medicine. Not only is generative AI the topic of today’s podcast, it’s also an active participant. Co-host Jeremy Corr used ChatGPT to come up with questions for fellow co-host Dr. Robert Pearl about “ChatGPT, MD,” a new book that Pearl co-authored with ChatGPT.

Still following? This unique setup underscores the dynamic relationship between artificial intelligence, medicine and healthcare leadership.

ChatGPT, with questions voiced by Jeremy Corr, delves into Dr. Pearl’s decision to write “ChatGPT, MD,” a book that aims to demystify the potential and practicalities of AI in healthcare. The discussion moves through a series of insightful questions, thoughtfully generated by AI, to probe the nuances of integrating large language models like ChatGPT into the medical field. These questions explore the opportunities AI presents for improving diagnostic accuracy, personalizing patient care, and streamlining administrative processes in healthcare settings.

As the conversation unfolds, it becomes clear that AI’s integration into healthcare promises significant advancements, but it also raises important ethical, legal and operational considerations.

Note to listeners: all profits from Dr. Pearl’s book go to Doctors Without Borders.

HELPFUL LINKS

Buy “ChatGPT, MD” with all profits going to Doctors Without Borders (Amazon)
Empowering patients: Navigating medical information with AI (KevinMD)
My journey with AI and medicine: ‘ChatGPT, MD’ is here (RobertPearlMD.com)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the coauthor of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #131: ChatGPT interviews Dr. Pearl about their new book, ‘ChatGPT, MD’ appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this “Unfiltered” episode of Fixing Healthcare, the conversation dives deep into the role of AI in medicine with Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a respected cardiologist and advocate for physician well-being; Dr. Robert Pearl, author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD”; and Jeremy Corr, CEO of Executive Podcast Solution, who adds the patient’s perspective.

The panel examines the current applications of AI in the medical field, highlighting early successes and the challenges of integrating a technology that isn’t quite ready for widespread adoption.

Recent studies indicate that 40% of doctors feel comfortable using AI for specific clinical and administrative tasks. However, many patients express concerns about physicians becoming overly dependent on AI for diagnoses and treatments. Fisher, Pearl and Corr cut through the noise to focus on the facts, helping listeners understand what AI can currently achieve, its potential in the near future, and the issues to watch as technology firms and healthcare leaders smooth out the rough edges.

As always, Corr voices a critical patient-oriented question – this one about the potential risks of AI in healthcare and how to mitigate patient concerns.

To discover more, press play and check out these helpful links:

Buy now: ‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s new book)

Buy now: ‘ChatGPT, MD’ (Robert Pearl’s new book)

3 Ways ChatGPT’s ‘Memory’ Can Spark Breakthroughs In Healthcare (Forbes)

Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #130: An unfiltered look at AI’s current, future uses in medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In a special episode of the Fixing Healthcare podcast, co-host Dr. Robert Pearl, former CEO of The Permanente Medical Group and a respected voice in healthcare, shares two chapters from his latest work, “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine,” which he co-authored with the generative AI model ChatGPT.

Listener note: All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders

Celebrating the book’s release, which has already clinched the #1 new release spot on Amazon, Dr. Pearl chose to read excerpts from two pivotal chapters, providing listeners a unique glimpse into the collaborative process between a human author and generative AI.

Dr. Pearl reads from chapter five, a section primarily penned by him, followed by chapter six, where ChatGPT took the lead, crafting 90% of the content. The exercise offered an intriguing comparison, allowing listeners to discern the nuances between human and AI contributions.

Throughout, Dr. Pearl emphasized the collaborative nature of the book, underscoring the potential of generative AI to revolutionize healthcare by enhancing the partnership between patients and doctors.

HELPFUL LINKS

Empowering patients: Navigating medical information with AI (KevinMD)
My journey with AI and medicine: ‘ChatGPT, MD’ is here (RobertPearlMD.com)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the upcoming book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #129: A reading from Dr. Pearl’s newest book, ‘ChatGPT, MD’ appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Today’s episode of Medicine: The Truth delves into the lasting impact of adverse childhood events (ACEs) on mental and physical health in adulthood. A groundbreaking study involving over 25,000 Swedish twins has shed new light on the significant role the environment plays in shaping mental health outcomes, revealing that individuals who experienced major childhood traumas were substantially more likely to develop psychiatric illnesses compared to their non-traumatized twin counterparts.

Podcast cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr unpack these findings, exploring the intricate relationship between childhood adversity and later life health challenges, including depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and even physical ailments like heart disease and cancer. The discussion extends to the influence of genetics versus environment on mental health and the transformative potential of nurturing healthier environments for children to mitigate these long-term impacts.

Are we underestimating the power of our childhood experiences on our adult well-being? Join us to explore this critical question and more in today’s thought-provoking episode. Here’s a snapshot of all the topics covered on this episode of Medicine: The Truth.

The latest on birth control availability
The link between COVID vaccination and political affiliation
The Alabama Supreme Court’s decision on IVF embryos
New twin study about mental health and childhood trauma
How to close the “empathy gap” in medicine
New data on fentanyl deaths
Voters’ top healthcare concerns in 2024
ER visits up for kids taking parents’ sleep medications
Price of new drugs defy White House actions
Healthcare held hostage by ransomware attack
Generative AI’s latest medical advance
Consumers growing more comfortable with AI in medicine
How the Dobbs ruling affected abortion rates

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine“ about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #82: How do childhood traumas shape our health as adults? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Late last year, Fixing Healthcare cohost Dr. Robert Pearl read a remarkable essay in the New York Times titled, “I Promised My Sister I Would Write About How She Chose to Die.” In that essay, Steven Petrow offers a deeply personal account of his sister Julie’s choice to use Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) in New Jersey.

Her journey, marked by advanced ovarian cancer and the exhaustion of treatment options, illustrates the importance of MAID as a means of taking control at life’s end. The piece advocates for wider awareness and accessibility of such options, emphasizing the dignity in making a profound and personal choice.

Petrow, a contributing columnist at The Washington Post and the author, most recently, of “Stupid Things I Won’t Do When I Get Old,” joins the podcast today to discuss a panoply of end of life issues, which is the focus of this ninth season of Fixing Healthcare.

Tune in for the full interview and join the conversation on social media.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the upcoming book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #128: ‘I Promised My Sister I Would Write About How She Chose to Die’ appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Fixing Healthcare co-host Dr. Robert Pearl recently returned from a surgical mission in the Philippines. The trip not only reignited his passion for global surgery, but it also provided three key lessons about American healthcare.

That’s the first topic of this week’s “Diving Deep” program. The second takes a different look at the state of American healthcare, this time through the lens of human evolution.

Pearl notes, “In a world where change is the only constant, the swift currents of modern life contrast starkly with the sluggish pace of genetic evolution—and of American healthcare, too.”

He and co-host Jeremy Corr discuss whether our nation’s healthcare system can evolve as fast as our DNA. Two relatively recent biological events offer profound insights into American medicine—along with a warning about what happens when healthcare systems fail to change.

Learn more about these two topics in today’s episode of Fixing Healthcare. Click play to learn more or check out the various links below for additional information.

HELPFUL LINKS

3 Surprising Lessons U.S. Medicine Can Learn From Around The World (Forbes)
How Genetic Insights Can Reshape American Medicine (Forbes)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the upcoming book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #127: Diving deep into the state of American healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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As Dr. Robert Pearl puts the finisihing touches on his upcoming book “ChatGPT, MD,” the cohost thought it would be a fitting time to read a chapter from his previous book “Uncaring: How the Culture of Medicine Kills Doctors & Patients.” All profits from sales of Pearl’s books go to Doctors Without Borders.

What you’re about to hear is the story of Judy, a colleague of Dr. Pearl’s at Kaiser Permanente, and Judy’s spouse. It’s a story about acceptance and kindness, about love without labels, about honoring commitments in good times and bad, and about the enduring power of hope in life’s most challenging moments.

Tune in and join the conversation on social media. You can also learn more about this topic and the book of Uncaring via the links below.

HELPFUL LINKS

The story of Judy at Kaiser Permanente (San Francisco Chronicle)
Learn more about the book ‘Uncaring’ (RobertPearlMD.com)
Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #126: On finding peace with who you are appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Today’s episode of Medicine: The Truth takes a look at the mental and physical health of America’s youth.

More than ever before, kids 17 and under are getting their medical care at drug stores and retail clinics, signaling a further decline in traditional doctor-patient relationships. Meanwhile, new data show that young people, especially adolescent girls, experienced a massive increase in antidepressant medication usage during the pandemic—trends that continue today at an alarming rate.

Podcast cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr discuss what’s happening with America’s young people. Are the kids going to be alright? Find out on today’s show.

Here’s a snapshot of all the topics covered on this episode of Medicine: The Truth.

The effectiveness of the latest COVID-19 vaccines
In-person vs. virtual visits following medical abortion
The impact of COVID-19 on babies and their mothers
The rise of cervical cancer among low-income women
Why younger patients are getting their care at retail clinics
Antidepressant prescriptions boomed among adolescent girls
Unpaid medical bills are also on the rise
Ransomware attacks are preventing Rx refills
Insurers are cracking down on popular weight-loss drugs
Alabama’s courts rule against IVF treatments
How Jimmy Carter has survived a year in hospice
An unprecedented donation to a medical school is sparking hope
The importance of healthcare in this year’s election
The impact of running on prostate cancer
The residual impact of Long COVID

Click here for more info: https://www.fixinghealthcarepodcast.com/

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #81: Are the kids alright, medically? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This ninth season of Fixing Healthcare continues its focus on complex end-of-life issues. In this episode, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr venture outside the traditional walls of medicine for help understanding the spiritual and communal aspects of end-of-life decision making. Joining today’s show is Rabbi Melanie Aron. As a Jewish scholar and expert in Reform Judaism with a rich history of spiritual leadership and personal compassion, she brings a unique perspective to this important topic.

Serving Congregation Shir Hadash of Los Gatos for over three decades, and now as Rabbi Emerita, her involvement with diverse, interfaith organizations reflects her commitment to community and open dialogue. Rabbi Aron’s experiences offer invaluable insights into how different traditions and communities navigate end-of-life decisions.

This episode explores:

Religious traditions and their influence over the medical decisions of people who are nearing the end of their lives.
The difference between legal restrictions on end-of-life medical care and the moral/ethical considerations that still confront people of faith.
What religion can teach clinicians about providing more compassionate medical care at the end of life.
Situations where religions institutions and medical institutions agree and disagree on end-of-life treatments.
Brain death, Alzheimer’s, hospice care, assisted dying—seen through the lens of religious texts and teachings.
Whether mental and physical health be treated similarly when making moral and ethical decisions around a person’s death.
Advice for families struggling with the reality that a loved one has a terminal disease.

Tune in for the full interview and join the conversation on social media.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #125: Beyond medicine—a Rabbi’s insights on end-of-life issues appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This “Unfiltered” episode of Fixing Healthcare welcomes back Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a respected cardiologist and renowned advocate for physician well-being. This February, what more appropriate topic to discuss with a heart doctor than love?

Dr. Fisher, whose upcoming book “Just One Heart” dedicates an entire chapter to the topic, says that love is a skill that requires practice, work and considered thought. The elevated amount of dedication and commitment needed to find and foster love is not unlike the journey toward becoming a doctor. Dr. Fisher recalls some of the obstacles he faced in both arenas: his study of cardiology and of love.

“In medical school and residency training, I did not value love,” said Dr. Fisher. “I valued success and becoming a great doctor. And, actually, that was part of the reason I became burned out. I under-valued and under-indexed love and over-indexed success, at least the way that it was modeled to me by my teachers.”

Fixing Healthcare cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr help Dr. Fisher explore the importance of love in all aspects of life. Dr. Fisher offers tips and techniques for mastering the “skill” of love. Dr. Pearl describes the medical and psychological consequences tied to the lack of love in one’s life and how recently he elevated his love of medicine during a surgical mission to the Philippines. They share statistical evidence of love’s impact on happiness, professional satisfaction and even longevity. And, as always, Jeremy Corr chimes in with a question on behalf of patients.

To discover more, press play and check out these helpful links:

Presale: ‘Just One Heart’ (Jonathan Fisher’s new book)

Rediscovering The Mission, Purpose Of Medicine (Forbes)

Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (RobertPearlMD.com)

Breaking The Rules Of Healthcare (LinkedIn)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #124: An unfiltered look at the science & skill of love appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Albert Einstein pointed out that time is relative. And when it comes to healthcare, five years can feel like a long and short amount of time. That’s certainly true of ...

The post FHC #105: Diving deep into the good, bad and ugly of U.S. healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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The weight-loss drug Wegovy reduces serious heart disease, the nation’s No. 1 cause of death, according to a new clinical trial.

Proponents of the drug describe this finding as an added bonus to the drug’s prescribed purpose: shedding excess pounds.

In a nation where 60% of the population is obese or overweight and where 600,000+ die from cardiovascular events each year, the question is how can we afford not to prescribe more of these lifesaving medications?

The answer is complicated, says podcast cohost Dr. Robert Pearl, who explains that the cost of drugs in the U.S. remains disproportionately higher than in all other nations. The price of Ozempic (another drug known to assist with weight-loss) costs five times more in the United States than in Japan and 10 times more than in most European nations.

When it comes to paying for drugs that could make a huge difference in our nation’s health, who’s on the hook? That question and many others are answered on this episode of “Medicine: The Truth.”

Also featured on today’s program:

The newest coronavirus variant: the most-transmissible yet?
A newly approved medication for post-partum depression
Why middleclass families have the nation’s highest medical debt
Measuring the medical performance of AI vs. doctors
Striking the right balance when regulating drugmakers
The folly of BMI (body mass index) calculations
Right arm or left: Does it matter when getting Covid vaccinations?
Using pig kidneys for humans in need of a transplant
The new leading cause of death for America’s kids
The cost imbalance of weight-loss drugs in U.S. vs. elsewhere
Reflecting on Robert Burgelman’s appearance on FHC
The unending debate over physician autonomy
Biden places 10 drugs on discount list for Medicare negotiations

Click here for more info: https://www.fixinghealthcarepodcast.com/

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #76: Can Rx weight-loss drugs help prevent heart attacks, too? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Dr. Robert Burgelman is the Edmund W. Littlefield Professor of Management and the Director of the Executive Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. As a worldwide expert on ...

The post FHC #104: Robert Burgelman on strategic leadership in healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This “Unfiltered” episode of Fixing Healthcare welcomes back Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a respected cardiologist and renowned advocate for physician well-being, for a fascinating debate about American healthcare. Alongside cohost Jeremy ...

The post FHC #103: Too much or not enough in American healthcare? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Time and again, researchers have confirmed that the American healthcare system is ineffective, too expensive and falling further behind its international peers in critical measures of performance. In this episode ...

The post FHC #102: Diving deep into value-based care and the need for ‘system-ness’ appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Dr. Sachin Jain joins the podcast for the first time to talk about leadership in American healthcare. And his diagnosis is grim. “In American healthcare, we’ve lost our ethical and ...

The post FHC #101: Sachin Jain on the leadership crisis in American healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Welcome to the 100th episode of Fixing Healthcare. To kick things off, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr are taking the opportunity to examine what has improved (and, notably, hasn’t ...

The post FHC #100: Diving deep into weight-loss drugs + toxic leadership appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This “Unfiltered” episode of Fixing Healthcare welcomes back Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a respected cardiologist and renowned advocate for physician well-being. Alongside cohost Jeremy Corr, Dr. Robert Pearl kicks off the ...

The post FHC #99: Why is healthcare so expensive and who will fix it? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Returning to the Fixing Healthcare podcast for a third time is Dr. Don Berwick, here to talk about the dire need for leadership to address our nation’s many healthcare crises. ...

The post FHC #98: Don Berwick on leadership, greed + a promising youth movement appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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As Americans everywhere gather around their BBQ grills and gaze up at fireworks, Fixing Healthcare hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl revisit an important episode from the show’s current ...

The post FHC #97: Fixing Healthcare flashback with Malcolm Gladwell appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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The FDA moved forward this month with a recommendation to change the composition of Covid-19 boosters in time for fall. Whereas the current vaxx, a cocktail designed to target the ...

The post MTT #74: A change in the Covid-19 booster? A new Alzheimer’s drug? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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U.S. healthcare is in financial crisis. Patients are feeling the pain, acutely. Nearly 90 million Americans are enrolled in Medicaid at a time when medical bills have become the leading ...

The post FHC #96: Diving deep into the financial crisis of U.S. healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare welcomes back Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a respected cardiologist and renowned advocate for physician well-being. He joins cohosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl to ...

The post FHC #95: This cardiologist took care of 20,000 hearts before taking care of his own appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Abraham Verghese is an American physician, author, Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine and Vice Chair of Education at Stanford University Medical School. He is also the author ...

The post FHC #94: Abraham Verghese on ‘The Covenant of Water’ and the practice of medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Dr. Zeev Neuwirth, Clinical Chief of Care Transformation for Atrium Health, returns to the Fixing Healthcare podcast for a tell-all talk about leadership in healthcare: the good, the bad and the nonexistent.

Neuwirth is the author of “Reframing Healthcare” and host of the podcast “Creating A New Healthcare.” His upcoming book “Beyond The Walls: Megatrends, Movements And Market Disruptors Transforming American Healthcare” will hit bookshelves this fall. It is, in many ways, a collection of insights from the foremost leaders in American medicine.

He joins Dr. Robert Pearl, a longtime healthcare executive and physician leader, and Jeremy Corr, CEO of Executive Podcast Solutions, to share what he has learned about effective leadership and what it will take to lift our nation’s healthcare system “over the wall” of traditional, inefficient, inconvenient and overly in-person medical care.

Helpful links: Beyond the Walls: MegaTrends, Movements and Market Disruptors Transforming American Healthcare (Amazon pre-order) * Creating A New Healthcare (Zeev’s podcast) * Can A Consumer Approach Transform American Medicine? (Psychiatric News) * It’s 2040: How Did U.S. Medicine Become Best In The World?* (Forbes)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a new book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.”

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #93: Zeev Neuwirth on the future ‘titans’ of healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Today’s episode of “Medicine: The Truth” (formerly “Coronavirus: The Truth”) looks at the end of the Covid-19 pandemic on the same day that the Twitter hashtag #CovidIsNotOver is trending.

This month, both the U.S. government and the World Health Organization made decisive statements on the transition out of a global crisis.

“It is time for countries to transition from emergency mode to managing Covid-19 alongside other infectious diseases,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. In support of that statement, Covid-19 deaths continue to fall and may soon dip below 1,000 weekly mortalities, which would put the virus’ annual mortality in the same range as seasonal flu and traffic accidents.

Still, more than 1.1 million Americans have died from the virus while many more live with comprised immune systems and, therefore, remain at heightened risk from infection. These troubling figures leave us with difficult questions.

How many Covid-19 deaths could have been avoided? Why did Black and Hispanic individuals die from Covid-19 more frequently than white and Asian people? Are we any safer or better prepared for the next pandemic?

Hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr discuss these questions and several other pressing healthcare topics, including: a major change in the recommended age for mammogram screenings, the DEA’s plan to reduce deaths from opioid addiction and overdose, and new about FDA advisors backing over-the-counter birth control pills.

Tune in for the full conversation around Covid-19 and a host of healthcare topics. As always, Dr. Pearl and Jeremy eagerly follow the facts, uncover the truth, and help listeners understand how the world’s biggest healthcare stories affect us all. Click here for more info: https://www.fixinghealthcarepodcast.com/

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #73: #CovidIsNotOver or is it? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Since ChatGPT burst onto the tech scene in November 2022, the generative AI application has become one of the hottest topics in the world—and in the world of medicine, especially.

Fixing Healthcare cohost Dr. Robert Pearl is a recognized med-tech leader whose insights and perspectives on generative AI have appeared in USA Today, MSN, Wired, Global News, MedPage Today, Modern Healthcare, Becker’s Hospital Review and on SiriusXM.

In this episode of ‘Diving Deep,’ Pearl tackles your questions about ChatGPT and its potential uses in medical care. He responds to dozens of listeners who have asked about the safety, security and potential risks of ChatGPT and other generative AI in healthcare.

Among the questions answered on today’s show: Will generative AI be HIPAA compliant and secure? Will it help with home health? How will it impact the doctor-patient relationship? Click play to learn more or check out the various links below for additional information.

HELPFUL LINKS

ChatGPT’s Use In Medicine Raises Questions Of Security, Privacy, Bias (Forbes)
Will Generative AI Wreck Or Rekindle The Doctor-Patient Relationship? (Forbes)
ChatGPT is poised to upend medical information. For better and worse. (USA Today)
ChatGPT Can Help Doctors—and Hurt Patients (WIRED)
How ChatGPT may change the role of physicians (MSN via Global News)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #92: Diving deep into the future of AI in medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare welcomes back Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a respected cardiologist and renowned advocate for physician well-being.

He joins cohosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl to discuss the lines between human and machine.

ChatGPT is constantly challenging our understanding of what generative AI can accomplish. From acing medical-licensing tests to coding entire websites from simple prompts and even simulating talented musicians like Drake and Weeknd, the question now is: what can’t AI do?

Dr. Pearl posits that the singularity—a once-hypothetical future point at which technological growth becomes uncontrollable—may be nearing. Dr. Fisher points out that humans tend to overestimate their abilities and, therefore, are overlooking the many limitations of the human mind.

These observations dovetail with humanity’s existing anti-tech biases. Take self-driving cars, for example. Pearl notes that humans are often outraged when an autonomous vehicle kills a pedestrian and, yet, rarely is our outrage targeted at the 50,000 human-generated auto deaths that occur each year.

How will this thinking, and our very human biases, apply to medicine—both for patients and doctors?

To discover more, press play and check out these helpful links:

When you realize your favorite new song was performed by … AI (NPR)

AI has better ‘bedside manner’ than some doctors, study finds (The Guardian)

Will generative AI wreck or rekindle the doctor-patient relationship? (LinkedIn)

ChatGPT can help doctors—and hurt patients (Wired)

ChatGPT’s raises questions of medical security, privacy, bias (Forbes)

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #91: An unfiltered look at what AI can (and cannot) do appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Malcolm Gladwell—author of “Outliers: The Story Of Success” and “David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants”—knows a thing or two about good leaders and bad ones. His insights on leadership blanket his popular books, articles and speeches.

He also knows a thing or two about navigating the American healthcare system. As a relatively new father and the son of a woman in her 90s, Gladwell says, “Observing people at those ends of life, you realize that what you really want from the healthcare system is reassurance as much as anything … You want someone you can call on the phone or email, and who will respond really quickly and tell you it’s going to be okay.”

In this episode of Fixing Healthcare, Gladwell combines his passion for codifying and analyzing effective leadership with his healthcare experiences to prescribe a new path forward.

He joins Robert Pearl, a longtime physician leader and healthcare CEO, and Jeremy Corr, CEO of Executive Podcast Solutions, for a sprawling discussion about blazing new trails in medicine—from hospital C-suites to physician offices to the AI systems that will undoubtedly impact the future of medical care.

Helpful links: Revisionist History (A Malcolm Gladwell podcast) * Malcolm Gladwell on breaking the rules of healthcare (FHC #43) * Outliers (book) * David and Goliath (book) * The ordinary greatness of Roger Bannister (The New Yorker) * Was Jack Welch the greatest CEO of his day—or the worst? (The New Yorker)*

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a new book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.”

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #90: Malcolm Gladwell on a new kind of healthcare leader appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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On today’s episode of “Medicine: The Truth” (formerly “Coronavirus: The Truth”), hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr tackle more of healthcare’s hottest issues and biggest problems.

Today’s show begins with the “end” of the Covid-19 pandemic. This month, the Biden administration signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to end the Public Health Emergency (PHE) declaration that began in March 2020 under then-president Trump. Pearl points out that the official White House notice brought the pandemic to a rather anticlimactic conclusion. After more than 1,000 days of “emergency,” there were no fireworks, no parades, nothing to celebrate a moment for which our nation waited years.

Pearl and Corr then take a step-back look at our nation’s Covid-19 response, offering perspective by comparing it with other high-level government failures.

“When I think of conflicts that ended poorly for the U.S., like Vietnam or Iraq, the conclusions of those wars were treated similarly to how the end of the Covid-19 emergency declaration was handled,” observed Pearl who then asks his cohost, “Do you think the lack of enthusiasm shown by how the government managed the official conclusion to the pandemic reflected a sense of failure or just an acknowledgement that Americans put the pandemic in the rearview mirror months earlier?”

Tune in for the full conversation around Covid-19 and a host pressing healthcare topics. As always, Dr. Pearl and Jeremy eagerly follow the facts, uncover the truth, and help listeners understand how the world’s biggest healthcare stories affect us all. Click here for more info: https://www.fixinghealthcarepodcast.com/.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #72: The Covid-19 pandemic is over! Did anyone notice? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Healthcare regulations have played an essential role in our nation’s health and safety. The FDA has, historically, protected the public from harmful food and medications. The DEA has prevented and investigated illicit drugs. CMS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, has regulated the healthcare system for seniors and people in need.

Fixing Healthcare cohosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr discuss the role of regulators in the context of modern-day healthcare. They find that these regulatory bodies are in a position now to do more harm than good thanks to outdated thinking about technology and present-day healthcare delivery.

In this episode of Diving Deep, Pearl and Corr also return to a previous topic: the conglomerate of healthcare monopolies: hospitals, drug companies, insurer. These players wield tremendous power. But none is poised to win healthcare’s long game. The duo concludes today’s show by explaining who will control the “monopoly” board in five to 10 years.

HELPFUL LINKS

Healthcare Regulators’ Outdated Thinking Will Cost American Lives
In Healthcare’s Game Of Monopoly, One Player Will Control The Board

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #89: Diving deep into medical regulations and monopolies appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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The Fixing Healthcare podcast welcomes back Ian Morrison. He is a globalist, futurist and popular returning guest who, in Season 1, taught us that “every healthcare system sucks in its own unique way.”

Now in Season 8, podcast cohosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl ask Ian to focus on leadership—how doctors, government officials and others can bring about meaningful change in the U.S. healthcare system. He highlights leaders who have driven healthcare improvement and ones who have stood in the way. And he describes what our nation will need to do in order to develop the leaders of tomorrow.

FHC episode 6: Every healthcare system sucks in its own unique way
FHC episode 45: Drs. Alexa and Siri? A healthcare futurist weighs in.
Large Employers Are Suiting Up to Fix Healthcare (Medpage Today)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #88: Good healthcare leaders vs. bad healthcare leaders appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare features Dr. Jonathan Fisher, a respected cardiologist and renowned advocate for physician well-being. He joins cohosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl to discuss a pair of difficult topics in medicine: death and love.

To begin, Dr. Pearl asks Dr. Fisher to elaborate on why physicians find it so difficult to accept death as a natural part of life. Later, Pearl describes a patient who suffered greatly as a result of physicians continuing to provide treatments with no hope for cure or a return to normal. He wonders if patients and physicians alike would benefit from a measurement of the pain and discomfort inflicted on patients in their course of dying.

In the second half of the podcast, the two talk about the post-apocalyptic HBO series The Last Of Us. The doctors both found the show powerful and filled with high drama. But they were moved most by the love that characters demonstrated in the face of fear and desperation. They discuss how the themes apply directly to healthcare today and to the Covid-19 pandemic. Warning: minor spoiler alters.

To find out more, press play and check out these helpful links:

Dealing with grief and shame—with Dr. Jonathan Fisher

Life’s most difficult decision: An excerpt from ‘Uncaring’

The best medicine for patients: The truth

Interview: How the culture of medicine kills doctors and patients

Breaking The Rules Of Healthcare: Following The Science

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #87: An unfiltered look at death, medicine’s No. 1 villain appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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On today’s episode of “Medicine: The Truth” (formerly “Coronavirus: The Truth”), hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr tackle more of healthcare’s hottest issues and biggest problems.

In this show, the hosts discuss the promise (and pitfalls) of generative AI and its future applications in medicine. Are patients ready to get their diagnoses and treatment plans from something (like ChatGPT) rather than someone (their doctor)?

The conversation then shifts to the monopolistic controls of drug makers and price-driving approaches that a longtime healthcare CEO and commentator Dr. Pearl says, “even I could never imagine.” Pearl describes a drug that generates $13 billion in revenue for a company that charges $200,000 per patient per year, 19-times more than it cost in 2007.

As always, Dr. Pearl and Jeremy eagerly follow the facts, uncover the truth, and help listeners understand how the world’s biggest healthcare stories affect us all. Click here for more info: https://www.fixinghealthcarepodcast.com/

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #71: Why is this drug 19-times more expensive than it was in 2007? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Fixing Healthcare cohost Dr. Robert Pearl has long been a go-to resource on all-things AI in medicine. His recent insights and perspectives on ChatGPT have appeared in USA Today, MedPage Today, Forbes and other outlets.

In this episode of Diving Deep, Jeremy Corr asks Pearl about this new and highly controversial technology. How might it improve hospital care, medical education and patient health – and what are the potential pitfalls? That conversation is immediately followed by a familiar topic, as the hosts dive even deeper in healthcare’s conglomerate of monopolies. This time, they examine private equity-backed doctors and the health insurance industry.

As always, this show probes some of healthcare’s most complex topics and deep-seated problems, delivering thoughtful analysis and solutions. To dive in, press play and peruse the links below.

HELPFUL LINKS

How Will ChatGPT Affect Medical Care? (USA Today)
5 Ways ChatGPT Will Change Healthcare Forever, For Better (Forbes)
GPT-4 Is Here. How Can Doctors Use Generative AI Now? (MedPage Today)
Poll: You down with ChatGPT? (RobertPearlMD.com)
Private Equity And The Monopolization Of Medical Care (Forbes)
Why Health Insurers Can, But Won’t, Break Up Medical Monopolies (Forbes)
Breaking The Rules Of Healthcare (LinkedIn Newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #86: Diving deep into GPT-4 (the new ChatGPT) and medicine’s future appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In this episode, Dr. Robert Pearl fields questions from Fixing Healthcare co-host Jeremy Corr about Pearl’s experiences as a healthcare leader, educator, author and columnist.

This season’s focus: How better, bolder leadership can fix American healthcare.

Few know better than Pearl how to turn a struggling healthcare enterprise into a category frontrunner. Under his leadership, Pearl turned Kaiser Permanente into a leader in healthcare technology, quality and patient satisfaction—all while reducing prices. His proven track record and bold vision for the future of medicine represent the gold standard for health systems and primary care organizations across the country.

“Leadership is making things happen that otherwise would not,” says Dr. Pearl. “In broadest terms, leaders create a vision that others can see. Then they align people around that vision. And, finally, they motivate them to move forward.”

Learn more about Pearl’s path from surgeon to healthcare executive and hear his lessons on leadership in this must-hear episode.

Helpful links:

Dr. Robert Pearl and Kaiser Permanente: A Lesson in Strategic Leadership (Stanford)

Healthcare leadership: Making medicine a team sport (LinkedIn)

Brain, Heart, Spine: The Anatomy Of Healthcare Leadership (Forbes)

Becoming a Senior Physician Leader and the Power of Capitation (YouTube)

Permanente CEO shares leadership lessons learned throughout his career (Fierce Healthcare)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a new book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.”

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #85: Dr. Robert Pearl’s leadership vision for American healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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About 15 years ago, Dr. James Chen, a Taiwanese immigrant, was diagnosed with cancer. Throughout his treatment, he experienced the kind of fragmented, low-tech care that too many Americans accept as normal. After his recovery, Chen set out to create a new, better primary care system.

Today, his sons Christopher and Gordon Chen carry forth their father’s mission, providing underserved patients (primarily low-income seniors managing multiple chronic conditions) with a level of concierge-style care typically reserved for the wealthy. Chris, now CEO, and his brother Gordon, Chief Medical Officer, now oversee than 100 medical centers in 15 states.

This is season eight of Fixing Healthcare, which focuses on how leadership can drive transformative improvements in medicine. In this episode, the Chen brothers discuss the future of primary care, the role Medicare Advantage (and capitation) will play, and how their leadership philosophy honors the example set by their father.

HELPFUL LINKS

Humana, ChenMed ink 5-year (Medicare Advantage) deal (Becker’s)
Lessons on disrupting primary care (RobertPearlMD.com)
Managing the most expensive patients (Harvard Business Review)
The ChenMed channel (YouTube)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #84: ChenMed brothers feel ‘moral imperative’ to give seniors affordable, VIP care appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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On today’s episode of “Medicine: The Truth” (formerly “Coronavirus: The Truth”), hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr tackle healthcare’s hottest issues and biggest problems.

The show begins with a question: Why, according to the Commonwealth Fund, is American healthcare once again in last place, lagging its global peers? For the answer, Dr. Pearl borrows from the world of sports. Whether it’s “blocking and tackling” in football or “the plays you should make” in baseball, American healthcare falls short when it comes to the fundamentals: preventing disease, managing chronic illness, and keeping patients safe and out of the hospital.

In Covid-19 news, Dr. Pearl addresses the latest data out of China. While it has long been assumed the country uncounted its Covid-19 death toll (attributing less than 100,000 fatalities to the virus), analysis of year over year mortality rates indicates the true mortality total is between 1 and 1.5 million. This, despite nearly three years of lockdowns, resulting in major economic difficulties.

As always, Dr. Pearl and Jeremy eagerly follow the facts, uncover the truth, and help listeners understand how the world’s biggest healthcare stories affect us all. Click here for more info: https://www.fixinghealthcarepodcast.com/

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #70: Why does U.S. healthcare rank last among wealthy countries (again)? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In any industry, too much market consolidation limits competition, choice and access to goods and services, all of which drives up prices.

But there’s another—often overlooked—consequence. Market leaders that grow too powerful become complacent. And, when that happens, innovation dies. Healthcare is a prime example.

Welcome to Diving Deep. Each month, this show probes some of healthcare’s most complex topics and deep-seated problems, delivering thoughtful analysis and solutions.

Today, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr explore the many ways healthcare has become monopolized, from hospitals and health systems to the drug industry and beyond. Whether you provide medical care or receive it, you’ll learn much from this conversation. To dive in, press play and peruse the helpful links below.

HELPFUL LINKS

How Drug Companies Monopolize Medicine (Forbes)
U.S. Healthcare: A Conglomerate Of Monopolies (Forbes)
Breaking The Rules Of Healthcare (LinkedIn Newsletter)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #83: Diving deep into the many monopolies of U.S. healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Valentine’s Day is here—a time to celebrate the heart. In this episode, Drs. Robert Pearl and Zubin Damania (aka ZDoggMD) discuss a series of studies confirming that interpersonal relationships (with friends, family, etc.) have the biggest impact on life expectancy and overall wellness.

This raises the question: Is there a role for medicine in addressing this most vital component of health?

At Turntable Health, the primary-care venture Dr. Z founded in Las Vegas, the traditional “waiting room” was converted into a community space where patients could hang out, have conversations, participate in mindfulness classes and even form friendships (in a HIPAA-compliant way, he added).

“We are social creatures and we need others,” says ZDoggMD.

In this Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare, cohosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Pearl, along with ZDoggMD, discuss the “L” word, the importance of relationships in good health and how clinicians can set aside denial (a cultural tenet of medicine) and let emotion safely enter in to medical practice.

To find out more, press play and check out these helpful links:

Social Relationships and Health: A Flashpoint for Health Policy

Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions

Healthy Relationships Matter More Than We Think

Do Social Ties Affect Our Health?

ZDoggMD’s YouTube playlist on “Consciousness & Mindfulness”

How One Clinic Disrupted Primary Care, Made Patients Healthier & Failed

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #82: An unfiltered look at love and life expectancy appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Dr. Eric Topol, now a three-time returning guest on the Fixing Healthcare podcast, discusses 21st-century lessons in leadership.

Topol is the director of the Scripps Research Institute and a professor of molecular medicine. He has published more than 1,200 peer-reviewed articles and serves as the editor-in-chief of Medscape. He has authored three bestselling books including his most recent, “Deep Medicine: How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Healthcare Human Again.”

In this episode, Topol talks about the future of medical leadership and the role of AI (including ChatGPT), genomics research and genome editing, medical education and the retail/pharmacy giants in healthcare.

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #81: Eric Topol on the future of AI, medical education and leadership appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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For three years, all eyes (and ears) were turned toward the Covid-19 pandemic. And since early 2020, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr have hosted the popular podcast “Coronavirus: The Truth.”

That show has cut through the fearmongering and misinformation circulated on social media to bring listeners the truth about the coronavirus—with informed commentary, helpful context and reporting from only the most credible sources. Over the past year, as other medical issues have rivaled this viral pandemic in threat and public interest, the duo have added broader healthcare topics to the show.

Today, “Coronavirus: The Truth” becomes “Medicine: The Truth.” Using the same format, the show will tackle healthcare’s hottest issues and biggest problems—including news and information about Covid-19 when relevant.

As always, Dr. Pearl and Jeremy will follow the facts, uncover the truth, and help listeners understand what’s holding back our nation’s health. Topics will feature the latest medical issues affecting patients and their physicians. The show will explore major public health problems, medical technologies, drug developments, and much more.

Listener note: If you’re currently subscribed to or following Coronavirus: The Truth on Apple, Spotify or any other podcast platform, you don’t have to change a thing. Just sit back and enjoy our new show Medicine: The Truth. If you’re new to the show, you can also hear it by following/subscribing to the Fixing Healthcare podcast.

Click here for more info: https://www.fixinghealthcarepodcast.com/

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post CTT #69: Welcome to our new show ‘Medicine: The Truth’ appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Without looking it up, how many Americans do you think are enrolled in Medicaid, the government-funded program that provides health coverage to low-income adults, children and families?

The answer is one of three shocking healthcare statistics you’ll hear about on today’s program.

Welcome back to Diving Deep, the first new episode of the new year. Each month, this show probes some of healthcare’s most complex topics and deep-seated problems.

Today, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr dive into a topic that’s sure to surprise listeners: three shocking healthcare statistics for 2023. But first, the hosts go inside the newly sworn-in Congress to discuss three viable, beneficial healthcare laws that could (actually) pass over the next two years. To end the show, Dr. Pearl weighs in on what leaders can do, starting in 2023, to fix the mess that is American healthcare.

Whether you provide medical care or receive it, you’ll learn much from this conversation. To dive in, press play or peruse the helpful links below.

HELPFUL LINKS

3 Beneficial Healthcare Laws The 118th Congress Could (Actually) Pass (Forbes)
3 Shocking Healthcare Statistics For 2023 (Forbes)
Brain, Heart Spine: The Anatomy Of Healthcare Leadership (Forbes)
Breaking The Rules Of Healthcare (LinkedIn Newsletter)
Our Real, Existential Medical Crisis? (Keen On Podcast)

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #80: 3 shocking healthcare stats + 3 beneficial healthcare laws appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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The internet (and nearly every American industry) is abuzz with a new phenomenon called ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer), a remarkable artificial intelligence chatbot launched in November 2022 that has an uncanny ability to generate human-like text.

Recent headlines tell of the potential havoc this AI can inflict: “ChatGPT writes medical research abstracts that can fool scientists” and “Use of ChatGPT in counseling sessions is raising ethical questions.”

Dr. Z lauded ChatGPT’s ability to write a convincing Doc Vader script—a scary thought for the nation’s No. 1 healthcare satirist. But what else can AI accomplish? In this Unfiltered episode of Fixing Healthcare, cohosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl join ZDoggMD to talk about hyper-realistic AI and explore its influence on American healthcare.

Press play for a fresh take on this technology’s potential impact on medicine.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple Podcasts or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #79: An unfiltered look at ChatGPT and medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This episode kicks off season eight of the Fixing Healthcare podcast.

The guest: Dr. David Feinberg, currently chairman of Oracle Healthcare, former CEO of Cerner (acquired by Oracle in 2022), and previous head of both Google Health and Geisinger. This is Dr. Feinberg’s third appearance on the show. He joined hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr in season one (episode 3) and season six (episode 41).

The focus of Season 8: How better, bolder leadership can fix American healthcare.

As Dr. Pearl explains at the top of the podcast: “The medical and academic leaders featured on Season 8 of Fixing Healthcare will discuss the difference that strong leadership can make, both for patients and clinicians. I know their insights will be educational and inspirational. Hopefully, 2023 will be the year that our country takes the strides needed to make American healthcare, once again, the best in the world.”

In the episode, Dr. Feinberg and the hosts discuss:

Getting patients to prioritize healthy choices and lifestyle changes
Advice for future physician leaders
What Google knows about maximizing public health
Why tech has a trust problem among patients and doctors
The benefits of teams and teamwork
The government’s role in helping people make healthy choices
Why good communication improves medical outcomes
How leaders can rebuild medical care around the patient, not the clinician
Whether it’s possible to achieve better quality, cost and access in healthcare—all at once?
What is “human capital management” in medicine?
Where healthcare leadership can be most effective (be it academic medical centers, community health systems or elsewhere) and the downsides of each

Helpful links:

David Feinberg joins Fixing Healthcare season 1 (episode 3)

David Feinberg joins Fixing Healthcare season 6 (episode 41)

A retrospective on Cerner’s transition to Oracle

The man behind Larry Ellison’s health care gamble

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a new book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.”

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #78: How leadership can fix healthcare, with Dr. David Feinberg appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This week, Fixing Healthcare hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl conclude their holiday tribute to episodes past with this 2018 interview of Dr. Don Berwick.

Don is the former president and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and led the organization’s 100,000 Lives Campaign. He’s the former administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and has served on the faculty for Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health.

This is the third and final Fixing Healthcare flashback episode—all of which have featured ideas from season one to fix American healthcare from the nation’s top leaders.

The purpose? To quote Dr. Pearl: “My hope in replaying these ideas is to help listeners once again realize how much could be done to transform American healthcare and improve people’s lives. And simultaneously, help them recognize how far we are from delivering the excellence in healthcare Americans want, need and deserve.”

Helpful links:

Season 1 explainer: ‘Welcome to the toughest interview in healthcare’

Episode 5 recap: ‘Don Berwick brings a global perspective to fixing US healthcare’

The full transcript of this episode with Don Berwick

Don Berwick: Profiles in leadership

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #77: Fixing Healthcare flashback with Don Berwick appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This holiday season, Fixing Healthcare hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl are mixing things up with a look back in time—way back, in fact, to the season-one finale with healthcare futurist Ian Morrison.

During this 2019 interview, Morrison earned the distinction of becoming the first (and still the only) guest to propose “Medicare Advantage for All” as a solution for fixing healthcare.

He explained: “Medicare Advantage for All reconciles different (American) values with regard to competition and the role of government, but mandates that everybody is in the system and covered.”

So, is “Medicare Advantage for All” a possible fix for the future of American healthcare? Did any of Morrison’s other healthcare predictions prove true? Tune in to find out.

Helpful links:

Season 1 explainer: ‘Welcome to the toughest interview in healthcare’

Episode 1 recap: ‘Ian Morrison says every healthcare system sucks in its own unique way’

The full transcript of this episode with Ian Morrison

Ian Morrison’s website

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #76: Fixing Healthcare flashback with Ian Morrison appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This Fixing Healthcare podcast series “Diving Deep” probes some of healthcare’s most complex topics and deep-seated problems.

On today’s episode, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr discuss two imperatives for healthcare leadership in the 21st century: changing the way docs use technology and changing the way we pay for medical care.

For more information on healthcare leadership, check out Dr. Pearl’s latest columns on Forbes and LinkedIn. For listeners interested in show notes, here’s a discussion guide:

LEADERSHIP + TECHNOLOGY * What does the metaphor of the iron triangle represent in medicine? * Why is U.S. healthcare lacking effective leadership? * What is the “anatomy of healthcare leadership”? * How might a leader begin to change healthcare, locally? * What would leaders most like to change about the care patients receive today? * How do we make the ideal real in healthcare today? * What are some technologies that could transform medical care? * How could technologies change care for patients with chronic disease? * Once clinicians agree with the logic of new tech, how can leaders appeal to them on an emotional level? * How can real patient stories help persuade docs to embrace change? * In addition to the brain and heart, what is the role of the spine for leaders? * How did cohost Dr. Pearl use his spine to push technology forward at Kaiser? * What are the biggest problems a leader might experience when implementing new technological solutions?

LEADERSHIP + MONEY * Do Americans get what they pay for from healthcare today? * What are the biggest cost barriers to reforming healthcare? * What’s the problem with fee-for-service? * What is the alternative to fee for service? * How does “capitation” change the incentives for physicians? * Doesn’t capitation lead to delayed and denied care? * Why aren’t doctors jumping at pay-for-value models? * How do leaders use their brain, heart and spine differently to reform healthcare payments? * Can leaders make a case for capitation on an emotional level? * Why do leaders need a strong spine to advance capitation? * What else is needed to move away from fee-for-service as the method of reimbursement?

Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #75: Diving deep into healthcare technology and capitation appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Dr. Jonathan Fisher was practically born into medicine. All six of his siblings became doctors, following in their father’s professional footsteps. Jonathan, himself, became a Harvard-trained cardiologist, working in some ...

The post FHC #73: The ‘rules of healthcare’ that cause burnout appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This holiday season, Fixing Healthcare hosts Jeremy Corr and Dr. Robert Pearl are mixing things up with a look back in time—way back, in fact, to the first episode of ...

The post FHC #72: Fixing Healthcare flashback with Zubin Damana (ZDoggMD) appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This Fixing Healthcare podcast series, “Diving Deep,” probes into some of healthcare’s most complex topics and deep-seated problems. On today’s episode, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr discuss the ...

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Dr. Devi Shetty returns to the Fixing Healthcare podcast this week—making his first appearance on the show since 2019. At that time, listeners wrote in and posted messages on social ...

The post FHC #70: India-based doctor breaks rule that great healthcare must be expensive appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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In world where it’s almost impossible to tell if someone is lying or delusional, where is line between an unintentional error in perception and intentional misrepresentation? This question is proving to ...

The post FHC #69: An unfiltered (uncensored) look at ‘medical misinformation’ appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This Fixing Healthcare podcast series, “Diving Deep,” probes into some of healthcare’s most complex topics and deep-seated problems. On today’s episode, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr explore how ...

The post FHC #68: Diving deep into the medicine’s middlemen & the future giants of healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel has spent a lifetime challenging the establishment. He says that tendency is very much a part of his family’s heritage. “My mother, not infrequently, would have to ...

The post FHC #67: Dr. Zeke Emanuel on the virtues of rule breaking appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Galileo, Darwin and Einstein: three historical figures who changed the way we view the world. Galileo broke the myth that we’re the center of the universe. Darwin proved that humans ...

The post FHC #66: Right brain vs. left brain in medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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This Fixing Healthcare podcast series, “Diving Deep,” probes some of healthcare’s most complex topics and deep-seated problems. On today’s episode, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr talk about two of ...

The post FHC #65: Diving deep into Amazon and Apple’s healthcare ambitions appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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American writer Joseph Campbell famously studied and diagramed the hero’s journey in folklore and literature. That journey begins with a call to adventure, prompting the hero’s reluctance—often due to a ...

The post FHC #64: The hero’s journey in healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Dr. Tom Lee founded Epocrates, one of the earliest tech-enabled healthcare applications for doctors, and One Medical, the primary care-first organization recently acquired by Amazon for $3.9 billion. He is ...

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This Fixing Healthcare podcast series, “Diving Deep,” probes into some of healthcare’s most complex topics and deep-seated problems. On today’s episode, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr discuss the ...

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Did you catch the episode of Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History about triplicates—those state-issued prescription pads that produced three copies of every painkiller script written? Many in medicine remember triplicates as ...

The post FHC #61: An unfiltered look at Rx triplicates & Amazon’s healthcare expansion appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

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Returning to the podcast this week is a household name in medicine, Dr. Don Berwick, who made his first appearance on the show in season one. Back then, Don said ...

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This Fixing Healthcare podcast series, “Diving Deep,” probes into some of healthcare’s most complex topics and deep-seated problems. On today’s episode, hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr dive deep ...

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“I wish I was more authentic, more transparent, more myself from the very beginning (rather) than trying to create a character or a persona,” said Dr. Zubin Damania (aka ZDoggMD) ...

The post FHC #58: An unfiltered look at inauthenticity in medicine appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.

Fixing Healthcare Archives - Fixing Healthcare: Recent Episodes

Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr