Category: Doctors

Once Its Greatest Foes, Doctors Are Embracing Single-Payer

Young physicians are pushing the medical establishment to rethink its long-held opposition. The political fallout could be substantial.

Stanford’s Chief Wellness Officer Aims To Prevent Physician Burnout

Tait Shanafelt focuses on helping doctors cope with such problems as long hours and copious record-keeping, seeking to prevent burnout and reduce the rate of physician suicide. As doctors’ well-being improves, he says, so does patient care.

Doctors Reckon With High Rate Of Suicide In Their Ranks

The devastating loss of a promising young doctor prompts soul-searching and action at one of the nation’s largest emergency room staffing companies.

Patients With Chronic Pain Feel Caught In An Opioid-Prescribing Debate

States are passing laws that limit a doctor’s ability to prescribe opioids. Doctors and patients alike are wrestling with what that means in cases of chronic pain.

Some Doctors, Patients Balk At Medicare’s ‘Flat Fee’ Payment Proposal

The Trump administration says its plan to overhaul the way Medicare pays doctors will save physicians time and paperwork. But critics worry the changes will hurt patients’ care and doctors’ income.

Podcast: KHN’s ‘What The Health?’ Drug Prices And Unicorns

In this episode of KHN’s “What the Health?” Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Margot Sanger-Katz of The New York Times, Joanne Kenen of Politico, and Erin Mershon of STAT News discuss a series of health policy court decisions on everything from prescription drug discounts to soda taxes. Plus, Rovner, interviews health care futurist and consultant Jeff Goldsmith.

A Hospital’s Human Touch: Why Taking Care In Discharging A Patient Matters

Patients and caregivers often feel abandoned and lose trust in health care professionals when they sense a lack of caring during transitions. With it, they feel better able to handle concerns and act on their doctors’ recommendations.

Texas Clinics Busting Traditional Silos Of Mental And Physical Health Care

Efforts to provide care that integrates physical and mental health services are spreading, partly because untreated mental health conditions negatively affect physical health and escalate health care costs.

Doling Out Pain Pills Post-Surgery: An Ingrown Toenail Not The Same As A Bypass

As the opioid epidemic rages, a Johns Hopkins surgeon and researcher is leading an effort to curb overprescribing by offering procedure-specific guidelines to ensure that post-surgical patients leave the hospital with enough, but not too much, pain medication.