Category: Public Health & Policy

A physician volunteers with migrants. Here’s what she saw.

“At least seven children are known to have died in immigration custody since last year,” according to a NBC News report last month. I recently spent a Saturday working with amnesty-seekers that had been detained at California detention centers in the d…

Can the states fix our national health care disaster?

Earlier this year, California’s new governor, Gavin Newsom, promised to pursue a smörgåsbord of changes to his state’s health care system: state negotiation of drug prices, a requirement that every Californian have health insurance, more assistance to …

Can the states fix our national health care disaster?

Earlier this year, California’s new governor, Gavin Newsom, promised to pursue a smörgåsbord of changes to his state’s health care system: state negotiation of drug prices, a requirement that every Californian have health insurance, more assistance to …

Cancer care costs everyone too much. What can we do about it?

Today’s fee-for-service oncology business model misaligns incentives by rewarding practices for keeping margins and service volumes high — even when it’s wasteful — rather than for optimizing patient outcomes. While discussions of drug pric…

Physicians have been reduced to overpaid dairy farm labor

I can tell you why there is a high burnout rate in the medical profession, but to do so, I have to explain why there isn’t one for small private practices. When I was finishing up medical school, I went to see a general practitioner. Now, this doctor h…

Why MIPS is a useless mental exercise

Every day I receive all kinds of emails and other ads telling me about services offering me help to meet MIPS quality metrics. While they may be helpful, most doctors don’t see the need for such a program. It drives up costs in administering and time i…

A new rule that could be a game changer for health care

As President Donald Trump was fighting with Congress over the shutdown and funding for a border wall, his administration implemented a new rule that could be a game changer for health care. Now, hospitals must publicly reveal the contents of their mast…

The devaluation of physicians

Chip Kelly was a former coach and general manager of my beloved Philadelphia Eagles. He was a firm believer in his “system” and felt that his players were disposable and easily replaced.  Because of that, he proceeded to trade away or release very tale…

The power of advocacy: How doctors can be empowered physicians

An excerpt from Recapturing Joy in Medicine, During my year as chief resident, I was also president of the Florida Association of Family Medicine Residents. The faculty at my residency program inspired me by their excellence as clinicians and teachers….

The power of advocacy: How doctors can be empowered physicians

An excerpt from Recapturing Joy in Medicine, During my year as chief resident, I was also president of the Florida Association of Family Medicine Residents. The faculty at my residency program inspired me by their excellence as clinicians and teachers….