FHC #62: Diving deep into 3 urgent threats facing U.S. healthcare

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 three biggest threats facing U.S. healthcare: Untamed inflation The nurse shortage A burnout / moral injury crisis These threats will require urgent and radical action. In addition, the hosts discuss another pressing topic: The threat of Covid-19. How dangerous is the virus today? For more information on these topics, check out Dr. Pearl’s latest healthcare columns on Forbes and LinkedIn. For listeners interested in show notes, here’s a time-stamped discussion guide: HOW DANGEROUS IS COVID-19 NOW? [00:59] Cohost Dr. Pearl had an eye-opening Covid-19 conversation with his ophthalmologist recently. What was discussed? [01:48] Who should get a second Covid-19 vaccine booster? [02:41] What are the most common Covid-19 questions Dr. Pearl hears? [05:40] How likely are people to die from Omicron? [07:44] Why are Covid-19 cases going way up but deaths aren’t? [11:22] How much should people worry about “Long Covid”? [15:12] Should people wait for the Omicron-specific booster coming this fall (or sooner)? [18:38] Is it safe to have a social life now? THREE HEALTHCARE THREATS WORSE THAN COVID [21:40] Dr. Pearl’s recent article “These 3 healthcare threats will do more damage than Covid-19” went viral. Why? [24:56] What’s causing the most concern in healthcare right now? [28:03] What’s concerning about inflation in healthcare? [30:41] How does the nursing shortage affect patient care? [31:48] What can be done to keep patients safe amid this shortage? [33:43] With cost and quality under siege, is there any hope for respite? [34:49] How will we unclog surgical backlogs in hospitals? [35:13] What about physician burnout? [36:34] Why are doctors dissatisfied and what can be done about it? [38:08] What happens when these three forces collide at the same time? [40:22] What does Dr. Pearl recommend as an “urgent and radical” solution? * * * 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 #62: Diving deep into 3 urgent threats facing U.S. healthcare appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.