MedChat Episode 1 - Dr. AJ Mencias

In this episode, Dr. Mencias and I dive into various topics, from Covid-19 challenges to nurse shortages, scheduling, what it's like to run a private practice, reimbursements, and the difference between employed and entrepreneurial physicians. We talk about what is working and what is not and Dr. Mencias' desire to put the focus back on the patient. Since I did not mention it during the intro, I have put a full list of Dr. Mencias' education and papers at the end of the show notes. Based on some final edits, the time stamps for each topic may be a few seconds off and will probably start a few seconds before the times posted below. And you can watch the episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/R1Jyd6-L7DA0:00 - 0:55 - Show Intro0:55 - 1:55 - AJ Intro and Bio2:20 - 4:25 - AJ's beverage of choice and book/purchase recommendations (Basil Haydens, No Easy Day - By Mark Owns, and Oofas Footwear) 4:25 - 7:27 - AJ's role and an overview of his practice, South Bend Orthopedics7:53 - 11:10 - Covid Challenges11:10 - 12:23 - Nurse Shortages and Scheduling12:24 - 15:31 - Private Equity Investors buying practices15:32 - 17:40 - Surgeons being CEOs, leaders of the business, and role of Private Equity17:41 - 22:40 - What is it like running a private practice (hoops to jump through, peer-to-peer review, EMRs, employees, Insurance codes, answering the phones, etc.) 22:40 - 27:00 - Are insurance companies "the issue" 27:01 - 30:30 - Reimbursements30:31 - 33:10 - The cost of healthcare33:10 - 34:45 - What is working in healthcare34:45 - 36:55 - Lack of doctors/loss of respect?36:56 - 40:55 - Employed vs. Entrepreneurial physicians and physician-owned facilities/outcomes40:56 - 48:30 - Technology with robotics, treatments, space utilization, and telemedicine, and call centers48:31 - 51:29 - Health system financial commentary51:30 - 52:05 - Retailization of healthcare52:10 - 53:05 - Commentary on primary care and touching on the root of the pandemic of unhealthy people in the US53:10 - Closing remarks and AJ's wish to see the focus back on the patients and providersDR. AJ MENCIAS Employment and Education, Other Elected Positions**President, South Bend Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, 2021-PRESENT Partner-Board of Directors, South Bend Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine (SBO), a division ofAscendant Orthopaedic Alliance, South Bend, Indiana, 2004-current           Executive Committee Member for SBO/Ascendant, current           Secretary, Ascendant Orthopaedic Alliance, previous           Chief of Orthopaedics, Memorial Hospital of South Bend, 2017-2019                      Level II Trauma Center           Vice-Chief of Orthopaedics, Memorial Hospital of South Bend, 2019-2020 **Director, Hand/Wrist/Elbow Surgery,...