AMA Update

AMA's Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, breaks down the latest vaccine news including why now is still a great time to get the flu vaccine and how your mood could impact how effective the flu vaccine is. She also discuss the latest rise in COVID-19 cases and the particularly hard impact COVID and RSV are having on children this year. Plus, key takeaways...

Prior authorization plays a major role in physician burnout. Joining to break down the big impact of this administrative burden is Marilyn Heine, MD,  a member of the AMA Board of Trustees and clinical assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Heine discusses the rise of prior authorization and the growing physician shortage, and shares her own...

Leading long COVID researcher, Akiko Iwasaki, PhD, sterling professor of immunobiology at Yale University, joins to provide an update on the latest long COVID studies and clinical trials—and what their findings mean for physicians and patients. Dr. Iwasaki discusses what we know now about the causes of long COVID, the ongoing challenges with diagnosing it and the timeline for potential treatments....

AMA's Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, shares the latest on China's pneumonia outbreak and mysterious wave of respiratory infections. Also covering updates for flu season, COVID trends, and RSV surges. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts. 📊 Visit RespVaxView for CDC COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccination dashboards: https://www.cdc.gov/vacci...

Priya Nori, MD, medical director of Antimicrobial Stewardship, at Montefiore Health System, joins to discuss US Antibiotic Awareness Week (November 18-24). Dr. Nori details the harms of antibiotic and anti fungal overuse, the steps health systems can take to help physicians use antimicrobials appropriately, and the holistic efforts that are needed to combat antimicrobial resistance. American Medic...

Wondering how to avoid COVID this holiday season? AMA's Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, breaks down the best time to get vaccinated and provides updates on the latest COVID variant and the surge in RSV and flu cases. Plus, the sharp decrease in vaccination rates among children and the alarming increase in syphilis infections in newborns. American Medi...

Among the physician specialties with the highest rate of burnout, pediatrics ranks #4. Texas Children’s is working to change that. Joining to discuss the health system’s well-being efforts are Dan Gollins, president of Texas Children’s Pediatrics and Urgent Care, and Sapna Singh, MD, director of physician engagement and wellness at Texas Children's Pediatrics. American Medical Association CXO Todd...

The AMA Joy in Medicine™ Health System Recognition Program has recognized Ochsner Health for the third time in 2023. Nigel Girgrah, MD, PhD, chief wellness officer at Ochsner Health joins to discuss the evolution of Ochsner's organizational well-being program and its strategic framework for the future. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts. 🗓 Register for the 2024 Joy in Medicine Healt...

The AMA is reducing physician burnout and recognizing health systems that have achieved the standard of care in physician well-being through the AMA Joy in Medicine ™ Health System Recognition Program. AMA President Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, joins to discuss the program, why the fight against burnout is at a crossroads and how medicine can come together to make burnout a thing of the past. America...

Medicare must change, and the AMA is fighting nonstop to make payment reform a reality. Chair of the AMA Board of Trustees Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH, joins to discuss the AMA’s advocacy to fix Medicare now, including the campaign’s wins to date and what’s next. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts. 🗣 Get involved! Tell Congress to fix Medicare now: https://fixmedicarenow.org/...

The American Cancer Society lung cancer screening recommendations have been updated, and the US saw an increase in infant mortality rates for the first time in more than two decades. AMA's Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, discusses these developments, along with announcements from the FDA about a potential cure for sickle cell anemia and how to correct...

Physician Medicare payment is down 26% since 2001, when adjusted for inflation. When you look at the numbers, it’s clear that the government needs to fix Medicare now for physicians. Jason Marino, director of Congressional affairs for the AMA, joins to break down the facts and figures and explain why reforming Medicare physician payment just makes sense. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger...

Climate change is a public health crisis, and health care is responsible for 8.5% of U.S. carbon emissions. Victor Dzau, MD, president of the National Academy of Medicine, joins to discuss how the Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the U.S. Health Sector is bringing together organizations across medicine to take action. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts. 🔜 Register for AMA 2023...

How much does COVID-19 cost? AMA's Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, breaks down how much COVID could cost you. From the risk of not getting vaccinated and the new HV.1 variant, to vaccines covered by insurance and coronavirus treatment costs in the U.S. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts. 💉 Searching "COVID shots near me"? Use the COVID...

57% of women in medicine report experiencing burnout—compared to 47% of men. Anisha Singh, MD, a regional chief medical officer with ChenMed, joins to discuss this burnout gender gap and share how ChenMed has improved well-being for all its clinicians. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts. 💜 Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation aims to reduce burnout of health care professionals and sa...

The Biden-Harris administration designated fentanyl combined with xylazine as an emerging threat to the U.S. Rahul Gupta, MD, MPH, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, joins to discuss what xylazine is, the threat is poses, the White House’s plan to combat it and how physicians can help. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts. 💪 Get involved in the fight...

The updated COVID-19 vaccines and RSV shot for kids are in short supply, and patients are having trouble getting themselves and their children vaccinated. AMA’s Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, breaks down why the shots are so hard to find and how the CDC is advising physicians to make the most of their RSV shot supply. Plus, the latest COVID-19 case n...

Leisa Oglesby, the executive director of Medical Services and designated institutional official at LSU Health Shreveport, joins to share best practices for engaging residents in graduate medical education. Plus, ways to support resident well-being and the transition from medical school to residency. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts. 🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally in patient care...

New physicians are a group that’s especially at risk of burnout. Rebecca Lauderdale, MD, physician well-being champion at Hattiesburg Clinic, joins to discuss the steps her health system has taken to support early career physicians. Dr. Lauderdale shares physicians’ most requested improvements and how changes to onboarding new physicians increased their job satisfaction. American Medical Associati...

Flu activity and hospital admissions remain low so far into this year’s flu season but new evidence of “long colds” underscores the need to minimize infections and avoid the tripledemic. AMA’s Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, discusses the latest respiratory disease season developments, including supply and access issues with the new RSV shot for infan...

National Addiction Treatment Week kicks off today with Bobby Mukkamala, MD, chair of the AMA Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force, discussing the stigma of addiction, common barriers to substance abuse treatment, and physician advocacy efforts in the fight against the overdose epidemic in the U.S. Dr. Mukkamala also shares advice for doctors and practitioners on treating opioid use disorder and...

Where medical students do their residency is one of the biggest decisions they will make. Knowing what program is right for them can be a challenge. Hilary Fairbrother, MD, MPH, vice chair of education at UTHealth Houston, McGovern Medical School, joins to share best practices on how to search for residency programs and find the best fit. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts. 📚 To le...

The updated COVID-19 vaccine from Novavax will be available this week. AMA’s Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, discusses the latest vaccine authorization, the discontinuation of the COVID-19 vaccination card and a new study that found differences in the blood of people with Long COVID. Plus, CDC draft recommendations on Doxy-PEP for STI prevention. Amer...

What career has the highest burnout rate? Burnout among physicians, residents and medical students is one of the most pressing problems in medicine. However, medical faculty are also showing signs of burnout. Joining to discuss the current state of educator well-being and what can be done to address it is Charlene Dewey, MD, MEd, MACP, director of the Center for Professional Health and chair of th...

Hawai'i Governor Josh Green, MD, joins to provide an update on the wildfire recovery efforts on Maui and discuss the role that physicians play in responding to and preparing for climate change and natural disasters. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts. Help Maui's recovery by donating to the Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/disaster-relief/wildfire-relief/hawaii-...