Clinician's Roundtable

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Michelle Mack, PA-C You've seen forensic investigators on TV detective shows like Law and Order and CSI but what is the job really like? Physician Assistant Michelle Mack, Director of Forensic Investigation at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in the District of Columbia, talks with host Lisa D'Andrea Lenell about how she puts together the p...

Host: Bruce Japsen Guest: Arthur Holden, MBA Two years after it was formed, the International Serious Adverse Event Consortium, working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is making progress understanding why certain people are predisposed to dangerous drug interactions. Arthur Holdren, founder of the consortium, tells host Bruce Japsen about the discovery of a genetic link between liver i...

Host: Cathleen Margolin, PhD Guest: Yasser Aman, PhD, MPH In 1992, after the verdict was handed down in the Rodney King trial, there were six days of rioting in south Los Angeles. Thousands were injured, more than 50 people were killed, and the city saw approximately one billion dollars in property damage. One of the few bright spots during this dark time was the formation of a new health care cli...

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Jeffrey Klausner, MD, MPH Detection and treatment of HIV in the United States has improved dramatically since the peak of the epidemic here in the 1980s, but there is far more work to be done. HIV transmission is one area of heightened concern, particularly those cases spread by newly infected persons who remain undiagnosed. Though tests are available to diagnose H...

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: William Parker, MD For many years, bilateral oopherectomy has been a routine part of hysterectomy. After a certain age, we reasoned that the role of the ovaries in helping women achieve hormonal balance was outweighed by the risks for ovarian cancer, thus offering women their best odds of long-term survival. Yet new evidence on the risks of routine bilateral oopher...

Host: Bruce Japsen Guest: Linda Powers, Ms. President Obama expanded federal funding for certain embryonic stem cell research and many are excited about what it means to the entire field of discovery of new drugs and medical treatments. Linda Powers, of the Maryland Stem Cell Commission, tells host Bruce Japsen about the importance of Obama's move to, not only those interested in embryonic stem ce...

Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP Guest: Basil Clyman, MD Over the years, many studies have examined the ‘difficult' patient encounter. Consistently, these studies indicate that physicians deem nearly 1 in 6 outpatient appointments to be an arduous visit. These challenging episodes are often time-consuming and may also lead to adverse outcomes. Though it is unfair to look at all difficult visits in the...

Host: Lee Freedman, MD Guest: Michael Hildebrand, PhD Researchers have discovered a CATSPER gene mutation that may lead to development of a male infertility treatment, as well as a male contraceptive. Are we really another step closer to developing a male contraceptive, and when might an oral contraceptive be available for men? Join host Dr. Lee Freedman as he talks with Dr. Michael Hildebrand, fe...

Host: Michael Greenberg, MD Guest: Donna Jarmusz, MA The healthcare village is a new setting for outpatient care that's similar to an upscale shopping mall. These villages may include cardiologists, primary care physicians, and ambulatory surgery centers, alongside pharmacies, restaurants, spas and health clubs. What are the advantages to this type of business model? Is the healthcare village mode...

Host: Shira Johnson, MD Guest: Brendan Carr, MD Time is critical in a medical crisis, but according to new research, the nearest facility may not always be the best place for the patient. Dr. Brendan Carr, lead author of the study and assistant professor of emergency medicine and epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses his research with host Dr. Shira Johnson. They also look at f...

Host: Shira Johnson, MD Guest: Shan Liu, MD Patients that come into an emergency room sometimes have to wait hours even days before they are moved to a hospital floor. A new study says more than a quarter of patients who are "boarded" in the ER after being admitted to the hospital often suffer undesirable events like missing necessary treatments or medications. Dr. Shan Liu, an attending physician...

Host: Bruce Japsen Guest: David Himmelstein, MD The single payer form of health insurance for all Americans: could this be the year that the long-debated model for medical care coverage becomes a reality? Dr. David Himmelstein, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a long-time advocate of single payer coverage, tells the Chicago Tribune 's Bruce Japsen about the best chance...

Host: Bruce Japsen Guest: William Hersh, MD The stimulus package approved by Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama promises unprecedented money for health IT and electronic medical records. But if the money is enough, are there enough health informatics specialists to pull it off? Dr. Bill Hersh, chair of the Department of Medical Informatics & Clinical Epidemiology in the Sch...

Host: Larry Kaskel, MD Guest: Kelly Brownell, PhD It has been billed as the biggest boon to public health since tobacco taxes. And a one-cent per ounce tax on sodas could bring in as much as $400 million of annual revenue for the state of New York alone. How would a tax on sugared beverages impact our health and health care budget? Would the general public throw enough support behind this policy s...

Host: Maurice Pickard, MD Guest: Robert Brzyski, MD, PhD When a mother was granted legal permission to collect her 21 year old deceased son's sperm in April 2009, questions were raised about posthumous reproductive rights. Although the mother declared that her son always wanted to have children, does this meet the criteria of informed consent, or is it an example of substituted judgment? Can this...

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Anthony Miniaci, MD Early arthritis of the knee is a frustrating and painful condition, especially for our more active patients. Some will begrudgingly accept the end of their adult sports league careers, others will be less inclined to hang up their sneakers. In this case, depending on the severity of the condition, there could be several procedural options, inclu...

Host: Bruce Japsen Guest: Eric Elliott What if prescription costs were tied to outcomes and how patients do on their prescriptions? It's already happening. Eric Elliott, president of CignaPharmacy Management, tells the Chicago Tribune 's Bruce Japsen about new ways health benefits companies are working to provide more effective treatments.

Host: Bruce Japsen Guest: Michael King The burgeoning number of emergency patients who do not speak English because our nation has become so diverse is creating a greater imperative to bridge the language gap in the hospital. Live video interpretation and translation could be the answer, says Michael King, director of business development for the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council, in an inte...

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Ed Lopez What's it like to be a hospitalist? Many PAs are turning to this growing field. Ed Lopez, founder and president of La Palma Medicine and Surgical Associates in Tacoma, Washington, talks with host Lisa D'Andrea Lenell about the ins and outs of working in a hospital. They cover a typical day, and the type of personality best suited for this...

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Ed Lopez With the growing shortage of healthcare professionals, the need is growing for PAs to become part of a hospitalist team. Ed Lopez founder and president of La Palma Medicine and Surgical Associates in Tacoma, Washington, joins host Lisa D'Andrea Lenell to discuss this growing field, including how to get a job in a hospital setting and the c...

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Andrew Faucett How does a PA handle a patient who comes in following genetic testing, and how do they counsel that patient on their results? PA educators are realizing this scenario is becoming commonplace. Since 2008, genetics is now a required course for all PA students. Andrew Faucett, an assistant professor in the department of human genetics a...

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Ann Davis Guest: Beth Grivett Each state has its own laws and regulations on what physician assistants may and may not do within their practice. Host Lisa D'Andrea Lenell is joined by two guests for her discussion on state law. PA Ann Davis, director of state government advocacy and outreach with the American Academy of Physician Assistants discuss...

Host: Larry Kaskel, MD Guest: Owen J. Dahl, MBA Thinking about adding an ancillary service to your practice? It's a move that certainly has the potential to be an additional source of revenue, but in order to make that happen, you'll need to do your due diligence research to ensure that it makes sense for your patients and your practice. Host Dr. Larry Kaskel gets some helpful guidance from Owen D...

Host: Larry Kaskel, MD Guest: William Hutton, MD Decisions on practice philosophy, finances, marketing, and much more are yours to make when starting your own medical practice. That's the good news. But it can also make the prospect of setting up your own shop seem extremely daunting. From picking a location, to creating a business plan, to seeking expert advice on accounting, credentialing and le...

Host: Lisa Dandrea Lenell, PA-C, MPAS, MBA Guest: Dave Mittman, PA Does the title Physician Assistant truly capture the core of the PA's role in the 21st century? Does the title hinder efforts to advance the role of the PA profession? Is the word "assistant" confusing to patients, doctors and other healthcare professionals? Those are just a few of the questions explored by host Lisa D'Andrea Lenel...