U.S. healthcare costs are rising rapidly while American life expectancy has remained stagnant for two decades. Businesses are facing greater economic pressures and looking for ways to flatten the rate of healthcare cost inflation. As a result, more and more...
Poll: You down with GPT?
ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot from OpenAI, is taking the digital world by storm. This month’s reader survey asks about your experiences with the app and your predictions for its future. My thoughts: Like most Americans, readers of this newsletter...
Poll results: Trying to control the ‘tripledemic’
During the holiday season, a trio of viral infections (influenza, Covid-19, RSV) began straining hospitals as cases spiked. With the elderly and young children at greatest risk, last month’s survey asked how can we protect them now that Americans have stopped masking?...
Poll: Giving the gift of good health
The holiday season came and went. And while thoughts of good will were still dancing in our heads, I asked readers about their healthcare hopes for the future. Here are the results: My thoughts: I always learn so much from reader feedback. With the first question, it...
Life’s most difficult decision: An excerpt from ‘Uncaring’
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1670775877867{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}"]The following is an exclusive excerpt from the book "Uncaring: How the Culture of Medicine Kills Doctors & Patients," which is available in audio book, ebook and...
POLL: Predicting healthcare policy post-midterms
The midterm ballots had been cast but the results weren't yet conclusive (as of 11/15/2022 when our most recent poll went live). Amid the uncertainty, last month's survey sought opinions on healthcare policy. Did subscribers to my "Monthly Musings on American...
Lessons on leadership from hip and knee surgeons
This past weekend, I had the privilege of keynoting the annual meeting of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) in Dallas. Established in 1991, the AAHKS is the leading organization for knee and hip reconstructive surgeons (total-joint...
Lessons on lifestyle medicine and physician burnout
I was honored to join the annual Lifestyle Medicine Summit (Oct. 21-30, 2022), a 10-day event that brings together experts in public health, wellness coaching, lifestyle improvement and value-based care. I was invited to speak by summit host Johannes R. Fisslinger...
Poll: Too old for medicine? Too old for politics?
My latest guest on the Fixing Healthcare podcast was Dr. Zeke Emanuel. Years ago, Zeke wrote a controversial essay for The Atlantic titled “Why I Hope to Die at 75,” citing the physical and cognitive declines that occur as people age. Our recent conversation got me...
Who has the power to end clinician burnout?
Yesterday marked the third annual Ending Clinician Burnout (ECB) Global Summit, a fantastic online event with a virtuous mission “to bring an end to burnout in healthcare.” For hundreds of clinicians, the summit has become a must-attend event thanks in large part to...









