Clinician's Roundtable

Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD Guest: Phil Harvey, PhD The treatment goals for schizophrenia have evolved from merely managing symptoms to improving our patients' real-world functionality. How can we best evaluate what patients can do versus what they actually do? Do some symptoms have a stronger association with poor functioning? Dr. Phillip Harvey, professor of psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine, joins host Dr. Leslie Lundt to discuss current tools for assessing and treating schizophrenia.

Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD Guest: Jeffrey Kaye, MD Patients around the world looking for the Holy Grail in staving off cognitive impairment have been using ginkgo biloba for years, to the tune of $1 billion in annual sales worldwide. How strong is the data to support this use? Dr. Jeffrey Kaye, director of the National Institute on Aging's Layton Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Center and the Oregon Center for Aging and Technology at Oregon Health and Sciences University, joins host Dr. Leslie Lundt to review key points of current research on ginkgo biloba.

Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD Guest: John Nance, JD We all know that our healthcare system is far from perfect. But where should we begin to make repairs? Host Dr. Leslie Lundt welcomes John Nance, author of Why Hospitals Should Fly: The Ultimate Flight Plan to Patient Safety and Quality Care, to outline the major dysfunctions of the system. The first step to solving the problems is understanding what they are.

Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD Guest: John Nance, JD In 2006, 3 babies in Indianapolis died when they received adult doses of heparin. The same mistake happened at the same hospital 5 years earlier. Recently, media attention has focused on the same thing - this time in Los Angeles with the twins of actor Dennis Quaid. Why can't we seem to learn from our mistakes? Attorney John Nance, author of Why Hospitals Should Fly: the ultimate flight plan to patient safety and quality care joins host Dr. Leslie Lundt to discuss how we may avoid similar mistakes in the future.

Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD Guest: John Nance, JD John Nance in Why Hospitals Should Fly: the ultimate flight plan to patient safety and quality care writes, from 2001 to 2006, passenger deaths aboard major US airlines hit a total of zero. During that same time frame, American hospitals killed an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 patients with medical mistakes. That's the equivalent of crashing 1400 fully loaded 747s with no survivors. John joins host Dr. Leslie Lundt to discuss what hospitals can learn from the aviation industry about safety.

Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD Guest: William Rich, MD Is the Resource Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) responsible for the looming physician shortage? Our Guest Dr. William Rich, medical director for Health Policy for the American Academy of Ophthalmology and chairman of the American Medical Association RUC Committee speaks to host, Dr. Bill Rutenberg about the relationship between RBRVS and physician pay. "There are income gaps and they are substantial but they are not due to the valuation of services," says Dr. Rich. Find out what he understands to be responsible for income gaps in physician pay and what role they play in the shortage of physicians.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Maria Simbra, MD It's not uncommon for someone to change careers after many years in one field. Not too many physicians, however, make the weighty decision to change professions, particularly to become a full-time medical television journalist. But that's exactly the trajectory which Dr. Maria Simbra has set for her career. As a board-certified neurologist transitioning to permanent work as a medical reporter for KDKA-TV, the CBS network station in Pittsburgh, Dr. Simbra has worked very hard to refine her standing as a medical professional. What advice would she give to those of us who have considered, or are still considering, a change in profession? She also talks with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill about the politics of the newsroom, and how this compares to the politics of medicine.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Maria Simbra, MD Have you ever encountered a medical professional working as a medical reporter and thought, "I could do that?" Many of you probably have, but it's not as easy as it looks. Dr. Maria Simbra, medical reporter for KDKA-TV, the CBS network station in Pittsburgh, and a board-certified neurologist, talks about the challenges of becoming a medical journalist: What lifestyle changes come with medical reporting? How do Dr. Simbra's medical colleagues view her work in journalism? Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Maria Simbra, MD Our patients often approach us with health-related articles from the Web, or advice from medical stories they saw on the evening news. Many of these stories are reported by certified medical professionals. Dr. Maria Simbra, medical reporter for KDKA-TV, the CBS network station in Pittsburgh, and a board-certified neurologist, talks about the process of developing a dual career in medicine and journalism with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill. How has Dr. Simbra achieved her success in medical journalism?

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Ted Schettler, MD, MPH Guest: Gary Cohen Imagine a cancer center built without any of the toxic carcinogens commonly used in construction. It’s a concept that many experts in the health care industry believe could soon become a reality. In hospital architecture and building, what are other promising examples of environmental responsibility that might apply to your clinical setting? Gary Cohen, co-executive director of Health Care Without Harm, an international campaign in support of environmentally responsible health care, evaluates the pros and cons of retrofitting old buildings versus new construction, and talks with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill about a range of cost-effective ‘green’ structural options, from recycled rubber flooring that would prevent injuries from falls and reduce hospital noise, to novel energy-efficient ventilation patterns that could curtail infection rates. Will we soon see a movement toward green initiatives factoring into accreditation

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Ted Schettler, MD, MPH Guest: Gary Cohen As society progresses toward greater levels of environmental sustainability, the healthcare industry will play a leading role. From major public institutions to smaller private practices, every contribution matters. How can solo practitioners incorporate these projects into their practice, and what are the pervasive benefits, from a business standpoint and beyond? Gary Cohen, co-executive director of Health Care Without Harm, an international campaign in support of environmentally responsible health care, and Dr. Ted Schettler, science director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, and science advisor to Health Care Without Harm, suggest that as healthcare providers, we can even lend credibility to the 'green' movement simply by participating within our communities. They share their expertise and tips for your practice with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Ted Schettler, MD, MPH Guest: Gary Cohen Energy estimates project America to be among the leaders in energy consumption for years to come. Coupled with our dependence on modern chemicals, there is a lot of room for us to improve our approach to environmental responsibility. From waste disposal to indoor air pollution, how can we set ourselves on a path toward making this change? Gary Cohen, co-executive director of Health Care Without Harm, an international campaign in support of environmentally responsible health care, and Dr. Ted Schettler, science director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, and science advisor to Health Care Without Harm, guide us through a series of environmentally responsible initiatives with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Ted Schettler, MD, MPH Guest: Gary Cohen The modern hospital setting exposes our patients to a vast array of chemicals, some of which are therapeutic, others which can be particularly harmful. What are we doing to limit exposure to these harmful chemicals, for vulnerable patients and for those of us who work in hospitals every day? It may seem like an intrinsic goal for any healthcare venue, but it's a question that must be accounted for. Host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill explores the answer with Mr. Gary Cohen, co-executive director of Health Care Without Harm, an international campaign in support of environmentally responsible health care, and Dr. Ted Schettler, science director of the Science and Environmental Health Network, and science advisor to Health Care Without Harm.

Host: Matthew J. Sorrentino, MD, FACC, FASH Guest: Dariush Mozaffarian, MD Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian from the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at Harvard Medical School will discuss his research on the association of fish in the diet and fish oils as a cardio-protective therapy and as a possible anti-arrhythmic agent especially in patients following a myocardial infarction.

Host: Matthew J. Sorrentino, MD, FACC, FASH Guest: Dariush Mozaffarian, MD The Metabolic Syndrome has been associated with an increased risk for developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian from the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at Harvard Medical School will discuss his latest research on the Metabolic Syndrome in older adults highlighting the increase mortality found with hypertension and elevated fasting glucose.

Host: Bruce Bloom, DDS, JD Guest: Ash Tewari, MD Does robotic surgery for radical prostatectomy provide better outcomes? Our guest Dr. Tewari Ash, director of robotic prostatectomy and prostate cancer-urologic oncology outcomes at Brady Urology Institute and associate professor of associate professor of public health and outcomes in the Department of Public Health and Outcomes at The Weill Medical College of Cornell University talks with host Dr. Bruce Bloom about the history, current practice and future of robotic surgery. The hope is that one day the real time information gathered by the computer during the surgery will provide the surgeon with feedback that can enable them to do an even better job at removing the cancer.

Host: Bruce Bloom, DDS, JD Guest: Ash Tewari, MD Would experienced video gamers have a leg up in operating the DaVinci robot used in robotic surgery for prostate cancer? Dr. Ash Tewari, associate professor of urology, and director of Robotic Prostatectomy & Prostate Cancer-Urologic Oncology Outcomes at Brady Urology Institute, and associate professor of public health and outcomes at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, answers this question posed by your host, Dr. Bruce Bloom. Listen in as Dr. Tewari describes the arena of this valuable surgical asset and why he labels the use of the Davinci robot - a technology originally designed for military and astronaut use - as a "marriage made in heaven" for prostatectomy.

Host: Bruce Bloom, DDS, JD Guest: Ash Tewari, MD Are your patients potential candidates for robotic prostatectomy? How precisely does robotic surgery treat prostate cancer while maintaining urinary and sexual function? Host Dr. Bruce Bloom addresses these questions with Dr. Ash Tewari, associate professor of urology, and director of Robotic Prostatectomy & Prostate Cancer-Urologic Oncology Outcomes at Brady Urology Institute at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Tewari discusses candidate selection, the benefits of the robotic technique, and the most important factor for a successful surgery. What is it? Tune in to find out!

Host: Bruce Japsen Guest: Scott Hensley Blogs are increasingly becoming a way Americans get information whether it be gossip about Brittany Spears or insights about their favorite Major League Baseball team. But what about blogs for medical care? Scott Hensley, the editor of the Wall Street Journal's Health Blog, tells the Chicago Tribune's Bruce Japsen about how the Journal started one of the newspaper industry's first health blogs, how it has been going, and what its future holds for doctors and other medical professionals.

Host: Bruce Japsen Guest: Scott Hensley Blogs are still a new phenomenon in the world of information, but they are a fast-growing species for medical information. Scott Hensley, editor of the Wall Street Journal's Health Blog, offers his take on this new venue for information in an insightful conversation with host Bruce Japsen. How will blogs gain a foothold in the world of medicine, and how will this impact both patients and medical professionals?