Podcast
Patients at Risk
Hosted by Rebekah Bernard MD and Niran Al-Agba MD · EN
Patients at Risk exposes the political maneuvering and corporate greed that has led to the replacement of physicians by lesser trained practitioners, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants. As corporations seek to save money and government agencies aim to increase constituent access, minimum qualifications for our nation’s healthcare guardians continue to decline—with deadly consequences. This is a story that has not yet been told, and one that has dangerous repercussions for all Americans.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Shocking urgent care study: 64% wrong diagnosis
3w ago00:22:56Tap to summarizeMost urgent cares are staffed by NPs/PAs, often without physician supervision - can you trust them with your life?Dr. John Lafferty shares details from a study showing that of 300 referrals from urgent cares to the ER, 55% were unnecessary and 64% resulted in a 'discordant' (different) diagnosis."Our data found that 55% of patients referred to EDs from UCCs did notrequire ED-specific care or resources and 64% carried a discordant diagnosis between UC and ED diagnosis. We suggest quality remedies, such as educational sessions and engagement with telemedicine sub-specialists as well as a coordinated formalized system for UCC to ED referrals."Poyorena C, Patel S, Keim A, et al. Evaluating urgent care center referrals to the emergency department. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open. 2022;3(6):e12838. Published 2022 Dec 7. doi:10.1002/emp2.12838PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Transcribe →NP advocates testify in Florida for unsupervised practice rights in psychiatry
Feb 1700:36:01Tap to summarizeWhen we think of potentially vulnerable patients, it just doesn't get riskier than those with mental health conditions, especially children. Yet, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners are seeking the right to care for patients 'across the lifespan'--including those with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and addiction--without physician oversight. Listen in on testimony in Florida with commentary on why their argument of promoting 'access' without ensuring patient safety may be dangerous to patients.PhysiciansForPatientProtection.orgPhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Transcribe →South Carolina Medical Association fights to ensure patient access to physician-led care
Jan 1800:34:32Tap to summarizeSouth Carolina Medical Association (SCMA) immediate past president Mayes DuBose, MD and Vice President of Advocacy and Policy Counsel Holly Pisarik discuss efforts that the association has led in fighting bills that would allow unsupervised practice rights to NPs and PAs after just 2,000 hours of clinical hour experience - and let PAs switch specialties after just 1,000 hours.https://www.scmedical.org/Get the books: Patients at Risk https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M9YJQR3/Imposter Doctors: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1627344438/PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Transcribe →The 'P-word': Taking the No Provider Pledge
Dec 2600:35:46Tap to summarizeDr. Robert McLean, former President of the American College of Physicians discusses the negative impact of the word provider, and encourages all physicians to take the 'No Provider Pledge.'PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Transcribe →Rural Health Transformation Funding being used to justify NP/PA scope expansion - and PPP response to FTC letter of support
Nov 1200:24:10Tap to summarizeDr. Phil Shaffer and I are back in SC to testify yet again against a bill that would permit unsupervised NP and PA practice after 2,000 hours of experience. In this episode, I share subcommittee chair Senator Tom Davis's perspectives that SC will lose funding from the Rural Health Transformation project without scope expansion. You'll also hear a letter of support from the FTC Office of Policy Planning supporting scope expansion, and PPP's response explaining why the FTC should reconsider it's position in light of newer data.PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Transcribe →Powerful patient testimony to Senate committee about importance of physician-led care
Oct 1800:14:59Tap to summarize7 year old Betty Wattenbarger died hours after being evaluated by a pediatric nurse practitioner at a pediatric urgent care in Texas. Her father testifies to the Texas Legislature about his experience seeking accountability from the Board of Nursing and why he believes physician-led care matters for patient safety.Patients at risk video interview with Jeremy Wattenbarger Part 1 - https://youtu.be/Su43DKxNZoYPart 2- https://youtu.be/pNSWr1GSBnUPhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Transcribe →Drs. Bernard and Shaffer testify before the South Carolina Legislature on scope of practice
Sep 1300:33:55Tap to summarizeThe South Carolina Legislature has introduced bills that would allow unsupervised practice to nurse practitioners and physician assistants after 2000 hours of experience, as well as a bill that would expand pharmacist privileges. On the flip side, there's also a bill that would enhance team-based care, ensuring that physicians remain in the lead of medical care and strengthening requirements and enforcement of physician oversight. Today, you'll hear just a small part of the very, very long two days of testimony before the South Carolina legislature on these bills. Dr. Phil Schaffer and I were invited by the South Carolina Medical Association and we were asked specifically to focus on data - specifically, the evidence to support unsupervised practice. Take a listen to our testimony and at the end you'll hear a few questions from legislators. IF YOU'RE A SOUTH CAROLINA PHYSICIAN, please join and support the South Carolina Medical Association (SCMA) - they are working hard to fight for physician-led care. https://www.scmedical.org/PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Transcribe →25 patients harmed and one dies after nurse permitted to perform ERCPs
Aug 1800:26:04Tap to summarizeOne patient died and 25 others were found to have been harmed when a nurse was permitted to perform complex medical procedures in the UK.Gastroenterologist Dr. Kaveh Hoda joins me to discuss the necessary training to perform an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a procedure most commonly used to remove gallstones. From the BBC article: 68 patients underwent ERCPs with a 'single consultant nurse', and a review found that 58 received "substandard" care from the service between 2016-21, including 25 who "suffered some degree of harm". https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clym224qgdyoAs nurses and PAs continue to advocate for more privileges, could this happen in the US?PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Transcribe →A daughter's heartbreak: "My father died when an NP missed his pulmonary embolus"
Jul 1400:33:17Tap to summarizeIn this episode of 'Patients at Risk,' Angie Pereira shares the heartbreaking story of losing her father due to a misdiagnosed pulmonary embolism by a nurse practitioner in an after-hours clinic. Despite her father's presenting symptoms of shortness of breath and leg pain, strong family history of blood clots, and normal lung exam, the nurse practitioner diagnosed him with pneumonia, leading to his untimely death the next day. Angie emphasizes the need for proper physician oversight and questions the push for independent practice for nurse practitioners. The discussion extends to issues of legislative accountability, corporate healthcare’s role in potentially compromising patient care, and the necessity for patients to advocate for themselves to ensure high-quality medical care. Angie's story highlights the broader implications of inadequate training and supervision in healthcare, especially affecting rural communities.PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Transcribe →BONUS EPISODE: Webinar on NP/ PA Unsupervised Practice of Medicine (UPM) Legislative Trends
Jun 2700:38:12Tap to summarizeRebekah Bernard discusses the legislative trends and impacts of allowing non-physician practitioners (NPs and PAs) to practice medicine unsupervised. She highlights the extensive training and hours required for physicians compared to the significantly less training for NPs and PAs. Bernard explains how legislative changes have allowed NPs and PAs to practice independently in many states, often with less experience and training compared to physicians. She delves into the history of physician shortage concerns, influenced by flawed reports from the 1980s that led to restricted physician production and the promotion of NPs and PAs as substitutes. Bernard outlines the growth of NP and PA roles, the diluted quality of NP education, and the increasing trend of independent practice. The talk also addresses the disparities in healthcare quality and outcomes when care is provided by non-physician practitioners instead of physicians. Bernard advocates for prioritizing the production of properly trained physicians and ensuring physician-led care as well as holding NP leadership accountable for maintaining educational standards.PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
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