Within Normal Limits: Navigating Medical Risks
70 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 31 ratingsWithin Normal Limits provides physicians and medical professionals with unfiltered insights that focus on pitfalls to avoid in medicine and best practices to improve patient care. Hosted by Eric Zacharias, MD, an internal medicine doctor and physician risk manager with COPIC, a leading medical liability insurance company, this podcast centers around open conversations between physicians and medical experts. Each episode dives into topics including practical guidance, detailed analysis, current issues, and case study reviews. Within Normal Limits is an opportunity to learn from others’ experience and gain knowledge that may help you be a better medical provider and deliver the best patient care possible.
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Episodes
Semaglutide Medications: Liability Issues to Consider
March 08, 2024 23:47 - 31 minutes - 28.4 MBDr. Susan Sgambati, a colorectal surgeon and medical director with COPIC, is our guest on this episode that looks at the increased use of semaglutide medications driven by the popularity of Ozempic being used for weight loss. The discussion focuses on liability and risk issues, including recently issued FDA warning letters surrounding the use of compounded forms of the medication. Dr. Sgambati talks about how the medication works, side effects, how to assess patients who are interested in th...
Preventing Falls in the Healthcare Setting
February 29, 2024 23:08 - 22 minutes - 21 MBPamela Johnson—a nurse and Senior Manager of Practice Quality and Facilities Risk Management at COPIC—joins us for a discussion about data around patient falls in health care facilities. Pamela highlights the top three areas where falls occur in these settings and talks about top risk factors that contribute to these incidents. She also points to adjustments that can make an immediate preventative impact, such as proper lighting and pathways, the importance of environmental rounds, and dispe...
Ensuring Patients Make Informed Decisions Through Informed Consent
February 10, 2024 00:10 - 25 minutes - 23.2 MBAnna Barr, a nurse risk manager with COPIC, joins us for this episode to talk about the benefits of using informed consent in your medical practice. Anna highlights how informed consent is a process (not just a form), the goals of shared decision making that guide this, and how it can be a tool to foster trust and understanding with patients. In addition, we look at what situations require informed consent and key considerations in how you approach the process. Anna also explains what inform...
COPIC Medical Foundation Grant Recipient: Children's Hospital Colorado
January 25, 2024 20:33 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MBThis episode is part of a special series that focuses on organizations that received grant funding from the COPIC Medical Foundation for initiatives that address the issue of reducing fragmentation across care settings. Dr. Zacharias welcomes back Jennifer Disabato, DNP, and William Anderson, MD, who are co-directors for the ImPACT Program and Navigation Hub, which focuses on care coordination for complex pediatric patients as they transition to adult care. Jennifer and Dr. Anderson talk abo...
COPIC Medical Foundation Grant Recipient: West Mountain Regional Health Alliance
January 11, 2024 23:31 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBThis episode is part of a special series that focuses on organizations that received grant funding from the COPIC Medical Foundation for initiatives that address the issue of reducing fragmentation across care settings. Dr. Zacharias welcomes two staff members from West Mountain Regional Health Alliance—Christina Gair, Executive Director, and Namrata Shrestha, Assistant Director. Grant funding went toward a care coordination effort to support individuals experiencing homelessness with coordi...
COPIC Medical Foundation Grant Recipient: Providence Portland Medical Foundation
December 21, 2023 20:19 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MBThis episode is part of a special series that focuses on organizations that received grant funding from the COPIC Medical Foundation for initiatives that address the issue of reducing fragmentation across care settings. Dr. Zacharias welcomes Dr. Matthew Gonzales and Dr. Deborah Unger who are affiliated with a grant provided to the Providence Portland Medical Foundation. Grant funding supported Providence and the Oregon Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Registry for a pa...
COPIC Medical Foundation Grant Recipient: Minnesota Medical Association Foundation
December 02, 2023 00:24 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBThis episode is part of a special series that focuses on organizations that received grant funding from the COPIC Medical Foundation for initiatives that address the issue of reducing fragmentation across care settings. Dr. Zacharias welcomes Tori Bahr, MD and Katie Stangl who are affiliated with a grant provided to the Minnesota Medical Association Foundation. Grant funding supported Project ECHO, which focuses on the challenge of transitioning youth with medical complexity to adult care in...
Documentation: How Much is Enough?
November 09, 2023 16:30 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBDocumentation in medicine is no one’s favorite topic. In this episode, host Dr. Eric Zacharias aims to simplify guidance surrounding “what” and “how much” is needed for patient safety and risk management purposes. What follows is not “hard” science, but rather a discussion of basic criteria—and what's realistic and reasonable outside of policy rules and guidelines. Feedback or episode ideas email the show at [email protected] Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should...
Burnout, Exhaustion, and Leaving the Practice of Medicine
October 27, 2023 20:52 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBIn this episode, we are joined by David Weill, MD, a transplant doctor and author of Exhale: Hope, Healing, and a Life in Transplant. Dr. Weill shares openly about losing and saving patients, dysfunctional teams and systems, and burnout in transplant medicine. Through the lens of his own emotional and physical exhaustion, he explores the underbelly of hospital systems and the clinical, administrative, and financial issues plaguing the specialty. He is an advocate of shifting the blame of bur...
AI’s Impact on Medicine (Part Two)
September 29, 2023 16:05 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBWe continue the conversation about artificial intelligence (AI) in this second episode of a two-part series. Our guest is Dr. Michael Victoroff, a family medicine physician, patient safety and risk management specialist, and clinical informatics expert. Dr. Victoroff uses image interpretation in radiology as an example of AI because it sees things humans miss and humans see things AI misses. We look at other AI applications—support for diagnosing and creating a treatment plan, concerns with ...
AI’s Impact on Medicine
September 14, 2023 21:59 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBIn this two-part series, we look at the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and examine the potential ways it may impact medicine. Our guest is Dr. Michael Victoroff, a family medicine physician, patient safety and risk management specialist, and clinical informatics expert who has gone down the rabbit hole of trying to understand the good, the bad, and the ugly of AI. Dr. Victoroff explains the fundamental technology behind AI applications, such as ChatGPT, and its interactive structure de...
Addressing the Issue of Maternity Care Deserts
August 31, 2023 15:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBIn this episode, we look at a major challenge in obstetrics (OB) care with our guest, Lori Adams, who is a nurse, COPIC risk manager, and OB expert. Lori talks about her experience in a rural hospital and educating providers. The discussion focuses on “maternity care deserts” where access to OB services is limited or not available. Lori highlights how these deserts contribute to maternal death rates, the disparities we are seeing in certain geographic and demographic areas, and how emergency...
Increasing Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Medical Education
August 02, 2023 18:00 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MBIn this episode, we are joined by Dr. Shanta Zimmer, associate dean for diversity and inclusion at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Zimmer talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted racial disparities and health care inequities in severity of illness and the role the health care system ultimately plays in systemically-addressing social determinants of health. She also speaks on how the university is working toward inclusive excellence and removing barriers that preve...
How You Drive May Affect Patient Care
July 19, 2023 16:56 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBIn this episode, we’re joined by surgeon and COPIC risk manager, Dr. Jeff Varnell. Starting with the premise that, like driving, the practice of medicine is governed by systemic rules and dependent on individual responsibility, Dr. Varnell uses metaphors and general understandings we hold about driving to illustrate how adverse events in medicine are often avoidable and preventable, like many of our road-based accidents. He invites listeners to examine through a lens of personal accountabili...
Hope, Help, and Possibilities for People at Risk for Limb Loss.
July 05, 2023 15:00 - 23 minutes - 21.1 MBWith 28 million Americans at risk for limb loss due to trauma, tumors, or infections, the nonprofit Limb Preservation Foundation is enhancing the quality of life of people in the Rocky Mountain region. Executive Director Marcy Rubik joins us to talk about how health care professionals from all backgrounds have joined this effort to offset financial stressors, provide education, and advance research. ***Information provided in this podcast should not be relied upon for personal, medical, leg...
The Nuanced Role Physicians Play with Advanced Practice Providers
June 15, 2023 22:26 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBUnderstanding the regulatory environment is key to managing risks associated with working with advanced practice providers (APPs), Dr. Alan Lembitz, COPIC's Chief Medical Officer says. But he cautions providers to understand this isn’t always simple. He reminds providers that it’s on them to ensure they are following the regulatory rules, which vary based on state and provider type. COPIC has seen cases of plaintiff attorneys alleging APPs practicing outside of the scope of licensure and ina...
A Conversation on Risk in Urology, Including the Pandemic’s Impact on Patient Care
May 26, 2023 20:45 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBThe guest for this episode is Stephen Siegel, MD, a urologist in a multi-specialty group and a medical school classmate of our host. The former classmates discuss the impact of COVID-19 on surgical intervention, delay of diagnosis, and routine screening. They also discuss general risk areas in urology, including transitions of care, telehealth, and risks associated with PSA-level management across a patient’s lifetime. Legal Disclaimer: Information provided in this podcast should not b...
Fulfilling Opioid Education Training Requirements
May 12, 2023 22:32 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBThis episode features Dr. Alan Lembitz, Chief Medical Officer for COPIC, and focuses on uncertainty around federal and state opioid education requirements for medical providers. The conversation examines common questions from “what do I need to do to fulfill my licensure requirements?” to “how do I prove that I am in compliance with these requirements?” Dr. Lembitz also looks at details with the new DEA requirement of eight hours of training around substance use disorders, concerns if provid...
Physician Health Programs—Caring for Caregivers
April 26, 2023 23:36 - 28 minutes - 26 MBThis episode’s guest is Scott Humphreys, MD, forensic psychologist and medical director of the Colorado Physician Health Program (CPHP). This nonprofit independent peer assistance program provides licensed professionals with confidential, individualized evaluation and treatment referrals for health problems such as psychiatric illness and substance abuse. Dr. Humphreys discusses the stigma associated with physicians transitioning into the role of patient and the approach CPHP takes to ensure...
Dealing with Potentially Violent Patients
April 13, 2023 21:51 - 37 minutes - 33.9 MBDr. Michael Victoroff, a family medicine physician and COPIC consultant with expertise in clinical informatics, is our guest for this episode that focuses on situations where patients may become violent. The discussion examines emotional states in patients, such as frustration or unhappiness, that can escalate into physical conflict and why we have seen a substantial increase in these types of encounters. Dr. Victoroff talks about de-escalation and conflict management skills, our innate flig...
What I Wished I Knew When I Started Out in Medicine
November 23, 2022 21:52 - 16 minutes - 14.8 MBIn this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Varnell, a former surgeon and risk management consultant, reflects back on things physicians wished they would have learned during their medical residencies and when they first started their practice. In particular, he talks about effectively utilizing professional review, onboarding and managing expectations around a practice’s policies and procedures (from billing to EHRs), the importance of peer support and mentorship, and the benefits of creating a “toolkit” ...
Educating Providers About Health Care Disparities and Patients with Disabilities
November 10, 2022 00:30 - 19 minutes - 17.5 MBThe episode’s guest is Chanda Hinton, the founder and executive director of the Chanda Plan Foundation, who also helps run the Chanda Center for Health, an organization that helps people living with long-term disabilities through integrative health care. The discussion focuses on looking at health care through a lens of disability and disparity, and how medical providers can help address this. Chanda talks about her organization’s belief that “people living with long-term physical disabiliti...
COPIC Medical Foundation Grant Recipient: Children’s Health Fund
October 26, 2022 21:02 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBThis episode is part of a special series that focuses on organizations that received grant funding from the COPIC Medical Foundation for initiatives that address the issue of reducing fragmentation across care settings. Dr. Zacharias welcomes Arturo Brito, MD, MPH, the President and CEO of Children’s Health Fund. Dr. Brito highlights how the grant was used to support the review, update, and dissemination of the successful Referral Management Initiative to incorporate new technologies that en...
COPIC Medical Foundation Grant Recipient: Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation
September 28, 2022 20:33 - 30 minutes - 28 MBThis episode is part of a special series that focuses on organizations that received grant funding from the COPIC Medical Foundation for initiatives that address the issue of reducing fragmentation across care settings. Dr. Zacharias welcomes two guests from the Children’s Hospital Colorado: Jennifer Disabato, a pediatric nurse practitioner, and William Anderson, MD, an Associate Program Director. Ms. Disabati and Dr. Anderson highlight how the grant was used to support the ImPACT Navigation...
COPIC Medical Foundation Grant Recipient: Mile High Health Alliance
September 21, 2022 23:17 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBThis episode is part of a special series that focuses on organizations that received grant funding from the COPIC Medical Foundation for initiatives that address the issue of reducing fragmentation across care settings. Dr. Zacharias welcomes two guests from the Mile High Health Alliance: Dede de Percin, Executive Director, and Vicente Cardona, Program Manager. Dede and Vicente highlight how the grant was used to support the “Orange Flag” Project—an initiative that uses historic, predictive,...
COPIC Medical Foundation Grant Recipient: Children’s National
September 07, 2022 23:09 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBThis episode is part of a special series that focuses on organizations that received grant funding from the COPIC Medical Foundation for initiatives that address the issue of reducing fragmentation across care settings. Dr. Zacharias welcomes Olivia Soutullo, a psychologist and Director of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Services at Children’s National (Washington, D.C.). Olivia highlights how grant funding from the Foundation was used to support a program aimed at improving coordination of...
Treating Family, Friends, and Staff
August 17, 2022 15:00 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MBDr. Dennis Boyle, a COPIC physician consultant and rheumatologist, is the guest on this episode which looks at the issue of treating friends, family, and staff as patients. The discussion looks at the ethical, legal, and other considerations in these types of situations using some case studies and highlighting the American Medical Association’s guidance. In particular, there is the issue of how your professional judgement may be impacted when you have a close, personal relationship with a pa...
The Ongoing Challenge of Chest Pain in Patients
August 03, 2022 21:19 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MBThis episode examines patients who present with chest pain and how this can run the full spectrum of being a minor irritation to a more serious condition that requires immediate attention. Dr. Zacharias draws upon his experience in internal medicine to talk about using clinical judgment to work through an assessment. He delves into using a differential diagnosis approach, addressing emergency situations, and evaluating considerations based on a patient’s medical history. In addition, Dr. Zac...
Navigating Conversations with Patients About Guns
July 25, 2022 16:10 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBDue to recent active shooter situations and a renewed focus on the safety of health care providers, COPIC is re-releasing this past episode. Some providers may draw a strict boundary about discussing guns with their patients (or not think about it). But research has shown there are situations when access to firearms is a potential risk factor and raising this issue can be not only appropriate but necessary. Dr. Michael Victoroff, who is a firearms safety expert, addresses some scenarios asso...
Helping Kids Cope with Anxieties Around Medical Care and Pain Management
June 29, 2022 23:08 - 30 minutes - 28 MBThis episode’s guest is Jody Thomas, PhD, Founder/Chief Executive Officer of The Meg Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to empower families with the pain management strategies, skills, and support they need to prevent and reduce pain. The discussion examines how “fear of needles” and health care avoidance can develop in early childhood, and what strategies can be implemented—by parents and medical providers—to prevent negative associations with medical care. Thomas highlights some best...
Diagnosing Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
June 13, 2022 19:23 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MBOur guest for this episode is Dr. Dan Rosenquist, a family medicine physician in Nebraska and risk manager for COPIC. The focus is on Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, which are commonly caused by medications or infections and typically present as skin reactions. Dr. Rosenquist walks through the causes and symptoms to be aware of, the role of certain medications in this condition, and discussing the issue with patients. The conversation also touches on having a high in...
A Return to Discussing Spinal Epidural Abscess
May 19, 2022 23:38 - 14 minutes - 12.9 MBDr. Zacharias reexamines the issues that lead to spinal epidural abscess, a rare condition that can result in severe adverse outcomes and allegations of negligent care. We start with a clear definition of spinal epidural abscess, why it occurs, and some notable contributing factors. From there, Dr. Zacharias examines risk factors with patients and some suggestions on being highly vigilant about certain signs that should increase your index of suspicion. He also walks through some examples of...
A Discussion with Dr. MeiLan Han—A Leading Pulmonologist and Author
April 25, 2022 22:24 - 52 minutes - 39.8 MBThis special episode features Dr. MeiLan Han, a Professor of Medicine and Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care at the University of Michigan and author of the book Breathing Lessons: A Doctor’s Guide to Lung Health. Dr. Han shares her perspective on the impact of COVID-related respiratory issues and how this emphasized the importance of healthy lungs and the vital role they play. She talks about her background in pulmonary care and why her desire to better educate patients (and other physici...
Can You Really “Clear a Patient for Surgery”?
April 07, 2022 23:16 - 12 minutes - 10.1 MBThis episode features Dr. Jeff Varnell, a surgeon and COPIC physician risk manager, who offers some insight about the phrase of “clearing a patient for surgery,” and how this has evolved over time. The discussion starts on the idea of evaluating patients prior to surgery with a focus on maximizing their condition and ability to get through surgery safely, and how this informs the post-surgery recovery plan. Dr. Varnell then talks about preoperative screening processes, from nutritional scree...
Managing Patients Who Bring in Wearable Device Data
March 23, 2022 22:01 - 12 minutes - 9.68 MBDr. Zacharias tackles the subject of managing patients who come armed with data from wearable devices (e.g., Fitbits, Apple Watches) believing that this information is valuable for their medical care. He uses the case study of a patient who is a trail runner and has concerns about elevated heart rates (as indicated by device data) and how this may connect with a family history of early heart disease. In responding to this type of situation, Dr. Zacharias highlights the importance of differen...
Using Ketamine to Treat Depression
March 02, 2022 20:11 - 36 minutes - 31.4 MBThis episode’s guest is Dr. Will Van Derveer, a recognized leader in integrative psychiatry, who shares his insight about using ketamine to treat depression and the different schools of thought about how it should be used. He provides some background about the origins of ketamine use in medicine and research studies that demonstrated positive results for patients with depression. The discussion touches on the concerns with ketamine (diversion and addiction), the duration of benefit, “rule ou...
Preventing Surgical Fires and Injuries Related to Electrical Surgical Units
January 28, 2022 20:58 - 28 minutes - 24.2 MBDr. Rebecca Vogel, a general surgeon and COPIC board member, is the guest for this episode that explores key areas of risk management associated with certain surgical injuries. Dr. Vogel talks about her involvement with surgical residency programs and integrating a focus on “maintaining your passion and humanism” throughout your career in medicine. Using a case study about a surgical fire, we look at key factors that contribute to these types of incidents—from the risk of a laser igniting ox...
Reducing the Risk of Bile Duct Injuries During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Procedures
January 14, 2022 17:37 - 20 minutes - 15.4 MBDr. Sue Sgambati, COPIC’s Medical Director and a colorectal surgeon, returns to the podcast to discuss risks and guidelines associated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Dr. Sgambati talks about the background behind utilizing this approach and how a reduced recovery time led to improved patient and provider satisfaction. However, one of the concerns that has emerged is the risk of bile duct injuries (BDIs). Dr. Sgambati focuses on guidelines developed from a multi-society consensus that ide...
The Delicate Process of Terminating a Patient
December 10, 2021 01:05 - 37 minutes - 28.3 MBDr. Zacharias is joined by Dr. Sue Sgambati, COPIC’s Medical Director, to discuss situations where a physician is thinking about terminating a patient from their practice. Common issues that we see include multiple missed appointments, rude behavior, or non-compliance with medication. The conversation focuses on considerations from a physician’s perspective (disclaimer: consult an attorney for legal advice in these situations) starting with a thoughtful analysis of “why do you want to termin...
Getting to the Heart of Health Care: Perspectives from an Esteemed Cardiologist
December 02, 2021 22:58 - 46 minutes - 34.6 MBThis episode’s guest is Dr. Nelson Trujillo, a cardiologist out of Boulder, Colorado, who also has a background in biomedical engineering and nuclear medicine. Dr. Trujillo shares his personal journey, the influence of prominent mentors, why he gravitated toward the prevention of cardiovascular disease, and the notable paradigm shifts he has observed during his career. He shares some insights about “triple rule out,” diagnosing acute coronary syndrome, and considerations when evaluating majo...
Handling Unsolicited Diagnostic Tests
November 11, 2021 00:15 - 16 minutes - 12.7 MBThis episode focuses on the issue of what medical practices should do when they receive clinical information (often test results) about an individual who is not a recognized patient, or which did not originate from an order or request from the practice. This situation increases as patients have more options to self-refer for tests, and more ways to deliver results to providers. Examples include health fair reports, results of self-authorized tests, or records from external providers. Such in...
Forum Panel Discussion: A Candid Conversation on the Risks We See and What You Need to Know
October 27, 2021 22:41 - 50 minutes - 46.1 MBTaped live at the annual Patient Safety & Risk Management Forum, this episode features a panel discussion with Dr. Zacharias, Dr. Alan Lembitz, COPIC’s Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Sue Sgambati, COPIC’s Medical Director. Using a series of real case studies, the panel highlights key patient safety and risk management principles based on where we consistently see medical liability issues. The cases cover topics such as “normalized deviance” that occurs with system workarounds; empowering med...
When a Patient Disagrees with Your Care Recommendations: Using Informed Refusal as a Tool
October 15, 2021 22:42 - 22 minutes - 16.3 MBDr. Alan Lembitz, COPIC’s Chief Medical Officer, joins us to talk about managing situations where patients make decisions about their care that you don’t believe is in their best interest. Using a case study review, we analyze a scenario that illustrates the importance of using an informed refusal form to document a patient’s choice that goes against your recommended care. This presents a challenge in balancing the concerns of protecting your patient while protecting yourself from a medical ...
Special Episode: Requirements for Nebraska Physicians Who Prescribe Opioids/Controlled Substances
September 13, 2021 21:16 - 14 minutes - 13 MBThis episode focuses on Nebraska legislation that outlines rules for prescribing and continuing education around opioids and controlled substances. The legislation was passed in 2018, but its implementation was delayed because of COVID. However, these requirements are now in effect starting in October 2021. Among the requirements are that prescribers must obtain 3.0 hours of CME regarding prescribing opioids on a biennial basis (0.5 hours of which MUST cover Nebraska’s Prescription Drug Moni...
Talking with Patients Who Are Hesitant About the Vaccine
September 08, 2021 23:15 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBIt’s an issue that many physicians are facing and something that continues to be a focus in public discourse—people who don’t want to take the COVID vaccine. The conversations providers are having on this topic can be emotionally charged, full of confusion and disinformation, and difficult to navigate. This episode’s guest, Dr. Dennis Boyle, is an expert on communication and shares some insight on how to approach these situations such as the idea of “developing a therapeutic alliance” as a f...
Medication Errors: The Potential Side Effects and Risks of Prescribing
April 27, 2021 23:59 - 30 minutes - 24.4 MBDr. Dennis Boyle, COPIC physician risk manager, joins the podcast again to talk with Dr. Zacharias about ongoing issues we see with medication errors. These include drug-to-drug interactions, medications that are most prevalent in medical liability lawsuits (antibiotics, pain medicine, and anticoagulants), and awareness about black box warnings. Dr. Boyle walks through some case studies to illustrate why errors occur and highlights steps physicians can take to proactively address these situa...
Nonverbal Communication: How Your Body Talks and What Patients Hear
April 21, 2021 17:49 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBDr. Zacharias is joined by Dr. Dennis Boyle, a COPIC physician risk manager, to talk about key elements of nonverbal communication that occur during physician-patient interactions such as touch, facial expressions, posture as well as the speed and tone of your voice. Dr. Boyle talks about nonverbal cues in both how we sent messages to patients and how “micro expressions” from patients can provide valuable insight into how our messages are being received and the patient’s state of mind. He al...
A Conversation with the Colorado Medical Society’s President—Dr. Sami Diab
April 14, 2021 00:00 - 30 minutes - 25.6 MBIn this episode, we are proud to have Dr. Sami Diab, the president of the Colorado Medical Society (CMS). Dr. Diab describes his journey into medicine, from growing up in Syria to finding his calling as an oncologist to joining the leadership team at CMS. He talks about how his medical background is applied in his current role when dealing with public policy and state legislative issues, and how he approaches his work by thinking about the ways broader decisions may impact medical providers,...
With Power Comes Responsibility—Ethical and Legal Issues That Physicians Face
April 07, 2021 14:50 - 29 minutes - 25.7 MBDr. Michael Victoroff joins the podcast again to talk about administrative or conduct issues that can create legal concerns for physicians. Many of these relate to the authority a medical license grants and the power of a physician’s signature (i.e., prescribing medications, signing off on medical charts, etc.). Dr. Victoroff makes the distinction between willful misconduct and inadvertent actions that can lead to accusations of billing fraud, disciplinary proceedings, and governmental inves...
Considerations with Opioids and Pain Management—A Surgeon’s Perspective
March 31, 2021 21:23 - 25 minutes - 22.9 MBDr. Sue Sgambati, COPIC’s medical director and a colorectal surgeon, joins Dr. Zacharias to talk about her personal experience in balancing the professional responsibility to treat pain with concerns over opioid addiction. Dr. Sgambati reviews the historical background of key factors that contributed to the overprescribing of opioids and what she saw and learned in her own practice. She then talks about the value of using tools such as a state’s prescription drug monitoring program, opioid r...