A patient shares her story of receiving the wrong type of filler into her face by a registered nurse, leading to severe and permanent nerve damage. Francesca explains that the RN, who was in NP school at the time, was not being supervised, and worked in a for-profit clinic owned by a non-physician. While some may argue, "Let the Buyer Beware," Francesca believes that patients are not be in the position to fully understand the qualifications of clinicians being permitted to perform medical proced...
May 27, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 111
In February 2025, the AAPA published a press release entitled: 'AAPA Releases Survey Showing Physician Support for Removing Barriers to PA Practice.' According to AAPA President Jason Prevelige (DMSc, MBA, PA-C, DFAAPA), the survey proved that, “Physicians recognize the need for change. It’s time to modernize these laws so healthcare teams can focus on what matters most, patient care.” But what did this survey REALLY show? Chandani Patel DeZure, MD, joins me to unpack the details. Link...
Apr 22, 2025•32 min•Season 1Ep. 110
Emergency physician Dr. Deborah Fletcher is an author of the first study to evaluate physician presence in Emergency Departments across the country. She discusses the findings, including that 7.4% of all EDs have NO physician on-site, and of those, 3% have no ability for the NP/PA staffing the ED to discuss patient care with a physician. Emergency physician Dr. Mercy Hylton discusses the dangers of this practice, including concerns from nurse researchers regarding variability and lack of standar...
Mar 31, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 109
Pulmonologist / Intensivist Gary Dudek, MD, joins me to discuss the CDC's call for comments regarding allowing nurse practitioners and physician assistants to become National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 'B Readers'. B-Readers are highly trained radiologists (medical school graduates with at least five years of residency as well as additional training in this particular type of x-ray) that read and interpret annual screening chest x-rays done on coal, silic...
Feb 24, 2025•32 min•Season 1Ep. 108
Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD FACP, an internal medicine physician, author, patient advocate, and ally to colleagues discusses how physicians can fight for patients. Trust in physicians has plummeted in the last few years (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2821693), making it more and more difficult for doctors to do their jobs, and potentially leading to a negative impact on patient care. While many point to handling of the COVID pandemic as the cause of growing distrust, ...
Feb 06, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 107
On September 17, 2024, the Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee held an interim hearing on scope of practice expansion for nurse practitioners and other clinicians. In this third episode related to that hearing, Texas Medical Association (TMA) president Ray Callas MD discusses the importance of physician oversight for nonphysician practitioners and answers questions from legislators. Importantly, Dr. Callas notes that in the past, TMA was asked by legislators to 'come to the tab...
Jan 16, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 106
In the last episode, you heard some of my testimony at the Texas Interim Legislature hearing on Scope of Practice. Today you're going to hear from a nurse practitioner, Holly Jeffries, who is practicing in rural Texas. Her testimony was particularly impactful and really quite persuasive to legislators. I think it's important to understand the NP point of view and also learn the concerns of legislators by listening to their line of questioning. Referenced in the podcast: Facts about NP ...
Dec 08, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 105
On September 17, 2024, the Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee held an interim hearing on scope of practice expansion for nurse practitioners and other clinicians. The Texas Medical Association (TMA) invited Rebekah Bernard, MD to testify regarding the economic impact of NP independence. In part 1 of this series, we hear the NP expert witness, economist Alicia Plemons, followed by Dr. Bernard's testimony, along with questioning from the committee. Learn more! https://www.amazon...
Nov 17, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 104
Christopher Garofolo, MD, unpacks the many errors shared by a more seasoned NP to a brand new NP seeking advice on a Facebook post. Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/Imposter-Doctors-Patients-at-Risk/dp/1627344438/ PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Oct 24, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 103
On the last podcast, I interviewed Dr. Anu Shokla who shared her story of her newborn baby being treated for an emergency rapid response by a nurse practitioner who had just rotated with her on the inpatient adult hematology oncology service. After hearing that podcast, Dr. Carol Nelson reached out to share a story of the alternate version: her newborn granddaughter was saved because of the outstanding care from well-trained physicians and non-physicians working together in a physician-led care ...
Sep 16, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 102
Primary care physician Anu Shukla shares a personal story about the dangers that patients face when physicians are replaced with nonphysician practitioners. Dr. Shukla's comments on this podcast reflect her views and opinions. She does not speak for or represent her employer. Physiciansforpatientprotection.org patientsatrisk.com PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Aug 20, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 101
In the first of a series 'The Nurse Will See You Now,' Bloomberg reporters investigate concerns about nurse practitioner education. The Miseducation of America’s Nurse Practitioners They don’t merely support doctors—NPs increasingly treat patients independently, including in specialty practices and emergency rooms. When they aren’t well trained, the results can be tragic. By Caleb Melby , Polly Mosendz , and Noah Buhayar https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-07-24/is-the-nurse-p...
Jul 30, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 100
There are an estimated 500-750 clinics across the U.S. providing infusions of Ketamine for the treatment of a variety of medical conditions. This is big business, estimated to bring in $3.1 billion per year and projected to rise to 6.9 billion by 2030. But is Ketamine safe and effective? Psychiatrist Kristina Kise, MD discusses the use of ketamine infusions in psychiatry, including the potential dangers to patients when physicians are not directly involved in drug oversight. PhysiciansForPatient...
Jul 18, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 99
Psychiatrists are increasingly being replaced by non-physician practitioners - psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) and physician assistants (PAs). This webinar explains the difference between a psychiatrist and a PMHNP and reviews the evidence regarding unsupervised care of patients with mental illness by non-physicians. Link to webinar video: https://youtu.be/djDos6xbRos Contact me: PatientsAtRisk.com PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
May 27, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 98
Over the last decade, as physicians have increasingly turned to employed practice to cope with declining reimbursement and increased administrative requirements, our role in advocacy has diminished. Doctors are afraid to speak out because we fear being fired and losing our livelihoods. But without physician advocacy, corporate interests, academic centers, and government agencies are increasingly making decisions contrary to the best interests of patients, including replacing physicians with nonp...
May 13, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 97
Arthur Smolensky, MD describes his experience creating a Small Democratic Group (SDG) to take over emergency department staffing from corporate contract management groups. https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-smolensky-719806/ PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Apr 29, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 96
In today's episode, Teresa Camp-Rogers, MD, MS analyzes a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the journal of the American College of Physicians, entitled Inappropriate Prescribing to Older Patients by Nurse Practitioners and Primary Care Physicians The article, which seems to call for an expansion of unsupervised practice for NPs, contends that NPs and physicians showed no differences in inappropriate prescribing to seniors based on Beers criteria, however, notes that NPs we...
Apr 15, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 95
Three years ago, we aired a podcast criticizing Doctors' Day posts from hospitals and healthcare organizations that included non-physicians and referred to physicians as 'providers.' Fast-forward to today, and some organizations (but not all!) seem to have gotten the message. Happy Doctors' Day to all physicians - thank you for your sacrifice and dedication to patient care! PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Apr 01, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 94
John Canion is an experienced nurse practitioner working within nursing for years to improve NP education. Frustrated with the lack of positive change from NP leadership, he penned the "2023 Report on Nurse Practitioner Education and the Need for Change," which outlines the current state of NP education and proposes solutions that harken back to the original days of NP training. Canion suggests: - At least 2 years of RN experience before starting NP school - Increased standards for ent...
Mar 18, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 93
John Canion is an experienced nurse practitioner working within nursing for years to improve NP education. Frustrated with the lack of positive change from NP leadership, he penned the "2023 Report on Nurse Practitioner Education and the Need for Change," which outlines the current state of NP education and proposes solutions that harken back to the original days of NP training. Canion suggests: - At least 2 years of RN experience before starting NP school - Increased standards for ent...
Mar 04, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 92
John Canion is an experienced nurse practitioner working within nursing for years to improve NP education. Frustrated with the lack of positive change from NP leadership, he penned the "2023 Report on Nurse Practitioner Education and the Need for Change," which outlines the current state of NP education and proposes solutions that harken back to the original days of NP training. Canion suggests: - At least 2 years of RN experience before starting NP school - Increased standards for ent...
Feb 19, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 91
In part 2 of my discussion of the Assistant Physician (AP) role, Dr. Keith Frederick meets Dr. Liz Troilo, who benefited from his legislation. After working as an AP, Dr. Troilo matched into residency and now provides critical access care as a Family physician in Missouri. Dr. Frederick proposes a possible alternate pathway to independent practice for physicians other than formal residency training. Learn more about the importance of physician-led care - https://www.amazon.com/Imposter-Doctors-P...
Feb 05, 2024•18 min•Season 1Ep. 90
Emergency physician Dr. Amish Shah has served the Arizona State House for the last five years and is now running for U.S. Congress. In this special bonus episode, Dr. Shah explains why he entered into politics, the work he has done to support the practice of medicine, and why physicians should donate to his campaign. Learn more / contribute to Dr. Shah's campaign here: https://www.amishforarizona.com/ Meet Dr. Shah at his fundraiser at the Take Medicine Back meeting February 9, 2024 in Palm...
Jan 24, 2024•20 min
There is no doubt that America is facing a physician shortage, due in large part to a lack of residency positions, the mandatory 1-3 years that medical school graduates must complete to receive a license to practice medicine. Today we are talking about a proposed solution to this problem—a new professional designation for unmatched medical school graduates called the “Assistant Physician” (AP). I am joined by Dr. Keith Frederick, the originator of the first legislation to create the AP role, and...
Jan 22, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 90
In July 2023, 47 year old Jenifer Cleveland, a mother of four, died after receiving treatments at a Texas medispa. We reported on this tragic story in a podcast with plastic surgeon Alina Sholar (https://www.buzzsprout.com/1475923/13329411-when-wellness-turns-deadly-patient-dies-during-npp-medspa-visit.mp3?download=true). Today, we are discussing the aftermath of this case and efforts by Texas physicians to ensure that no more patients die from ‘wellness’ treatments. Dr. Mary Kelly Green is an o...
Jan 14, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 89
Malpractice insurance company CNA, along with Nurses Service Organization (NSO) has been providing malpractice coverage for nurse practitioners across the country in a variety of practice settings for the last 30 years. The organization released its first report on NP malpractice claims in 2005, and recently released its 5th report analyzing data between 2017 and 2022. Dr. Kevin Zhang joins me to discuss the findings of this report including: Increase in average total claims for NPs Highest aver...
Jan 01, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 88
Nurse practitioner and Wisconsin Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara jokes about 'missing' lobbyist Mark Grapentine's IV... and using the largest bore needle to try again. Bill co-sponsor Rep. Barbara Dittrich responds by pulling her name off the legislation. Get the books! https://www.amazon.com/Patients-Risk-Practitioner-Physician-Healthcare/dp/1627343164/ https://www.amazon.com/Imposter-Doctors-Patients-at-Risk/dp/1627344438 PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org...
Dec 11, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 87
There has been a dramatic rise in the number of clinics offering intravenous infusions of fluids and vitamins to treat an array of conditions and for a supposed wellness benefit. But do these treatments actually work? To discuss the risks and benefits of IV infusions outside of a traditional medical setting I am joined by nephrologist Dr. Christin Giordano. Get the new book! https://www.amazon.com/Imposter-Doctors-Patients-at-Risk/dp/1627344438 PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org...
Nov 27, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 86
Interventional cardiologist Dan Sraow, MD, FACC discusses the election of a nurse rather than a physician to lead the American College of Cardiology (ACC), as well as the risks of non-physicians performing cardiac interventions. PhysiciansForPatientProtection.org
Nov 13, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 85
There is no doubt that America is facing a physician shortage, due in large part to a lack of residency positions, the mandatory 1-3 years that medical school graduates must complete to receive a license to practice medicine. To alleviate this shortage, some states have a new professional designation for unmatched medical school graduates called 'assistant physician' or 'graduate physician.' Representatives for Louisiana Physicians for Patients discuss their role in passing l...
Oct 30, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 86
