Healthy Skeptic, MD

Mar 25 2022 26

Healthy Skeptic, MD Podcast artwork

The purpose of the Healthy Skeptic MD podcast is to take a deeper dive into health issues through interviews with experts and patients. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hochman, a primary care doctor, a key theme of Healthy Skeptic MD is that although modern medicine has much to offer there's also plenty of room for improvement. We will delve into those issues with other medical professionals from all spectrums of practice. We hope you'll learn along with us!

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An Epidemic of Unhoused Older Adults with Jean Galiana

Mar 25 2022 32 mins

We often think of homelessness as a problem of the young. But recent projections suggest that the number of unhoused older adults will triple over the next decade. Today's guest is Ms. Jean Galiana, the Coordinator for Older Adult Services with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Jean discusses creative approaches for increasing housing options for the geriatric popul

Do Children Get Too Much Medical Care? With Dr. Samantha House

Mar 04 2022 34 mins

In the Healthy Skeptic, MD we've covered the harms of overuse of medical services in adults. But what about children? According to Dr. Samantha House, unnecessary care is a problem in Pediatrics too. In today's episode, she describes a recent JAMA analysis she authored showing that overuse of medical services in children is both common and costly.

Meaningful Advances in Diabetes Treatment with Dr. Nihar Desai

Feb 11 2022 39 mins

Until recently -- and to the surprise of many -- there were no diabetes treatments definitively proven to lower cardiovascular risk. Over the last 5 years, that has changed. There are now two new classes of medications that not only prevent heart attacks and strokes for patients with diabetes, but they also help with weight loss, and may have other benefits. Still, as with any new

Thoughtful Plastic Surgery with Dr. Elliot Hirsch

Jan 28 2022 37 mins

Plastic surgery is often associated with high end cosmetic procedures, but it is much more than this, as we discuss today with Dr. Elliot Hirsch, the Chairman of the Division of Plastic Surgery at the Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center. Plastic surgeons are among the most versatile of all surgeons, doing everything from wound care, to tissue reconstruction, to breast au

Rethinking Care for Older Adults with Jennie Chin Hansen

Jan 14 2022 49 mins

If you've done any work in the fields of Geriatrics Medicine or Healthy Aging, you've almost certainly come across Jennie Chin Hansen, my guest on today's episode. Jennie is the former President of AARP, the former CEO of the American Geriatrics Society and currently a Board Member of the SCAN Health Plan (which funds the Healthy Skeptic, MD Podcast). Jennie also spe

What to Know about the Omicron Surge with Dr. Pieter Cohen

Jan 07 2022 26 mins

Since the last Covid-19 surge, many things are different. More Americans are vaccinated; there's an important new pill to prevent Covid-19 complications; and there are new public health guidelines recommending a shortened isolation period after an infection. To help us break it all down, my guest today is Dr. Pieter Cohen, an internist at the Cambridge Health Alliance and the

Welcome Health: Better Care for Older Adults

Dec 10 2021 36 mins

If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us one thing about healthcare it was that American consumers are open to new ways of receiving care. But is this also true for older adults -- who are accustomed to the traditional medical office setting? The answer is 'yes', according to Drs. Scott Weingarten and Michael Wang, leaders of a new medical group for older adults. The new group

The Skid Row Running Club

Nov 26 2021 32 mins

In 2012, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig Mitchell decided he wanted to improve public safety from a new angle. He always loved running, and suspected the discipline it taught him might help others -- particularly those struggling with addiction and homelessness. He founded the Skid Row Running Club, which has now helped hundreds of people improve their mental and physical he

How Clinicians and Patients Co-Produce Health with Dr. Maren Batalden

Nov 12 2021 42 mins

When one thinks about healthcare quality, technical issues come to mind. Was the right treatment given? What percentage of patients developed a complication from the procedure? But that is not the entire story, according to Dr. Maren Batalden, the Chief Quality Officer at the Cambridge Health Alliance. If we really care about advancing health, it is the clinician-patient relationsh

Why Do Some Americans Get So Much Healthcare? With Dr. Elliott Fisher

Oct 29 2021 47 mins

In 2003, Dr. Elliott Fisher published a seminal series of articles. It found that patients living in certain regions of the country receive about 60% more medical care than those in other regions, and these differences do not appear to be explained by differences in the health status or other demographic factors among the regions. To the surprise of many, those living in regions wi