Episode 58: Gaps in Addiction Treatment, Magnified by the National Opioid Epidemic

We live in an age with ever-advancing psychiatric treatments for mental health and addiction, yet the opioid epidemic continues to rage unabated.

With all these modern tools at our disposal, why is our approach to addiction treatment still failing?

Our latest guest in our 3 part Opioid Crisis Series, Dr. Michael Genovese, Chief Medical Officer at Acadia Healthcare, joins the show to examine what’s missing from today’s addiction toolkit — and what can be done to fill the gaps.

We discuss:

  • The stigma of addiction and lack of doctors specializing in its treatment
  • The medical and law enforcement challenges in treating the opioid epidemic
  • The need for system-level policy changes to address the crisis

Episode 57: Heroes Are Still Human: A physician’s journey

Workers in neurocritical care have an incredibly demanding job, but — as the pandemic revealed — one that is absolutely vital in supporting societal wellbeing. But are we doing everything we can to support their wellbeing?

In this episode, Dr. Sasha Yakhkind, Neurocritical Care Physician at Tufts Medical Center, joins to discuss the ongoing burnout crisis and what can be done to prevent it.

Join us as we discuss:

  • The ways in which the pandemic showed the important role neurocritical care plays.
  • Why crossovers in clinical specialties matters more than ever.
  • Burnout, its dangers and how hospitals can take measures to prevent it.

Episode 56: Preventing Another Opioid Marketing Tsunami

The pharmaceutical industry is the least trusted by the public — and it’s not hard to see why. The rise of OxyContin and the ensuing opioid crisis is one of the greatest preventable tragedies of our times, touching almost everyone.

But if we failed to prevent bad incentives from reigning supreme in the marketing of OxyContin, how can we stop something similar from happening next time?

In this episode, Dr. William Soliman, Founder and CEO of Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA), takes a hard look at the issue — how we got here and how to prevent it from happening again.

We discuss:

  • The marketing malfeasance that fueled the opioid epidemic
  • Accreditation programs to curb these bad incentives
  • What the future holds for the pharmaceutical industry

Bonus Episode: Trends for Locum Tenens with Ted Weyn

 

Host Mike Sacopulos interviews Ted Weyn on the current landscape for locum tenens, from the perspective of the organization that is interested in using locums and the physicians who are looking at work-life alternatives.

Physician leaders and healthcare administrators are familiar with the staffing problems in medicine. The lack of physicians in certain geographic regions has become a chronic concern for healthcare systems and medical practice. 

This episode of SoundPractice covers:

  • Insights and tips for organizations in need of physicians and how locums should be a part of manpower planning.
  • Physicians who need a change – of career, setting, or for personal reasons – and how locums offer a path forward.
  • How locums impact a hospital’s profitability and ability to deliver patient care.
  • What a good relationship looks like between a staffing company and a healthcare organization.

 

Episode 55: Future Pharmacists: Leveraging AI To Be More Patient Focused

With a perpetuating labor shortage resulting in healthcare facilities reporting continued losses year-over-year, healthcare professionals are desperate for reprieve. While there is no impending wave of new professionals to hit the workforce any time soon, the world has begun to see a wild jump in the development of AI.

On this episode, we’re joined by Ken Perez, Vice President of Healthcare Policy and Government Affairs at Omnicell — an organization at the heart of the future of pharmacy. With promising developments emerging, Ken offers a glimmer of hope for healthcare facilities and pharmacy techs worldwide.

Join us as we discuss:

  • Specific challenges caused by labor shortages
  • Use case for tech and AI in minimizing inefficiencies
  • How AI will enable pharmacists, not replace them

Episode 54: Litigating the War Against OxyContin Exploitation

This is the first episode in a special three-part series on OxyContin and the opioid crisis. The next episode will be live on 4/11/23.

At some point, the opioid epidemic has touched nearly everyone’s life in this country. That makes it one of the few issues that cut across every demographic and political line.

The people want the corporations held responsible for their part in the epidemic, but that’s no easy task when it means taking on some of the world’s most powerful corporations.

Today’s guest not only had the courage to take on these companies, but managed to successfully litigate against them in a true David & Goliath for our time. Jayne Conroy, Experienced Litigator and Shareholder at Simmons Hanly Conroy, joins the show to share what goes into getting justice for the many victims of OxyContin and the opioid epidemic.

We discuss:

  • Jayne’s background and how it led her to her role in litigating on behalf of OxyContin victims
  • The nuances of such a large litigation
  • Issues in the drug approval process that contributed to OxyContin’s infamous role in the opioid epidemic
  • The outcome of the case and what it means for future litigation

Episode 53: Overcoming Burnout: A Comprehensive Care Plan

Headlines, studies and endless social media posts remind us that occupational burnout is more widespread than ever — but how exactly do we define burnout? And more importantly, how do we prevent it?

This week we are joined by Ginny Bonner, Senior Consultant of Physician, APP and Nursing Experience, Development and Well-Being at Banner Health. Ginny defines occupational burnout as a syndrome characterized by a high degree of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a low sense of personal accomplishment — but it goes far beyond this.

Join us as we discuss:

  • The causes and effects of burnout
  • Banner Health’s role in combating burnout and maintaining good mental health
  • How to treat and reverse burnout once it’s already happened

Episode 52: Business Innovations for Pediatric Care

One great thing about medicine in the US is the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that can tackle some of the biggest challenges in health.

The downside?

Smaller markets, like pediatrics, are often overlooked in favor of bigger, more lucrative problem solving solutions. This means healthcare heroes in these smaller sectors have to step up to fill those gaps in funding and recognition in order to gain market momentum.

That’s exactly what Dr. Steven Goudy is doing as a business innovator and founder, in addition to his role as Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

He joins the show to discuss:The challenges in today’s pediatric careTackling those challenges despite the fewer investment dollars in the industryGetting buy-in from key opinion leaders to support your business

Episode 51: Leading the Charge in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease Treatment

 

 

In this episode, Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer of Annovis Dr. Maria Maccecchini discusses the biological difficulties of treating cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Dementia, and how two developing therapeutics may hold the key to stopping them.

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Episode 50: Shutting the Door on Cancer Cells

Concarlo Therapeutics is developing a drug that could transform the way we treat cancer. In this episode, Co-founder, Chief Scientific Officer, and acting CEO of Concarlo Therapeutics, Dr. Stacy Blain,shares her journey of researching, testing and securing funding for a drug that kills off cancer cells.

Join us as we discuss:

  • Clinical grade manufacturing processes
  • FDA regulations and clinical trials
  • Cancer cell proliferation and necrosis