Nancy Nielsen, M.D., Ph.D., the president-elect of the American Medical Association, joins Sound Medicine’s Kathy Miller, M.D., in a discussion about an initiative to standardize physician ratings. This nationwide initiative aims to streamline aspects of health-insurer programs that guide patients by rating doctors and has the support of U.S. health insurers, employers, patient groups and physician organizations.
Orthopedic stem cell surgery is new and practiced by only a handful of surgeons in the US. Thomas Einhorn, M.D., chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Biochemistry, and Biomedical Engineering at Boston University, explains how he encourages new bone growth by mixing adult stem cells harvested from the patient’s bone marrow with protein to form a sort of “grout” used to fill in gaps in broken bones.
A Bloomington, Ind., dentist, David Lawler, D.D.S. describes his work helping patients with sleep disorders. Lawler makes oral appliances resembling retainers which are more tolerable than the conventional CPAP mask worn at night for sleep apnea.
Steve McKee, global copy desk editor at the Wall Street Journal and author of My Father’s Heart: A Son’s Journey, describes what he learned from his father’s fatal heart attack when McKee was still a teenager. Upon reaching his 50s, McKee discovered he also had heart disease, and has taken specific steps to avoid his father’s fate.
On this week’s “Check Up,” Jeremy Shere explores a new treatment for vertigo.
Archived editions of Sound Medicine as well as other helpful information can be found at http://www.soundmedicine.iu.edu.
Sound Medicine is underwritten by the Lilly Center for Medical Science, Clarian Health, and IU Medical Group; Jeremy Shere’s “Check-Up” is underwritten by IUPUI.