Infectious disease fascinates me. When the State of Texas offers a free certification program in pandemic preparedness, including courses in epidemiology and infectious disease, I'm eager to sign up. Tune in to hear some of what I loved, what I didn't love, and why access to this type of knowledge is a great opportunity overall.

Key Points:
-Public Health History in Texas
-Research Hesitancy
-Neglected Tropical Diseases

References:
-Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (2024). Certificate Program. https://www.tephi.texas.gov/training/index.htm.
-Kuhn, T (1996). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 3rd ed. U of Chicago P.

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Have you noticed how busy the clinic waiting rooms are becoming? As the largest living generation retires from providing care and seeks to receive it, our primary care models are experiencing new challenges. This episode seeks to focus our efforts on an improvement mindset as we manage the surge of patients.
Key Points:
-Blocking the Door
-Black Friday in Healthcare
-Primary Care Triage

References:
-Shen, Fan (2004). The Barefoot Doctor. Gang of One. University of Nebraska Press.

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Have you ever been asked to sign that you'll pay whatever is "leftover" from your bill -- without knowing the total? This episode uses a risk approach to discuss the expectation that patients must promise to pay to an infinite and undefinable cost, and shares solutions that fit a patient safety model using clear communication and patient-empowered decision-making.
Key Points:
-The Blank Check
-Transparency Laws in Practice
-Patient-Driven Billing

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Is it possible that one of our top safety interventions could increase the risk of patient harm? Why do some huddles seem so fruitful while others fall short? This episode shares 5 pitfalls of the typical staff huddle with tips on how to improve their productivity without increasing the risk for clinical errors.
Key Points:
-Reality is not like the research
-The unforgiving med pass
-Opportunities for engagement

References:
-Pimentel, CB; Snow, AL; Carnes, SL; Shah, NR; Loup, JR, Vallejo-Luces, TM; Madrigal, C, Hartmann, CW (Sept. 2021). Huddles and their effectiveness at the frontlines of clinical care: a scoping review. J Gen Intern Med, 36(9): 2772-2873. DOI: 10.1007/s11606-021-06632-9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc8390736/.
-Greenberg, M (Jan. 14, 2014). Feeling Deprived Can Lead to Some Illogical Behavior. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201401/feeling-deprived-can-lead-some-illogical-behavior.

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Does healthcare improvement sometimes feel like an impossible task? This episode looks at ways to refresh more than the data, but also our outlook and understanding, through an analytical approach.
Key Points:
-Time to give up?
-Human rights applications
-Breaking it down

References:
-World Vision International. (Feb. 9th, 2018). A Stolen Trombone, Barrier Analysis and Isaiah 65 – A chat with Tom Davis – World Vision’s New Global Lead for Sustainable Health. Retrieved September 8th, 2022, from https://www.wvi.org/article/stolen-trombone-barrier-analysis-and-isaiah-65-chat-tom-davis-world-visions-new-global-lead.
-Porter, G (2023). Simple Tools. Healthcare Quality for the Rest of Us: A Friendly Guide to Healthcare Quality Management. Porter Creatives.

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Have you noticed there are a lot of companies diving into primary care and then quickly exiting--or how many of these ventures carry the term "health" in their title rather than "healthcare"? This episode explores the dichotomy of healthcare that treats the sick and health companies that provide primary care for the healthy, including recommendations for how these companies could recover and thrive.
Key Points:
-Healthcare for the Healthy
-Holistic Care
-Unmet Needs and Opportunities

References:
-Fox, S (2024). Rebel Health: A Field Guide to the Patient-Led Revolution in Medical Care. Highbridge Company.

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Have you ever experienced unintended consequences in your efforts to improve healthcare quality? Is there a better way to find solutions to persistent problems? This episode applies the principles of Precision Medicine -- with its individualized, scientific approach -- to the field of healthcare improvement.
Key Points:
-Viper Reimbursement
-Magic and distraction
-The garden quality indicator

References:
-Bragg, Alistair (2022). Great Moments in Unintended Consequences: Transcontinental Railroad, Cash for Ash, Cobra Problem. Reason. https://reason.com/video/2022/01/14/great-moments-in-unintended-consequences-vol-5/.
-Porter, G. (2023). Project Management. Quality for the Rest of Us: A Friendly Guide to Healthcare Quality Management. Porter Creatives.
-Drew T, Vo M, Wolfe J. The invisible gorilla strikes again: Sustained inattentional blindness in expert observers. Psychol Sci. 2013 Sep; 24(9): 1848-1853. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797613479386.
-Lehrer, Jonah. The Magic Gasp. Mystery: A Seduction, A Strategy, A Solution. Simon & Schuster. Aug 2021.

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Patient Decision-Making is supposed to be the goal, but just defining it can cause a heated argument. What prevents it from happening, and how can we overcome those barriers? This episode uncovers a missing piece in patient decision-making, and offers recommendations for a solid patient-centered framework.
Key Points:
-Speak Up campaigns
-Obscure language
-Precision Risk

References:
-The Joint Commission (2024). Facts About Speak Up. https://www.jointcommission.org/resources/for-consumers/speak-up-campaigns/facts-about-speak-up.
-Joseph, C. (Jan. 31, 2024). Trust or Bust: Healing Healthcare’s Credibility Crisis. Nordic Global. https://www.nordicglobal.com/blog/trust-or-bust-healing-healthcare-credibility-crisis.
-Krist, AH; Tong, ST; Aycock, RA; Longo, DR (2017). Engaging patients in decision-making and behavior change to promote prevention. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, Vol. 240: 284-302. DOI: 10.3233/978-1-61499-790-0-284.
-Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (July 2014). The SHARE Approach. https://www.ahrq.gov/health-literact/professional-training/shared-decision/index.html

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