AHA!

This week's episode we welcome a special guest, Shawn Prince. Shawn is an expert in healthcare policy, reimbursement, and payment and government management. Shawn shares with us his views on how the RO-APM will potentially impact radiation oncologists, hospitals/clinics, insurance carriers, especially Medicare, and patients. The final rule was announced publicly on Sept 18, 2020. If you want to read the full 950+ pages of the final rule and policy you can find the link here: CMS Final RO-APM Rule

We discuss with Shawn on what to expect, what it means, and how to interpret some of the key aspects to this final rule. The question will become, will you be deemed an efficient or inefficient "provider" in radiation oncology?

In this episode, we begin by exploring the topic of mental health and how it has been impacting residents within the hospital. As we begin to unpack the article we begin to highlight how the pandemic is shining a light on the system of productivity that has been perfected over the last 10 decades within medicine. What the pandemic has done is placed a spotlight on the cracks, the kinks in the chain, and the areas that are most vulnerable within this production system, exposed them, and forced the entire systems at large to falter. Those that are the most responsible for the care, oversight, and management of people in our communities and the patients that may become, are the same professionals that are now at more risk than ever to suffer from isolation, stress, pressure, mental health, and the physical manifestations. We end the episode by highlighting what we can do, at the N of 1, leveraging the foundations of stoicism to help us become aware of the things we can change, the things we cannot, and the difference between the two situations. Remember, we make change, beginning with ourselves, at the N of 1. Articles explored: https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/10/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-resident-burnout-and-how-we-can-combat-it.html ; https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidplans/2020/10/12/workplace-mental-health-where-to-from-here/#55fb7c335259 ; https://medium.com/@writing.ejp/why-stoicism-is-so-darn-popular-right-now-728b6868dd3f

Today's episode we begin by looking at 3 interesting concepts to help focus on work that is the most important. Everyone has heard of and perhaps used to-do lists. We explore 3 concepts: Alarms, Just-in-Time learning, and the 20% itch rule. Our second topic on Nompohbia, or the loss of not being able to access a mobile device and the ramifications it has on sleep patterns. Our last topic highlights using codfish skin to help regenerate new skin for burn victims. The common theme with all of the topics is a balancing act between technology and nature. Nature has found a way to survive over millions of years. The more we can understand nature, and apply those learnings to life, the further we can take humanity in a positive step forward. A step towards living, healing, and caring at the N of 1.