Category: Uncategorized

The Limits of Aging & Implications

Originally broadcast November 6, 2024

The current life expectancy at birth is 74.8 years for males and for females it’s 80.2 years in the U.S. Does it catch your eye when you hear about predictions we’ll be able to live to 100 and beyond? Some researchers are throwing cold water on those notions. “We’ll be lucky if 5% of the age cohort makes it to 100,” says S. Jay Olshansky, Ph.D., Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago.

He and his colleagues made headlines when they presented data that humans are approaching a biologically-based limit to life. Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter ask Olshansky about the implications of this research — for each of us personally and for policymakers — after decades of hearing predictions that life expectancy would continue to go up. Olshanky explains why we should celebrate longer life that has resulted from healthier diets and medical advances but now focus on improving quality of life in later years.

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Better Primary Care: What Will It Take to Get the U.S. to Wake Up to the Need?

Originally broadcast on February 22, 2024.

U.S. spending on primary care fell again, to a mere 4.6% of total health care dollars spent. Primary Care Collaborative is the only national multi-stakeholder organization focused on whole-person primary care.

Primary Care Collaborative President & CEO Ann Greiner joins hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter to discuss better compensation and reimbursement for primary care clinicians and efforts to increase training, expanding access to community health centers, and opportunities for primary care to help as the country faces a mental health crisis.

What will it take to get the United States to wake up to the need for better primary care? Tune into this week’s conversation to learn more.

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She Helped Design Pres. Biden’s AI Bill of Rights—How Does It Protect Patients?

Originally broadcast on January 11, 2024

Less than three months ago, Alondra Nelson, Ph.D., proudly watched as President Biden unveiled the administration’s blueprint for an artificial intelligence bill of rights, which is focused on ensuring safe, secure and trustworthy technology. Nelson had a big role in developing the strategy as she served as deputy assistant to the president and acting director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Since then, major health care companies have agreed to work toward solutions that advance health equity, expand access to care, make care affordable and other commitments.

But there’s anxiety about clinical algorithms showing racial bias and privacy worries. Nelson joins hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter to explain how the health care sector, including its employees, can benefit if AI is thoughtfully deployed.

Conversations on Health Care features in-depth discussions on health policy and innovation with industry newsmakers from around the globe. https://www.chcradio.com


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Long COVID: 2023’s Enduring Medical Mystery

Originally broadcast on December 28, 2023

The diagnosis and treatment of Long COVID made many advancements in the past 12 months and “Conversations on Health Care” covered all of them. We’ve collected the most important insights from leading researchers and clinicians as this medical mystery continues. Join hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter as they highlight the perspectives of guests ranging from NIH researchers and patients, to the leader of the Mayo Clinic’s COVID Activity Rehabilitation Program.

Conversations on Health Care features in-depth discussions on health policy and innovation with industry newsmakers from around the globe. https://www.chcradio.com

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Holiday Blues & America’s Mental Health Crisis: Insights from NAMI’s CMO Dr. Ken Duckworth

Originally broadcast on December 14, 2023

This is a critically important time for Dr. Ken Duckworth as the chief medical officer for NAMI— the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It’s the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Yet the holidays often bring increased instances of depression, which is especially troubling for a country already experiencing the highest rates of suicide in over 80 years.

Dr. Duckworth joins hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter to discuss Wellness Recovery Action Plans and a new NAMI effort to encourage people to be “more open, accepting and proactive” when it comes to taking care of their mental health.

They also talk about 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which marked its first anniversary this summer.

Conversations on Health Care features in-depth discussions on health policy and innovation with industry newsmakers from around the globe. https://www.chcradio.com

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How Do We Get More Latinas Interested in Nursing? Ideas & Inspiration from Authors of New Book

Our guests were looking for a book that told real-life stories about Latinas in nursing, but they couldn’t find one. So they took the job upon themselves and wrote their own book, titled Latinas in Nursing: Stories of Determination, Inspiration, and Trust.

The book is a compilation of the beautiful stories of the challenges, growth and discovery influential Latina nurses share about their journeys, including during the COVID pandemic. Right now, Hispanics make up 19% of the total U.S. population but only about 8% of registered nurses are Latina.

Join us as Dr. Tina Loarte-Rodríguez and Zacnité Vargas-Avalos, RN bring their book to life in conversation with hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter.

Conversations on Health Care features in-depth discussions on health policy and innovation with industry newsmakers from around the globe. https://www.chcradio.com

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