Physicians enter their professions with the highest of hopes and ideals for compassionate and efficient patient care. Along the way, however, consistent problems arise in their interactions with, “difficult patients.”  Addressing a problem that is rarely discussed in the patient care context, Host Mike Sacopulos interviews Dr. Joan Naidorf on her new book, Changing How We Think about Difficult Patients: A Guide for Physicians and Healthcare Professionals.
Dr. Naidorf describes the four types of difficult patients, and introduces simple, actionable tools that every physician, nurse, and care-provider can use to change their mindset.
https://shop.physicianleaders.org/collections/all/products/changing-how-we-think-about-difficult-patients-a-guide-for-physicians-and-healthcare-professionals
@JoanNaidorf
https://www.drjoannaidorf.com/
Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership at www.physicianleaders.org
 

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Treating the “Difficult Patient,” by Joan Naidorf, DO

Episode Overview: Are you looking to eliminate waste, enhance efficiency, and elevate patient satisfaction in your practice? In this episode, host Mike Sacopulos and Owen J. Dahl, MBA, LFACHE, CHBC, LSSMBB, discuss how streamlining healthcare can help you achieve your goals. Dahl is a nationally recognized expert in healthcare management with nearly 40 years of specialization in lean management, revenue cycle, and practice operations.
The Big Picture: Leverage Dahl’s expertise to revolutionize your healthcare practice by gaining actionable insights to boost efficiency and quality. Implementing lean Six Sigma strategies can enhance experiences for providers and patients, leading to a more effective and rewarding practice.
Key Points:
Philosophy of Workflow: Discover how Dahl's approach optimizes healthcare workflows, focusing on enhancing experiences for both patients and providers.
Quality Improvement: Explore successful real-world examples that underscore the crucial role systematic processes in driving quality improvements.
Systems Awareness: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the entire healthcare system to identify and eliminate inefficiencies.
Economic Benefits: Learn how streamlined processes like Lean Management and Six Sigma can bolster the financial health of healthcare practices.
Historical Insight: Apply John Wanamaker’s principle to modern healthcare to identify and reduce wasted resources.
Practical Implementation: Find out how physician leaders can drive positive change by implementing lean processes.

Resources:
Books by Owen Dahl:
The High-Performing Medical Practice: Workflow, Practice Finances, and Patient-Centric Care
Think Business! Medical Practice Quality, Efficiency, Profits (2nd Edition)

Owen Dahl Consulting:
Visit owendahlconsulting.com for more information.


Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership.


Lean Six Sigma and Process Improvement in Healthcare with Owen J. Dahl

Owen J. Dahl, MBA, FACHE, LSSMBB

Quality and Risk

Quality Improvement

Strategy and Innovation

Systems Awareness

Finance

Economics

Episode Overview: Are you interested in taking a road less traveled in healthcare? This episode is for you.  Host Mike Sacopulos talks with physician leader, author, and advocate for alternative medical careers, Sylvie Stacy, MD, MPH. Stacy shares her journey through unconventional clinical career paths, highlighting her impactful work in prison medicine.
Episode Highlights:
•	Finding a “Happy Medium”: Many doctors experience burnout and feel undervalued in traditional roles. Stacy discusses unique clinical careers that allow you to stay in patient care while offering new challenges and rewards.
•	Combatting Burnout: Learn how stepping off the beaten path can reignite your passion for medicine and help you prioritize self-care.
•	Find Opportunities: Discover and secure roles in unconventional careers like prison medicine, telemedicine, and medical consulting. 
Things to Consider: 
•	Side Gigs: Explore part-time jobs to gain experience or supplemental income.
•	Networking: Leverage job boards and professional organizations to explore new opportunities.
•	Peer Advice: Hear how other experienced physicians have navigated their career shifts.
The Big Picture: Non-traditional medical careers can empower physicians to find renewed purpose and satisfaction in their professional lives.
About the Book: Stacy’s newest book 50 Unconventional Clinical Careers for Physicians: Unique Ways to Use Your Medical Degree Without Leaving Patient Care is an accessible and engaging guide to finding satisfaction in medicine without leaving clinical practice. Gain real-world insights from interviews with physicians in unconventional clinical careers. This book is essential for any physician feeling unfulfilled, frustrated, or burned out.
Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership.


Exploring Unconventional Medical Careers with Dr. Sylvie Stacy

Sylvie Stacy, MD, MPH

Self-Management

Self-Awareness

Professional Capabilities

Influence

Environmental Influences

Episode Overview: The integration of augmented intelligence (AI) in clinical settings is revolutionizing healthcare, but it also brings its own set of challenges. In this episode, Maria Granzotti, MD, MBA, CPE, CHCQM, FABQAURP, FACHE, dives into the current landscape of clinical augmented intelligence (CAI).  She defines CAI, discusses its primary purposes and benefits, and examines its potential to reduce healthcare costs.
Key Questions:
•	How is CAI different from traditional AI?
•	What does "human in the loop" mean in the context of CAI?
•	Is now the right time for CAI?
Episode Highlights:
•	Technology Integration: Discover how CAI seamlessly integrates into existing clinical workflows, enhancing the tools physicians already use.
•	Quality Improvement: Learn from real-world examples about how CAI supports quality and safety initiatives in healthcare.
•	Healthcare Delivery: Explore how CAI can revolutionize healthcare delivery by reducing administrative burdens and shifting the focus back to patient care.
About the Expert: Maria Granzotti, MD, MBA, CPE, CHCQM, FABQAURP, FACHE, is the chief medical advisor and clinical strategist for Digital Strategies Group, LLC.  With 15 years of experience in healthcare executive leadership and 20 years in emergency medicine, she has a proven track record of delivering value and prioritizing patient safety.  Granzotti has led quality and safety initiatives at a multihospital system in Texas and has played a pivotal role in shaping strategies for over 150 hospitals across the country.
The Big Picture: CAI is creating new possibilities for patients and physicians, driving advancements in technology and quality in healthcare.
Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership.


Using AI to Enhance Clinical Decision-Making with Dr. Maria Granzotti

Maria T. Granzotti, MD, MBA, CPE, CHCQM, FABQAURP, FACHE

Operations and Policy

Technology Integration

Episode Overview: Are you a physician who wants to become a Chief Medical Officer (CMO)? In this episode, discover a comprehensive roadmap designed to help you achieve your career goals. Host Mike Sacopulos is joined by author Rex Hoffman, MD, MBA, FACHE, CPE, to explore Hoffman’s new book, I Want to Be a Chief Medical Officer: Now What?. Tune in and take the next step toward your CMO career!
Highlights:
Unique Insights:  Discover what hiring managers seek in potential CMOs and navigate the application process like a pro with tips for job search strategies and resume building.
Comprehensive Roles:  Understand various CMO roles in hospitals, medical groups, health plans, and health systems.
From the Experts:  Gain insight from experienced CMOs including an overview of their duties and the pros and cons of transitioning from clinical practice.

The Big Picture: Turn actionable insights into confidence while navigating your journey toward becoming a successful CMO. 
About the Book: Hoffman packages his lessons learned as the CMO at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, into an ultimate guide for physicians interested in advancing their careers. His five-part book shares invaluable, real-life experiences from multiple chief executives that prospective CMOs can learn from. Doug Koekkoek, MD, and Mark Olszyk, MD, MBA, CPE, act as co-editors with Hoffman on this book.
Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership.


Pathway to Chief Medical Officer – Insights from Rex Hoffman, MD, author of I Want to Be a Chief Medical Officer: Now What?

Rex Hoffman, MD, MBA

Problem Solving

Strategic Perspective

Motivations and Thinking Style

Comfort with Visibility

Accountability

Episode Overview: In this insightful episode, join host Mike Sacopulos and dive into the multifaceted career of Art Lazarus, MD, MBA, CPE, DFAAPL — a distinguished psychiatrist, author, and storyteller.  After a career in clinical care and industry leadership, Lazarus turned to the written word to educate and humanize medicine.
Key Points:
•	The Didactic Power of Storytelling: Lazarus believes in the instructive power of a good story, much like the tales of Mark Twain and CS Lewis, which have left indelible marks on education and culture.
•	Career Journey: Explore the various stages of Lazarus's career and how his experiences have shaped his philosophy on writing and storytelling.
•	Narrative Medicine: Lazarus's books serve a dual purpose of informing and entertaining, similar to how politicians and lawyers connect with and persuade their audiences.

Episode Highlights:
•	A Storyteller's Influence: Lazarus's approach to writing is not just about crafting a narrative but also about imparting valuable lessons on the practice of medicine.
•	Every Story Counts: The discussion will delve into Lazarus's latest book, Every Story Counts: Exploring Contemporary Practice through Narrative Medicine, which is a testament to his commitment to narrative medicine.

The Big Picture: Effective storytelling is influential. When trying to shape someone’s understanding of medicine and leadership, every story counts.
Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership.


Physician Leadership, Narrative Medicine, and Storytelling with Art Lazarus, MD

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA, CPE, DFAAPL

Healthcare Process

In this podcast episode, host Mike Sacopulos interviews Chuck Stoner, DBA, a leadership expert, president of Stoner & Associates Consulting, and author of the book Inspired Physician Leadership: Creating Influence and Impact, 2nd Edition, who shares his insights on various aspects of leadership in healthcare.
Sacopulos praises Stoner, stating, "Chuck Stoner has the credentials and experience to command your attention, but he doesn’t need it. He is a person whose guidance and recommendations should be taken seriously; he is a leadership coach we should all be lucky to have."
The interview delves into key topics, including:
•	Are individuals born leaders, or can leadership be developed?
•	Are certain personality types better suited for leadership?
•	How do physicians measure leadership quality?
•	What are the implications when most physicians work for non-physician-led entities?
•	What are the foundations of behavioral leadership?
•	How effective is formal medical education in developing leadership skills?
•	Do the skills that make a good clinician also make a good leader?
Additionally, Stoner offers specific advice for physicians looking to become stronger leaders.
Learn more about the American Association for Physician Leadership.


Inspired Physician Leadership and Trends in Leadership Theory with Dr. Chuck Stoner

Charles R. Stoner, DBA

Adaptability