Episodes

AI can translate an MRI report into plain English, summarize your test results, and answer a medication question with total confidence. The problem is that confidence is false, and in healthcare, the cost of a bad answer can be huge. I’m Heather Johnston, MD, and I’m living the patient side right now: heart failure that demands consistent cardio, plus a hip injury and other orthopedic issues that make the gym feel like a minefield. After getting vague guidance from real clinicians who were focus...

You sign the clipboard forms, tap the signature pad, and hope for the best but what if you actually understood the laws sitting underneath that moment? I’m Heather Johnston, MD, and I went down the rabbit hole on patient rights so you don’t have to. We start with HIPAA in plain English, including the part most people miss: it’s not only about privacy, it’s also about your right to get a copy of your own medical records. We also talk about the proposed HIPAA Security Rule updates and why cybersec...

Date: 6/30/26 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 34 Comfort Care: Palliative and Hospice Episode summary: Palliative and hospice care can be confusing, and are often synonymous with the idea of giving up. In this episode, I review what each one is, how they work with already existing healthcare and medical teams, how it helps family of a seriously sick patient, and how insurance coverage works. References: National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Cent...

Date: 6/18/26 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 33 Second Opinions in Healthcare Episode summary: In Episode 33 of Dr.Patient, host and physician Dr. Heather Johnston is joined by two guests — Mia and Joby — to share their personal experiences navigating the medical second opinion process after serious cancer diagnoses. Mia, a breast cancer survivor, and Joby, who faced three separate cancer diagnoses including bone cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma, open up about the emotion...

32 Last Call: Alcohol, Breast Cancer and the Advice Gap: In this episode of the Dr. Paitnet Podcast, I’m going to be exploring the growing disconnect between what decades of breast cancer research shows and what women are told in the exam room when it comes to alcohol.

It can be so challenging to find a primary care doctor these days. I'll review types of providers, what to look for and where to find them.

Date: 4/15/26 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 30 Prevent Illness in the First Place Episode summary: Preventive healthcare involves trying to keep illness from occurring, and trying to catch diseases early on in their process. It has a long history of success as an overall health approach, but less and less adults in the US are utilizing it and seeing a primary care provider. This episode reviews what preventive healthcare entails and addresses some of the more c...

Date: 3/18/26 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 29 Hospital Discharge Survival Guide Episode summary: Getting discharged from the hospital can be easy or confusing, depending on many factors: the complexity of your illness, the communication skills of the hospital and its staff, how well you understand the instructions given, and more. Today's episode covers some of the common pitfalls and gives tips on how to prepare for a hospital discharge. Podcast website: www.drpati...

Date: 2/24/26 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 28 How to Do the ER (Better Than I Did) Episode summary: Getting through the ER feels like an uphill battle, and there are frictions on both sides of the bed that make the experience harder than it should be. I made lots of mistakes with my own trip to the ER last summer, and give some tips based on what I learned there. References: List of what to bring to the ER: Electronics: chargers: phone, laptop, watch, no...

Date: 02/10/26 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 27 Healthcare Paperwork That's Worth Your Time Summary In this episode of the Dr. Patient Podcast, Dr. Heather Johnston discusses the importance of understanding and managing healthcare paperwork. She emphasizes the need for patients to take control of their healthcare by completing essential forms such as medical history, HIPAA authorizations, power of attorney for healthcare, and living wills. The episode provides insight...

This season I'll be diving into more topics related to patient advocacy: healthcare paperwork, laws that protect patients, how to manage a hospital discharge and more. Of course, there will be amusing personal healthcare stories sprinkled in. Podcast website: www.drpatientpodcast.com Podcast email, become a guest: drpatientpodcast@gmail.com

Date: 7/30/24 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 26 Advocate Toolkit, Hospital Edition Episode summary: It's so incredibly complicated to be a patient today, as I recently observed when I hung out at the bedside of a sick relative. If you don't have a "doctor friend", you might need to help your friend or family member get the best possible experience in the hospital by becoming their advocate. Hear about my own observations on where and when help is needed, and also hear so...

Date: 7/22/24 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 25 The Disadvantage of Medicare Advantage, Part 2 Episode summary: Part 2 discussing why Medicare Advantage plans are an actual DISadvantage for you and for our country's fiscal system. When you sign up for Medicare, you have a choice of Traditional/Original, Medicare or "Medicare Advantage", which is technically not Medicare and is instead a private health insurance company caring for you on their behalf, like a surrogate. Th...

Date: 6/16/24 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 24 The Disadvantage of Medicare Advantage, Part 1 Episode summary: Wow, I knew Medicare was complicated but didn't realize just how complicated. I've spent the last few weeks diving deep and was most curious about Medicare Advantage, Part C of Medicare, where beneficiaries can sign up for private health insurance. This week I'll be talking about how bad this is for our federal budget, and how the model simply doesn't work fisc...

Date: 6/18/24 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 23 In Doctors We Trust Episode summary: What is trust as it relates to the doctor-patient relationship? How is it fostered when the very healthcare system itself works against it? Why is it important, and what can you do to foster it with your doctor? Guest(s): none Key Terms: none References: Trust, Race and Risk in American Medicine: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/hast.1080 Patient Trust in Physicians: h...

Date: 6/11/24 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 22 Doctors in Distress Episode summary: The majority of doctors today are dissatisfied with the healthcare system. That's not to say that they don't want to be doctors anymore. It's just that they're fed up with the same system that patients are stuck in and fed up with. It's important that doctors and patients see and understand each other more clearly to strengthen their relationships against the onslaught of external forces...

Date: 4/64/24 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 21 How We Learn to Be a Patient, Part 2 Episode summary: Continuing from the end of last season, Ep 12, where I talked with my own daughter about her experience going to an urgent care center alone for the first time, here's the follow up with a group of young women going through similar challenges of trying to understand health insurance, how to make an appointment, how to make healthcare decisions for themselves, and more. ...

Date: 5/28/24 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 20 Short Stories on Being a Patient Episode summary: I have this never-ending quest to help doctors and patients understand each other better. This collection of short stories on what it's like to be a patient are meant to do just that. These are a few years old - I wrote them when I had breast cancer in 2020-2021 and went through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Hope they paint a realistic picture for you. Guest(s): none...

Date: 5/21/24 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 19 US Drug Costs Are Insane, Part 2 Episode summary: Part 2 follows the last episode, where I reviewed how we got to where we are with insane drug costs in the US and a bit on how the Pharma system works. This week I did a deep dive on how someone can save on their medication costs. I review some cost comparing websites, online pharmacies, direct discounts from manufacturers and more. Guest(s): none Key Terms: none Referenc...

Date: 5/07/24 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 18 US Drug Costs Are Insane, Part 1 Episode summary: Wow, drug costs in the US have skyrocket in recent years. The popularity of Ozempic and other weight loss drugs have really brought this issue into the light lately. Why do our drugs cost so much more than the same medications sold in other countries? How is the system set up? Who sets the list price? Hear answers to all these questions and more in this episode, part 1 of a ...

Date: 4/30/24 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 17 Big Hospital Break Up Episode summary: I’m breaking up with my hospital. I live in Chicago, with its plethora of academic medical centers. I’ve long believed that these are generally good places to receive healthcare, but I’ve become exhausted at how hard I have to work to receive the actual care. As a retired physician, and a daughter and sister of physicians, I cannot help but to speak out about the troubling way that tod...

Date: 4/23/24 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 16 Race and Healthcare: Teaching Med Students Episode summary: Episode 3 of 3 of a miniseries on racial disparities in healthcare. We've heard from Linda Villarosa on how we got to where we are today and what some of the harsh realities of health disparities are, from Michael Tyler on a real life story of how his race actually impacted his care. Today we're pivoting towards solutions as I speak with Dr. Patricia Poitevien, Ass...

Date: 4/16/24 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 15 One Man's Experince Episode summary: Last week we heard from Linda Villarosa on the impact slavery still has on our modern healthcare system and how it leads to racial health disparities in the US. Today we’ll hear from Michael Tyler, children’s author, about his specific experience with race impacting his care. Guest(s): Michael Tyler, children's author: www.michaeltylerwrites.com Key Terms: [00:36] – link to something a...

Date: 4/9/24 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 14 Slavery and Modern Healthcare Episode summary: Many of the health inequities that we see in healthcare today stem from beliefs held in the time of slavery that have led to "myths" about black bodies and black health. Compounded by historical policy making related to socioeconomics, red lining, civil rights and more, people of color in the US are still facing inequity in healthcare today, from access to treatment to outcomes. ...