Episodes

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