Alex Smith, MD

The Palliative Performance Scale (or PPS) is the MOST used prognostic index on ePrognosis but poorly calibrated (likely b/c developed when PC was "brink of death"). @kara_bischoff published modern validation in JAMA NO and updated ePrognosis. jamanetwork.com/journals/jaman… eprognosis.ucsf.edu/pps.php?p=pall…

Great discussion with @Bob_Wachter about his new book on #AI and #Healthcare, "A Giant Leap." We discuss AI for diagnosis, job loss concerns, risks of direct-to-patient bots, time efficiencies, ethics + more. 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp390 😀 Hosts @AlexSmithMD | @EWidera

#Inflammaging—chronic, low-grade inflammation that rises with age—may be a key driver behind many chronic and acute diseases. We talk with 3 experts: Brian Andonian, Sara LaHue, & Joe Hippensteel. #AgingResearch 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp383 😀 Hosts @AlexSmithMD | @EWidera

Rehab and Death in #SkilledNursingFacilities is a vicious cycle. @SarguniSingh, @cdfurm02, & Lynn Flint explain how hope, policy gaps, and payment rules shape these transitions—and why change is needed. #hpm 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp384 😀 Hosts @AlexSmithMD | @EWidera

To what extent is it our job as consultants to navigate, manage, or attend to Clinician Distress? What happens if that clinician distress leads to conflict? Guests Sara Johnson, Yael Schenker, & Anne Kelly. #hpm 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp385 😀 Hosts @AlexSmithMD | @EWidera

What a list! Much listening to do. Bioethics podcasts, curated by @GreenwallFdn greenwall.org/news/bioethics…

🌞🎶 The UCSF Geriatrics team gathered in @alexsmithmd.bsky.social's home for our Annual Welcome Picnic! Music, laughter, great food & warm camaraderie made it a joyful welcome for new faculty, fellows & staff. 💛 Thanks for hosting, Dr. Smith!

GeriPACTs bring specialized team-based care to older #veterans with complex needs - smaller panels, #geriatric training & more. But are they better than standard care? Guests @HastingsNicki, Kristie Hsu, & @geri_doc. 👉 bit.ly/GeriPalEp372 😀 Hosts @AlexSmithMD | @EWidera

A podcast on medical billing & coding? Yes! It's not hard. Know your worth & bill for it, even if visit doesn't feel HARD-it can help pay for team members who often can't bill. Guests @CAJonesMD & @PhilRodgersMD. 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp373 😀 Hosts @AlexSmithMD | @EWidera

New paper in @JAMAInternalMed! In it, we use data to examine a commonly held belief about what moving into a nursing home or assisted living facility (also known as a long-term care facility; or LTCF) does to your social life. jamanetwork.com/journals/jamai…

Drs. @wjdeardorff.bsky.social, John Boscardin, PhD, @alexsmithmd.bsky.social, and @seijlee.bsky.social published "A Multi-Outcome Prognostic Model for Community-Dwelling Older Adults Admitted to Skilled Nursing Facilities for Post-Acute Care" in JAMDA jamda.com/article/S1525-…

Cost-Effectiveness of Family Conferences to Reduce Polypharmacy in Frail Older Adults. #geriatrics agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jg…

Many thanks to contributions from all authors and others who provided valuable feedback on drafts. @AmerGeriatrics #geriatrics #DEImatters

So fun to talk about palliative care and survivorship with friends on @GeriPalBlog! Should PC clinicians provide survivorship care? Give it a listen & weigh in! #survonc @DrN_CancerPCP @RyanNipp @crisbergerot @DrNicolasHart @NicoleStoutPT @jillfeldman4 @ramsedhom @maryam_lustberg

Son Renn and friend Evan on hike to Stubai glacier in the Tyrollean alps, Austria. (Look closely for @GeriPalBlog)

What You Should Know About #RadiationOncology: If you ever had questions about this topic, we aim to clear that up, from the initial planning visit to the final treatment + more. Guests Anish Butala, Emily Martin, & Evie Kalmar. bit.ly/GeriPalEp360 - @AlexSmithMD | @EWidera

We discuss #Nudging #CriticalCare clinicians to consider a more #Palliative approach to care and the JAMA IM study. Does nudging (behavioral intervention) work? Guests @k8courtright, @ScottHalpernMD, & @Singh011Jaspal. bit.ly/GeriPalEp356 - hosts @AlexSmithMD | @EWidera

Honoring our amazing faculty at the 27th Holly Smith Dinner! 🎉 Congrats to Drs. Jacklyn Katz, @leahjwitt.bsky.social, @alexsmithmd.bsky.social, @rconant.bsky.social, Lynn Flint & @seijlee.bsky.social on your well-deserved awards! 👏 #UCSF

Beware of PULET: Potentially Unsafe Low-Evidence Treatments endorsed by influencers & self-identified experts. We discuss risky therapies like ivermectin for cancer with guests Adam Marks, Laura Taylor, & @DrJill4Wellness. bit.ly/GeriPalEp353 - hosts @AlexSmithMD | @EWidera

So honored to have the inimitable Dr. Mike Malone give his last lecture, and last slide of his academic career with us at @uscf

@campfiredoc @AAHPM

Had the pleasure of being a guest on someone else’s Podcast! Check out My Medical Mixtape - music and palliative care - host Tyler Jorgensen EM/palliative doc in Austin. open.spotify.com/episode/1HpRHT…