Dr. Amy Davis

We've got ourselves a Harper homer 💥

I interviewed an internal medicine physician who says the medical system relies on a massive amount of unpaid labor to function. We call it "taking call." Dr. Corinne Sundar Rao joined me to discuss why the traditional model of physician on-call compensation is a primary, yet rarely discussed, driver of burnout. For decades, taking call was simply baked into the job. You worked your full clinic day, you were on standby all night for the hospital, and then you worked a full schedule again the next day. It was justified by the "calling" of medicine. But as Dr. Rao points out, the complexity and volume of modern medicine make this model unsustainable. Other high-stakes professions, like commercial airline pilots, have federally mandated rest periods. Yet surgeons and physicians are routinely expected to make life-and-death decisions on zero sleep, often for little or no extra pay. Dr. Rao argues that "call" is a euphemism for extracting free labor from physicians to cover the hospital's unassigned patients. We have seen successful solutions before. The hospitalist and laborist models proved that we can turn endless, tethered responsibility into defined, compensated shifts. But many specialties are still trapped in the old paradigm. The result? Physicians aren't complaining; they are simply disappearing. They are dropping out of traditional practice, moving to concierge models, or leaving medicine entirely. If hospitals want to solve the staffing shortage, they need to stop relying on altruism to subsidize their 24/7 operations. Call is labor. And labor must be paid fairly, transparently, and with built-in rest protections. 🎙️ Listen to "Physician on-call compensation: the unpaid labor driving burnout" on The Podcast by KevinMD. 📷 Search "The Podcast by KevinMD" on Apple or Spotify. #KevinMD #PhysicianBurnout #HealthcareWorkforce #MedicalCulture #PhysicianCompensation #PatientSafety #HealthcareLeadership

Almost everything RFK Jr says here is wrong. Reyes’s Syndrome is related to aspirin use particularly after a viral illness, but in children, not in pregnant women. High dose aspirin isn’t recommended during pregnancy because it can cause premature closure of the ductus arteriosis. Low dose aspirin can be used during pregnancy. Ibuprofen is not used during pregnancy because of concerns about harming the fetal kidneys. Acetaminophen is considered safe for use during pregnancy. As always, when you have medical questions, talk to your doctor. The Sec of HHS is not a reliable source of medical information.

This is your heads up about the new scams that PBMs and their related companies are pulling. It is built on the following premise "Whoever controls care decisions controls revenue." The new "Rebate GPO" from PBMs is charging PEPM or PMPM fees to employers for "clinical services" . Can someone explain to me any scenario where a Pharmacy Benefit Manager would be the best source of clinical management services like the following : (PMPM) Specialty Drug Management $10 – $100 Coordination of specialty medications, utilization review, patient monitoring Digital Health / Remote Care Programs $20 – $40 Virtual care platforms, chronic disease apps, coaching programs Care Navigation Services $5 – $15 Member guidance, provider steering, benefits assistance Medication Adherence Programs $3 – $10 Outreach programs designed to improve prescription compliance Clinical Analytics & Employer Reporting $2 – $8 Data dashboards, utilization analysis, predictive modeling Prior Authorization Administration $1 – $5 Processing and management of prior authorization requests Biosimilar Conversion Programs $5 – $20 Drug switching initiatives and manufacturer coordination Outcomes / Value-Based Contract Administration $2 – $6 Tracking clinical outcomes tied to manufacturer agreements I'll say it again. The new PBM scam is to control care decisions WHOEVER CONTROLS CARE DECISIONS CONTROLS YOUR BENEFITS BUDGET. AND IT WONT BE YOU. IT WILL BE YOUR PBM You have been warned. @RepBuddyCarter @HawleyMO @SenWarren @RubenGallego @jamestalarico @SenSchumer @RFKJr_Official @modrnhealthcr @RosenthalHealth @chrisklomp @DrOz

Physicians, Residents, Fellows: Watch ACP's video Find the Right Opportunity bit.ly/1GIyHft What are your "Must Haves," "Nice to Haves," "Deal Breakers?" This video will assist in your search for that right opportunity. It's free!

During #WomensHistoryMonth, ACP celebrates all the women – past, present, and future – for their contributions to the field of internal medicine and who have made a difference in this world. #IMPhysician #IMProud

Tune in Friday, March 13 for our virtual seminar exploring whether Medicare Advantage is delivering on its promise and what reforms are needed to ensure a sustainable, affordable Medicare program for taxpayers and beneficiaries. bit.ly/4bZLjsA

Iranian Ambassador: "My advice to the representative of the U.S. is to be polite. It would be better for yourself and the country you represent." .@USAmbUN: "I'm not going to dignify this with another response, especially as this representative sits here in this body representing a regime that has killed tens of thousands of its own people and imprisoned many more simply for wanting freedom from your tyranny." Full video here: youtube.com/live/go6N6KuQU…

Missed the Hospice Super Forum? The full CME program is now on‑demand! Get expert insights on methadone therapy, diagnosis relatedness, and GIP care—led by Drs. McPherson, Natarajan, and Thomson. Get the tools you need. Access the recording now: ow.ly/apKx50Yaev3

**Hot off the presses** from @ACPIMPhysicians and @AnnalsofIM Physicians Are Not Providers: The Ethical Significance of Names in Health Care doi.org/10.7326/ANNALS…

My comment on an important article by McGinty et al is now posted. #TheGreatOpioidLie jamanetwork.com/journals/jaman…

Why we need #QualityImprovement (QI) collaboratives, registries, and benchmarking, and the immense potential this has to enhance #PalliativeCare. Guests @stevepantilat, David Currow, & @arifkamalmd. #MedTwitter 👉 Post: bit.ly/GeriPalEp386 😀 Hosts @AlexSmithMD | @EWidera

The 2026 AAHPM Annual Assembly takes place March 4–7 in downtown San Diego and now’s the perfect time to start planning your trip. Discounted hotel rates are filling fast — we’re already 59% booked. Plan now: aahpm.org/education-even…

Read the highlights of @ACPIMPhysicians advocacy efforts over the past year - it was a busy one! acponline.org/advocacy/where…

AAHPM Winter Quarterly is here! Explore insights on advancing hospice and palliative care, advocacy updates, and certification opportunities. Read the full issue now: ow.ly/8YRo50XMM64

The 2026 Annual Assembly schedule is LIVE! Plan your experience now—explore pre-conferences, educational sessions & special activities that inspire and inform. Start mapping your journey today! 👉 ow.ly/SEWR50XMLVk

#QOTD: “…the guns were just the tool; they were not the cause.” - Natalie Noll Intelligent, responsible gun control is a good thing But that alone does not fix the problem #LightBanishesDarkness #GunReform #terrorism #mentalhealthsupport

The Executive Order re-scheduling Cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III can be found here: whitehouse.gov/presidential-a…

JPSM is going digital! Starting January, access the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management anytime, anywhere, on any device. Prefer print? Opt in by Wed, Dec 31: Log in at aahpm.org → Membership Details → “Receive Print Journal” aahpm.org/publications/j…

Join investigators at the 2026 State of the Science Symposium (SOTS) for a full day of research, collaboration & innovation in hospice & palliative care March 4, 2026 in San Diego, CA!. Learn more and register: ow.ly/UJjt50Xuexw