In this episode, Ann M. Hester, a board-certified internal medicine physician, dives into the perfect storm brewing in the U.S. health care system and what we can do to prepare for it. The country is facing a projected shortage of doctors and the increasing number of elderly citizens with chronic diseases. Additionally, physician burnout and the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to many doctors leaving the practice of medicine. But as patients, there are things we can do to empower ourselves and make the most of every minute with our doctor. Ann shares tips on how to prepare a brief history of present illness to explain our symptoms and help our doctor make a more focused examination. Don't wait until it's too late. Tune in to learn how to be your own successful health advocate.

Ann M. Hester is a board-certified internal medicine physician with over 25 years of experience and can be reached on Twitter @Patient101Book, TikTok @patientempowerment101. She is the author of Patient Empowerment 101: More than a book, it's an adventure!

She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "How you can thrive despite the looming physician shortage."

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Become your own health advocate: Navigating the doctor shortage

The Podcast by KevinMD