8 minute read
Meet The MD Behind The Curtain Of KevinMD.com
“AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. KEVIN PHO: PHYSICIAN, ADVOCATE AND MENTOR EXTRAORDINAIRE”
Written by Paula H. Cookson LCSW, freelance writer
Dr. Kevin Pho didn’t start his medical career with a plan to be an advocate and mentor to other physicians. After completing his education in Boston, he took a position in New Hampshire as an internal medicine practitioner and has been there ever since. Dr. Pho is passionate about patient care. He shares that he was compelled to enter medicine for a variety of reasons, but one of the significant reasons was “to give patients a voice, to help the most vulnerable people with a system that is often so difficult to navigate.” Dr. Pho finds meaning and purpose in helping patients learn about their health options so that they can make the best decisions for their own wellness.
Now, eighteen years later, he remains at his practice 3.5 days per week and has another passion to which he dedicates 20-25 hours of his time on a weekly basis, KevinMD.com.
Dr. Pho is kind of a big deal.
He is a doctor, an advocate for patients and fellow medical providers, and an influential public figure who understands the impact of policy and procedure on all aspects of the medical profession and health outcomes; he is, in short, a healthcare celebrity. This explains the nervous energy Dr. Wüst-Smith and I both held as we prepared for the interview with this insightful physician.
So, how does a physician transform into a public speaker, advocate, coach, and mentor? Dr. Pho explains that his journey on this alternative path began in 2004. He had written an article about the recall of the drug Vioxx in an effort to help educate patients about the risks of the medicine and why it was being taken off pharmacy shelves. Dr. Pho immediately heard follow-up from his patients about the article, and it offered him a lightbulb moment about patient care in this evolving, increasingly computer-driven world. Dr. Pho decided to start his own blog called KevinMD.com in order to help bridge the gap between patient care and physician knowledge and information. At that time, few doctors had online blogs, and he began to see the value of having this venue as an additional way to connect with patients.
Since 2004, KevinMD.com has continued to grow. The website now includes (and encourages) any medical provider to write in to discuss the challenges of being in healthcare. The site serves as a useful educational service for patients and a valuable place for medical providers to communicate concerns, needs, and inspiration in the field. Dr. Pho aptly states, “Burnout is a hidden epidemic; the public has a preconceived notion about doctors having a life of extravagance.” Dr. Pho adds that it’s time for physicians to “pull back the curtain,” be more open about the challenges, and advocate for change within our systems that will benefit patients and medical providers alike.
Dr. Pho observed the need for this public discourse on his website due to the shifting nature of healthcare which is causing physicians to leave medicine earlier than ever before. Dr. Wüst-Smith adds, “the system is driving us out…it’s not the work.” Dr. Wüst-Smith and Dr. Pho have both observed the mass frustration within their fields of medicine. Challenges with non-user-friendly Electronic Medical Records, increasing demands on physician time, and a growing focus on productivity have created a perfect storm for physician burnout, and the problem is widespread. Dr. Pho has grave concerns about the impact on the medical profession, as does Dr. Wüst-Smith, who states, “we need to save medicine from going down this path…and work collaboratively. People need good, affordable healthcare.” She adds that physician burnout “has unintended consequences; we want everyone to be able to obtain care.” Dr. Wüst-Smith feels that it is “important for doctors to feel supported and to have a safe place to express themselves and learn about self-care.” When people have expressed concern about the openness of KevinMD.com, Dr. Pho has advised that people using the site, or any other online forum, should use what he calls the “billboard” rule and treat all posts as if they will be read by anyone and everyone, since “everything is public” and searchable online. Dr. Pho notes that if doctors are concerned about sharing their stories or experiences on his website, they should seek clearance from their employer first. He adds that hospitals may actually want their doctors to share on public forums to increase visibility for the practice and for the hospital itself. All posts are HIPAA compliant and no information is shared that can be traced back to a particular patient, and this safety net is a compelling reason so many doctors flock to KevinMD.com and willingly share their stories and challenges.
Dr. Pho emphasized that there are “many pressures that lead to burnout in the field of medicine.” The risk of such widespread burnout can result in fewer people entering the field of medicine and those who are already in practice leaving prematurely. Dr. Pho states that his site,
KevinMD.com “shares the human side of doctors; it lets people know what it is like to be a physician. Patients are sometimes surprised at the difficulties physicians face…patients need to know; they have a vested interest in doctors not burning out.” Dr. Pho offers doctors the following advice regarding burnout, “Something’s got to give... With a focus on quality and the number of procedures, there is only so much volume doctors can deal with. The time with patients needs to be better valued, and this may mean seeing fewer patients.” Dr. Pho, in his public speaking and physician advocate role, tries to help other doctors see the need for three crucial aspects of their online presence, “to counter misinformation, to define their own reputation and to have a voice.” He adds that doctors aren’t trained to market themselves and advocate for policy change, yet that is what the field is demanding through these increasingly business-driven expectations and the online world in which we live. Doctors enter the field of medicine because they are passionate about providing healthcare and making a difference. Now more than ever before, a great deal of false information is easy to access. Dr. Pho offers the example of anti-vaccine campaigns that have grown online over the past decade. “Eight out of ten patients research symptoms online and on Facebook… misinformation is out there; pseudo-practitioners pushing treatments that are not valid.” The dangers of this misinformation are significant. Dr. Pho advises physicians and medical providers to “be online and point people toward accurate treatments.” He adds that the internet is a “free, powerful tool to educate patients properly.”
“The upcoming presidential election has high stakes and will have a drastic impact on healthcare,” he states. Dr. Pho feels strongly that doctors need to be involved in speaking up about policy decisions and advocating for their healthcare values. He further states that it “doesn’t matter which party” one is voting with, but to make decisions based on sound healthcare policies that help people access affordable, quality care. “We need our voices heard. Now is the time for physicians to have their voices heard and use the tools that are available. If we’re not part of that change, the healthcare decisions will be made by people who don’t have the expertise.” Dr. Pho adds that without physician input on healthcare reform, more doctors will burn out and there will be fewer providers to treat the healthcare needs of the public. “Patients will be impacted; there will be more uninsured people, the cost of healthcare will rise, and high deductibles will prevent access to care. What good is it to have doctors when people are unable to get in to see someone?” Dr. Pho states that there is a tendency to get bogged down by “how to solve” many of these issues when, in reality, there are “multiple ways to solve the issues.” Dr. Pho feels that the ultimate goal is for everyone to have coverage and for doctors to be an integral part of the healthcare policy-making decisions that impact all of us.
For more information about Dr. Kevin Pho and his future speaking engagements, visit KevinMD.com and subscribe to his blog, which explores relevant healthcare topics and offers valuable advice to doctors and patients alike.
