AMA Update

AMA Update is your source for physician-focused news. Hear from physicians and other experts on trending public health concerns, practice issues, and more. Because who’s doing the talking matters.

AMA Update is your source for physician-focused news. Hear from physicians and other experts on trending public health concerns, practice issues, and more. Because who’s doing the talking matters.


All Episodes

AMA Update 595: Artificial intelligence in health information management: Using AI for risk assessment in medicine

How is AI used in health care data? What does AI help with in health care? How is AI used in emergency rooms? What are the benefits of AI in health care? How is AI used in medical documentation? Learn about using AI in electronic health records to improve patient care and the future of AI in health care with guest Dana Sax, MD, research scientist at Kaiser Permanente Division of Research and emergency physician at The Permanente Medical Group. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🎥 Watch #AMAUpdate for healthcare news for physicians, residents and medical students: https://ama-assn.co/AMAUpdate

💜 Not a physician? Join the Patients Action Network: https://ama-assn.co/PatientsActionNetwork

🏥 Learn more about the AMA Health System Program here: https://ama-assn.co/HealthSystems

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

🥼 Go to https://ama-assn.co/FightingForDocs to learn more about our AMA advocacy priorities, including:
▹ Reforming Medicare payment
▹ Fighting scope creep
▹ Fixing prior authorization
▹ Reducing physician burnout
▹ Making technology work for physicians

AMA Update 594: Loneliness research: Effects of social isolation and ways to combat loneliness in older physicians

Do older adults get lonely? How often do doctors feel lonely? What does long-term isolation do to a person? How often do adults feel lonely? How can loneliness be addressed? What does loneliness look like in older adults? Our guest is Ved V. Gossain, MD, the immediate past chair of the AMA Senior Physician Section, joins to discuss the epidemic of loneliness, how loneliness effects health, and addressing physicians loneliness. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🎥 Watch #AMAUpdate for healthcare news for physicians, residents and medical students: https://ama-assn.co/AMAUpdate

💜 Not a physician? Join the Patients Action Network: https://ama-assn.co/PatientsActionNetwork

📊 Prevalence of Loneliness and Associated Factors Among Senior Physicians in the US via Lifestyle Medicine journal: https://ama-assn.co/AJLM_Loneliness

🫂 Wondering how does loneliness affect health? For more on what doctors wish patients knew about loneliness and health: https://ama-assn.co/LonelinessHealth

🧓 AMA Senior Physician Section (SPS): https://ama-assn.co/SPS

👥 Member groups and AMA section list: https://ama-assn.co/Sections

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

🥼 Go to https://ama-assn.co/FightingForDocs to learn more about our AMA advocacy priorities, including:
▹ Reforming Medicare payment
▹ Fighting scope creep
▹ Fixing prior authorization
▹ Reducing physician burnout
▹ Making technology work for physicians

AMA Update 593: Measles misinformation, new long COVID-19 symptom studies, plus childhood antibiotics and gut health

Should I be worried about measles? What is long COVID and why is it so complex? How long does long COVID last? How many people have long COVID? Is measles endemic? Get the latest on the measles outbreak, MMR vaccines, U.S. measles endemic status and childhood antibiotics with AMA’s Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🎥 Watch #AMAUpdate for healthcare news for physicians, residents and medical students: https://ama-assn.co/AMAUpdate

📬 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the AMA Update newsletter for a weekly roundup in your inbox: https://ama-assn.co/AMAUpdateNewsletter 

💜 Not a physician? Join the Patients Action Network: https://ama-assn.co/PatientsActionNetwork

🚨 If the CDC issues new health warning, get the latest CDC health alert 2025 via the Health Alert Network (HAN CDC website): https://ama-assn.co/CDC_HAN

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

🥼 Go to https://ama-assn.co/FightingForDocs to learn more about our AMA advocacy priorities, including:
▹ Reforming Medicare payment
▹ Fighting scope creep
▹ Fixing prior authorization
▹ Reducing physician burnout
▹ Making technology work for physicians

AMA Update 592: ACIP news: Measles cases, new meningococcal vaccine, chikungunya and RSV vaccine recommendations

Are vaccines safe? How long have vaccines been around? What is ACIP? Is there a booster for RSV? How old is the measles vaccine? What happens at ACIP meetings? What are the latest vaccine recommendations? Sandra Fryhofer, MD, AMA’s liaison to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), shares news from the most recent meeting. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🎥 Watch #AMAUpdate for healthcare news for physicians, residents and medical students: https://ama-assn.co/AMAUpdate

💜 Not a physician? Join the Patients Action Network: https://ama-assn.co/PatientsActionNetwork

🚨 If the CDC issues new health warning, get the latest CDC health alert 2025 via the Health Alert Network (HAN CDC website): https://ama-assn.co/CDC_HAN

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

🥼 Go to https://ama-assn.co/FightingForDocs to learn more about our AMA advocacy priorities, including:
▹ Reforming Medicare payment
▹ Fighting scope creep
▹ Fixing prior authorization
▹ Reducing physician burnout
▹ Making technology work for physicians

AMA Update 591: FIT test or colonoscopy? Colon cancer in young adults and cancer screening recommendations

What causes colon cancer? Is colon cancer becoming more common? Is cancer screening effective? Can colon cancer happen at a young age? Can a FIT test detect colon cancer? Our guest is Doug Corley, MD, PhD, chief research officer for The Permanente Medical Group. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🎥 Watch #AMAUpdate for healthcare news for physicians, residents and medical students: https://ama-assn.co/AMAUpdate

💜 Not a physician? Join the Patients Action Network: https://ama-assn.co/PatientsActionNetwork

🏥 Learn more about the AMA Health System Program here: https://ama-assn.co/HealthSystems

💩 JAMA study Fecal Immunochemical Test Screening and Risk of Colorectal Cancer Death: https://ama-assn.co/JAMAstudy_FITtest

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

🥼 Go to https://ama-assn.co/FightingForDocs to learn more about our AMA advocacy priorities, including:
▹ Reforming Medicare payment
▹ Fighting scope creep
▹ Fixing prior authorization
▹ Reducing physician burnout
▹ Making technology work for physicians

AMA Update 590: 2025 measles update, new antibiotic for gonorrhea, bird flu death in Mexico, and CT scans and cancer

How many measles cases in 2025? Can CT scans cause cancer? What is the best treatment for gonorrhea? What states have bird flu? What animals are affected by bird flu? AMA’s Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, covers measles outbreak states, latest bird flu news, treatment for gonorrhea and CT scan radiation. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🎥 Watch #AMAUpdate for healthcare news for physicians, residents and medical students: https://ama-assn.co/AMAUpdate

💜 Not a physician? Join the Patients Action Network: https://ama-assn.co/PatientsActionNetwork

🪽 For bird flu news visit AMA H5N1 Resource Center to get clinical information, the latest CDC updates and more AMA resources: https://ama-assn.co/BirdFlu

🗺️ CDC current avian flu map: https://ama-assn.co/avianflu_map

📋 Word Health Organization report on surveillance for human infections with avian influenza A(‎H5)‎ viruses (WHO report bird flu testing and reporting): https://ama-assn.co/WHO_AvianInfluenza

💻 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC H5N1 Bird Flu Current Situation Summary (CDC H5N1 technical report): https://ama-assn.co/CDC_H5N1

🚨 If the CDC issues new health warning, get the latest CDC health alert 2025 via the Health Alert Network (HAN CDC website): https://ama-assn.co/CDC_HAN

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

🥼 Go to https://ama-assn.co/FightingForDocs to learn more about our AMA advocacy priorities, including:
▹ Reforming Medicare payment
▹ Fighting scope creep
▹ Fixing prior authorization
▹ Reducing physician burnout
▹ Making technology work for physicians

AMA Update 589: The importance of physician well-being and mental health resources for doctors

Why are physician wellness programs important? What are Physician Health Services? What is a physician health program? Why is physician well being important? Our guest is Chris Bundy, MD, MPH, chief medical officer for the Federation of State Physician Health Programs, and the executive medical director of the Washington Physicians Health Program. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🎥 Watch #AMAUpdate for health care news for physicians, residents and medical students: https://ama-assn.co/AMAUpdate

💜 Not a physician? Join the Patients Action Network: https://ama-assn.co/PatientsActionNetwork

📞 Call SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

☎️ Call or text 9-8-8 if you or anyone you know needs help. Wondering what is the mental health hotline number? The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It provides free 24/7 confidential support for people in distress, crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the U.S. Visit: https://ama-assn.co/988Lifeline

❤️‍🩹 Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation aims to reduce burnout of health care professionals and safeguard physician well-being. Get physician mental health resources at: https://ama-assn.co/DrLornaBreen

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

🥼 Go to https://ama-assn.co/FightingForDocs to learn more about our AMA advocacy priorities, including:
▹ Reforming Medicare payment
▹ Fighting scope creep
▹ Fixing prior authorization
▹ Reducing physician burnout
▹ Making technology work for physicians

AMA Update 588: New physician orientation: Hospital orientation for doctors and physician onboarding topics

How to onboard a new physician: What does hospital orientation consist of? How long is orientation at a hospital? How much does physician onboarding cost? The challenges of onboarding new doctors and advice for physician onboarding training with Susan Slaughter, director of physician relations and practice development at Hattiesburg Clinic. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🎥 Watch #AMAUpdate for healthcare news for physicians, residents and medical students: https://ama-assn.co/AMAUpdate

💜 Not a physician? Join the Patients Action Network: https://ama-assn.co/PatientsActionNetwork

🧰 Check out the AMA’s Onboarding Optimization toolkit to learn more: https://ama-assn.co/STEPSForward_OnboardingOptimization

🏥 Learn more about the AMA Health System Program here: https://ama-assn.co/HealthSystems

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

🥼 Go to https://ama-assn.co/FightingForDocs to learn more about our AMA advocacy priorities, including:
▹ Reforming Medicare payment
▹ Fighting scope creep
▹ Fixing prior authorization
▹ Reducing physician burnout
▹ Making technology work for physicians

AMA Update 587: Medicare PT cap: Does insurance cover physical therapy and who to ask for help with physical therapy

Is physical therapy covered by insurance? What is a PT cap? What happens when you can’t do physical therapy? Does Medicare limit physical therapy? Our guests are Courtland Keteyian, MD, president and CEO of the Jackson Health Network and medical director for occupational health at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital; Sam Porritt, founder and chairman of the board of the Falling Forward Foundation; and Atul Patel, MD, a practicing physiatrist, member of the governing board for Falling Forward, and a board member and treasurer of the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. American Medical Association CXO Todd Unger hosts.

🎥 Watch #AMAUpdate for healthcare news for physicians, residents and medical students: https://ama-assn.co/AMAUpdate

💜 Not a physician? Join the Patients Action Network: https://ama-assn.co/PatientsActionNetwork

❤️‍🩹 See how Falling Forward is helping patients fully recover from catastrophic medical events (e.g., strokes, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries), here: https://ama-assn.co/FallingForwardFoundation

🗄️ Read the AMA policy on therapy caps: https://ama-assn.co/TherapyCapException_policy

🏥 Learn more about the AMA Health System Program here: https://ama-assn.co/HealthSystems

🩺 The AMA is your powerful ally, focused on addressing the issues important to you, so you can focus on what matters most — patients. We will meet this challenge together. Join us: https://ama-assn.co/JoinRenew

🥼 Go to https://ama-assn.co/FightingForDocs to learn more about our AMA advocacy priorities, including:
▹ Reforming Medicare payment
▹ Fighting scope creep
▹ Fixing prior authorization
▹ Reducing physician burnout
▹ Making technology work for physicians