Marketplace Interview with Tess Vigeland

I had the great pleasure of speaking with Tess Vigeland, host of Marketplace Money. We discussed my book Critical Decisions in the context of what shared decision making means about patients paying attention to the cost of their medical care.  Listen to the whole segment, because she is a great interviewer.  And find out why it is hard to be assertive when you are half naked.

How Doctors Can Reclaim Their Decision Making Power

It is not an easy time to be a physician in the United States.  Attempt to order an expensive test for a patient and an insurance company is likely to second guess your decision.  Try upholding the bottom line for your medical practice and the government will probably start questioning whether you are overcharging for your services.  To make matters worse, even patients are getting into the act, with an increasing number of them embracing their role… (Read more and view comments at Forbes)

Do Starbucks Employees Have More Emotional Intelligence than Your Physician?

A cranky customer snaps at his barista, lodging an unjustifiable complaint about the service, the temperature of the drink…about anything and everything.  He came into the store angry (and in pain from a chronic illness) and he needed something–or someone!–to take it out on. He is met by a well-trained smile, the barista doling out a few words of sympathy… (Read more and view comments at Forbes)

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