WTIC News/Talk 1080 - Healthy Rounds

Keyword

Current Temp

48°F

Podcasts

Healthy Rounds with Dr. Anthony Alessi 11/14
Dr. Alessi speaks with Neurologist Kevin Felice and takes your calls.

Healthy Rounds with Dr. Anthony Alessi 11/07
Dr. Alessi talks with the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Health, Robert Galvin. Also, Dr. Alessi Takes your calls.

Schedule

November 21	11am - 12pm
November 28	No Show: UConn Football
December 5	TBD
December 12	11am - 12pm
December 19	11am - 12pm
December 26	11am - 12pm
January 2	11am - 11:30am

About Anthony G. Alessi, M.D.

Anthony G. Alessi, M.D., is a Board-certified neurologist who specializes in neuromuscular diseases and sports medicine. He is a neurologic consultant for the University of Connecticut's Department of Athletics, the New York Yankees, the San Francisco Giants, and the Connecticut Sun. He serves as a ringside physician for the Connecticut State Boxing Commission, as well as the athletic commissions of the Mohegan Tribe and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. He is a weekly columnist and blogger for the Norwich Bulletin, and is a frequent lecturer on health topics. He is Associate Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of Connecticut Health Sciences Center. Dr. Alessi, his wife, Claire, and their three daughters, live in Norwich, Connecticut.

For more, go to AlessiMD.com

Book: Healthy Sports

Healthy Sports
A Doctor's Lessons for a Winning Lifestyle

To order, click here.

Healthy Rounds Blog

Physicans Attending Funerals
Several weeks ago while preparing to do a weekly studio interview, the host and his previous guest noticed that I was wearing a dark suit. Both were surprised when I told them that after the show, I was attending the funeral of a long-time patient of mine.

I don't know if attending patients' funerals is the norm for physicans but in this case, and in several others during my career, it just seemed like the right thing to do. When treating patients over a period of years it is not uncommon to develop personal relationships and their passing creates a sense of loss for a physician as well as the office staff.

In this case, I had known the patient for almost 20 years. She had suffered several strokes and over the years I had come to know and treat many family members. I recall making house calls on occassion when she couldn't come to the office.

Fortunately, she lived a full life and passed on peacefully. I was pleased to see so many people attend the service and that I had a chance to express my condolences in person.

Do you think it is comforting for a patient's family when a physician attends a funeral or wake?
Is it odd?

Concierge Medicine: An Old Concept with a New Twist
The terms "concierge medicine" and "boutique medical practice" have recently appeared in the news after the death of Michael Jackson. Apparently, Mr. Jackson employed a personal physician for his various medical needs.

Some family physicans have become frustrated by the need to see increasing numbers of patients to maintain their practice in the face of declining reimbursement. They are opting for a different model of health delivery where they can see fewer patients and deliver more personalized care 24/7 for direct payment from the patients. This model has become popularized in a recent TV program called "Royal Pains." The concept has also been harshly criticized as "elitist."

Actually, this model for health care delivery originated in the early 19th century under the term of "contract practice." A contract practice was one where a physician was expected to deliver care to a family, plantation or indigent members of a commuunity for a fixed annual fee.

I believe the concept of contract medicine will be gaining in popularity both from the standpoint of medical care delivered to a community as well as to wealthy families. History has taught us that those who have the financial means will always demand a better product. Now that we are looking at the potential for a more uniform health care system in America the demand for a private and exclusive system will also increase.

Let us know what you think.

Telemedicine in Neurology
I have been attending the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Seattle. While there have been many outstanding presentations at this meeting one particularly caught my attention.

Drs. Steven Levine and Steven Rudolph gave a course on telemedicine and its' implications on successful stroke therapy. Telemedicine encompasses the use of technology to perform remote medicial evaluations. They can be done simply by using a telephone or one of several audio/video technologies allowing real-time interaction with a patient and medical professional.

Telemedicine extends highly specialized medical evaluations to remote areas of the world. Acute stroke therapy now requires rapid consultation and treatment. Based on their presentation I am sure this breakthrough will soon become common in emergency departments nationwide for a variety of emergent treatments.

What do you think about this innovative means of care?