Communication and Hospice

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. Guest: Cory Ingram, M.D. As primary care providers, we have the privilege of guiding our patients through their healthcare journey, healing their medical conditions, managing them through chronic illness and at times, assisting them through the final chapters of their life. The topic for today’s podcast is “Hospice”, an important though often underutilized part of that journey. Hospice is not about giving up, it’s about changing the direction and goal of our care from cure to comfort. It prioritizes quality of life and maintaining dignity for patients going through a very challenging period of their life. My guest is Cory Ingram, M.D., a family medicine and palliative care physician from the Mayo Clinic who has extensive experience and insight into this topic. He’ll guide us through when we should consider hospice, who qualifies for hospice and the importance of good communication skills in helping patients and their families during this last period of their life. Connect with us and learn more here: https://ce.mayo.edu/online-education/content/mayo-clinic-podcasts 

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. Guest: Andrew R. Jagim, Ph.D. Nutritional supplements are very popular with our patients. They are supposed to provide benefits that may not be present in our typical diet. Vitamins and minerals are the most common supplements taken, followed closely by sports nutrition products such as protein powders and energy drinks. Consumers buy supplements because they’re readily available, relatively low cost and they believe that supplements will help them achieve health benefits. Patients often assume that supplements are safe, yet some can cause significant health problems, especially when taken in higher doses. Some have the potential to interact with various prescription medications. Are there nutritional supplements our patients should be taking? Which ones are potentially harmful? How safe are these products and do supplements have any regulatory oversight? These are questions I’ll be asking my guest, Andrew R. Jagim, Ph.D., Director of Sports Medicine Research at the Mayo Clinic as we discuss “Nutritional Supplements”. Connect with us and learn more here: https://ce.mayo.edu/online-education/content/mayo-clinic-podcasts 

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. Guest: Cory Ingram, M.D. There are a couple outcomes in taking a medical history. Obviously, one is information gathering. You need to hear the patient’s symptoms to help form your differential diagnosis. The second, and equally important, is to help establish a relationship with that patient. There are several reasons a good provider-patient relationship is important. The patient is more likely to feel positive about their medical encounter, they’re more likely to be adherent to your recommendations regarding their health conditions, and they tend to be more forgiving if they experience an adverse event. What makes up a good provider-patient relationship? What can we do as clinicians to help establish a good relationship with our patients? Can we still establish a good relationship when we practice telemedicine? These are questions I’ll be asking my guest, Cory Ingram, M.D., a palliative care physician at the Mayo Clinic as we discuss “Provider-Patient Relationship Skills”. Connect with us and learn more here: https://ce.mayo.edu/online-education/content/mayo-clinic-podcasts 

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. Guests: William J. Casey III, M.D. and Andrea L. Cheville, M.D. There are numerous reasons a patient may develop swelling of an extremity. One of the less common reasons, but often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed is lymphedema. What is lymphedema, why does it occur and who’s at risk for it? Early recognition is important to prevent complications and primary care providers play a crucial role in identifying patients with lymphedema, coordinating their care and providing follow-up. How can we differentiate lymphedema from other causes of swelling? What are the potential complications if lymphedema is not correctly diagnosed and finally, what are some of the latest treatments available for the management of lymphedema? The topic for this podcast is “Lymphedema: Challenges and Success” and my guests include Andrea L. Cheville, M.D., a physician in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and William J. Casey, III, M.D., a physician in the Department of Plastic Surgery, both at the Mayo Clinic. Connect with us and learn more here: https://ce.mayo.edu/online-education/content/mayo-clinic-podcasts  To hear more about this series: https://ce.mayo.edu/content/mayo-clinic-talks-vascular-medicine-series

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. Guest: Martin G. Ellman, D.P.M. We don’t really appreciate our feet until they hurt and then we become extremely aware of every step we take. Plantar fasciitis, bunions, metatarsalgia; all foot disorders which can result in foot pain and represent common reasons for an outpatient visit. What’s the role of the primary care clinician in the evaluation of foot pain? How should these conditions be managed? I’ll be reviewing common causes of foot problems as well as the management of foot pain with Martin G. Ellman, D.P.M., a podiatrist at the Mayo Clinic as we discuss “The Agony of De-Feet”. Connect with us and learn more here: https://ce.mayo.edu/online-education/content/mayo-clinic-podcasts

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. Guest: Christina Chen, M.D. Alzheimer’s Disease affects not only the patient but also has a significant impact on that patient’s family. The family becomes stressed as emotional and physical burdens develop. The role of the primary care clinician in managing a patient with Alzheimer’s is not only to care for the patient but also help and support families as they go through a very complex, emotional journey. Today’s podcast will cover the changes in family dynamics which commonly occur in Alzheimer’s Disease including caregiver burden, legal decisions which need to be made, and difficult ethical choices which will be made as the disease progresses. What are some common sources of conflict within families as they care for their loved one with Alzheimer’s? What can we do as a clinician to help families through this difficult journey? How do we approach a situation where there’s disagreement in the family regarding management? These are some of the questions I’ll be asking my guest, Christina Chen, M.D., an internist and geriatrician in the Division of Community Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic as we discuss “Alzheimer’s Disease and Family Dynamics”. Connect with us and learn more here: https://ce.mayo.edu/online-education/content/mayo-clinic-podcasts 

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. Guest: Ronald C. Petersen, M.D., Ph.D. We all experience cognitive changes as we age. If you doubt this, try learning to play the piano with a group of 7-and 8-year-olds and see who sounds best at the recital. We tend to have difficulty with new learning and can struggle with short term memory. When do these cognitive changes become pathologic? Dementia results in a gradual decline in cognitive abilities, memory and behavior, severe enough to interfere with daily life. Between the cognitive changes that occur with aging and those with dementia, there is another medical entity, mild cognitive impairment. How does it differ from the normal cognitive changes of aging? How does it differ from dementia? And is it important for us to recognize it? These are some of the questions I’ll be asking my guest for today’s podcast, Ronald C. Petersen, M.D., Ph.D., a neurologist and internationally recognized expert in the field of dementia as we discuss “Mild Cognitive Impairment”.  Connect with us and learn more here: https://ce.mayo.edu/online-education/content/mayo-clinic-podcasts 

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. Guest: Daniel M. Frendl, M.D., Ph.D. Prostate cancer is quite common in middle age and older men and represents the second most common malignancy diagnosed in this population. Only skin cancer is more common. Early diagnosis is important and carries an excellent prognosis. There are several management options available for localized disease and some new treatments which can be used for both aggressive and more advanced disease. When should active surveillance be used when prostate cancer has been diagnosed? How does radiation therapy compare to surgical prostatectomy regarding long-term outcomes and what are some of the newer treatment options available for advanced disease? These are some of the questions I’ll be asking my guest, Daniel M. Frendl, M.D., Ph.D., a urologist from the Department of Urology at the Arizona campus of the Mayo Clinic as we discuss “Prostate Cancer”. Connect with us and learn more here: https://ce.mayo.edu/online-education/content/mayo-clinic-podcasts 

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. Guest: Daniel M. Frendl, M.D., Ph.D. If your practice includes middle age and older men, you’ve very likely diagnosed prostate cancer. It’s the most diagnosed non-skin cancer in men in the U.S. Its incidence rises with age, with a median age of around 66 years. When found early, prostate cancer is very treatable, and in most cases, curable. Prostate specific antigen, or PSA is very effective in detecting early prostate cancer, but its use has been controversial due to the risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment. What are the current recommendations for prostate cancer screening with PSA? What’s the role of the digital rectal exam? How should we be using the PSA and what other tests are available for prostate cancer screening? The topic for this podcast is “Prostate Cancer Screening” and I’ll be asking these questions to my guest, Daniel M. Frendl, M.D., Ph.D., a urologist at the Arizona campus of the Mayo Clinic. Tune in this Thursday for our next episode on "Prostate Cancer" releasing October 30, 2025. Connect with us and learn more here: https://ce.mayo.edu/online-education/content/mayo-clinic-podcasts 

Guest: Rebecca Smith, Ph. D, APRN, CNM Hosts: Danielle O’Laughlin, PA-C, MS and Jenna Wygant, APRN, CNP, DNP Rebecca Smith provides a comprehensive overview of labor and delivery, including the stages of labor, assessment techniques, and monitoring practices. The episode also addresses potential complications and their management. Learning Objectives: Describe the stages, duration, and monitoring of labor and delivery. Compare and contrast complications that may arise during pregnancy and delivery. Learn more about this series: Mayo Clinic Talks: Obstetric and Gynecologic Health | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development Connect and listen with Mayo Clinic Podcasts | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development