S1E1: The Decision Making Gap: John August with the Scheinman Institute

The DocNation Podcast

John August of Cornell joins us as we dive into "The Decision-Making Gap," a critical issue in healthcare where decisions impacting patient care are often made by those who are not directly involved in providing it—like insurance companies, administrators, and policymakers. John August is a seasoned expert in labor relations and healthcare. He joins us to explore how this disconnect creates challenges for both healthcare providers and patients, and what can be done to bridge the gap.

We also discuss the unique struggles physicians face in their efforts to unionize and take collective action in a system where the stakes involve life and death. Drawing parallels between doctors and other professions like professional athletes, we’ll delve into why doctors struggle to unify despite a shared commitment to patient care, autonomy, and fair compensation.

John shares insights on how unionizing isn’t just about addressing grievances but creating community-based solutions that ultimately improve healthcare delivery. He brings lessons from physicians across the globe who have successfully organized without resorting to strikes and offers a vision for how doctors in the U.S. can lead the change.

Discover how decision-makers outside of healthcare impact care quality and patient outcomes—and why it’s essential for physicians to have a collective voice in shaping the future of medicine.