How these health systems help patients sort fact from falsehood

If an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, then education is the fuel to build preventive awareness about various health conditions and—most important—how to prevent them.

The AMA’s What Doctors Wish Patients Knew™ series gives physicians a platform to share what they want patients to understand about today’s health care headlines.

Many of these physicians excel in delivering care in organizations that are members of the AMA Health System Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine. Below, find out more about how these AMA member physicians and their health systems are helping to fight medical misinformation and educate patients on different health care topics.

1. Atlantic Medical Group is tackling long COVID brain fog

   1. Patients with long COVID—sometimes called COVID long-haulers—experience an assortment of symptoms that may persist for weeks, months or even years after their SARS-CoV-2 infection. While symptoms vary widely, months after COVID-19, some patients can’t shake the feeling that their brain is lost in a maze, and they can’t find their way back. This is a common complaint from COVID long-haulers, which has been described as “brain fog.” David Sousa, MD, a pulmonologist and critical care physician at Atlantic Medical Group, shares more.

2. Baptist Health Medical Group addresses proper ear care

   1. Keeping our ears working well throughout our lives requires a few consistent practices. Some are obvious, such as avoiding loud noises and using hearing protection while attending concerts and celebrations like weddings that often feature loud music. But Shawn C. Jones, MD, a Kentucky-based otolaryngologist at Baptist Health Medical Group in Kentucky and Southern Indiana, shares some lesser-known practices too.

3. Hattiesburg Clinic emphasizes summer skin safety

   1. As people flock to beaches and participate in other outdoor activities, it is important to take care of your skin because too much sun exposure can have detrimental effects such as sunburn, skin aging, eye damage and skin cancer. William L. Waller, II, MD, a dermatologist at Hattiesburg Clinic Dermatology–South, offers helpful tips to protect your skin from the sun.

4. Henry Ford Health offers advice on getting a vasectomy

   1. As individuals and couples explore long-term contraception options, vasectomies have emerged as a popular choice for those seeking a permanent solution—rates have increased by 26% in the past decade. With its relatively low risks and high success rates, this procedure is reshaping conversations about family planning. Amarnath Rambhatla, MD, a urologist at Henry Ford Health, discusses what patients need to know about getting a vasectomy.  

5. Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group shares tips to prevent skin cancer

   1. Skin cancer can take many forms, but the most common are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. The common culprit behind these skin cancers is often too much exposure to ultraviolet rays either from the sun or from artificial sources like tanning beds. But they can occur for other reasons too. That is why it is important to understand your risk and know what steps to take to prevent skin cancer. Klint Peebles, MD, a dermatologist at Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, offers guidance such as wearing sunscreen.

6. Ochsner Health discusses social drivers of health

   1. Our health is heavily influenced by factors such as where we live and the economic resources at our disposal, long before we enter a hospital or doctor’s office. These social drivers of health can play a crucial role in a person’s health outcomes. Eboni Price-Haywood, MD, MPH, an internist and system medical director for Ochsner Health’s Healthy State initiative emphasizes the importance of finding a care team that can be trusted.

7. Sanford Health offers hope in cases of sickle cell disease

   1. Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder that causes blood cells to take a rigid, sickle-like shape, leading to a host of health problems. Sam Milanovich, MD, a pediatric hematologist and oncologist at Sanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota, points out that people can be screened for sickle cell disease at birth and will be connected right away with medical professionals who can help. But there are reasons to be hopeful.

8. Texas Children’s Pediatrics manages expectations about cold medicines

   1. There’s a reason they call it the common cold. It happens a lot, affecting upwards of 3 million people each year just in the U.S. Given how ubiquitous these symptoms are, cold remedies and medicines are often in high demand. How well they work against colds depends on several factors. Brittany Chan, MD, a pediatrician at Texas Children’s Pediatrics, shares how to find relief and what cold medicines to use.

9. The Permanente Medical Group clears the air on ALS

   1. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS and Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects more than 31,000 people in the U.S. alone, with about 5,000 new diagnoses each year. Amir H. Sabouri, MD, PhD, a neurologist and a neuromuscular subspecialist and medical director of The Permanente Medical Group Multidisciplinary ALS Clinic in Martinez, California, discusses what patients need to know about ALS.

10. University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics suggests ways to prevent UTIs

    1. A strong urge to urinate that doesn’t go away, a burning feeling when urinating and any other discomfort or problem with urination, can be signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI), which is very common in the U.S. While most UTIs are not serious, some can lead to further complications such as kidney infections. That is why knowing the first signs of a UTI and what to do are key. Laura L. Steers, MD, an ob-gyn in Iowa City at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics shares what to know.

11. Virginia Mason Medical Center offers guidance on managing rheumatoid arthritis

    1. Among chronic conditions, one stands out for its enigmatic nature and debilitating impact: rheumatoid arthritis. This condition presents an array of challenges and wreaks havoc on the lives of those who live with it. And while there are effective treatments that can prevent or slow the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, many questions remain unanswered, leaving patients and their families searching for better strategies to manage this life-altering condition. Amish J. Dave, MD, a rheumatologist at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, highlights how to manage rheumatoid arthritis.

Visit the AMA Health System Spotlight page for more information on what AMA member medical group practices are doing to improve patient care.