AI can translate an MRI report into plain English, summarize your test results, and answer a medication question with total confidence. The problem is that confidence is false, and in healthcare, the cost of a bad answer can be huge. I’m Heather Johnston, MD, and I’m living the patient side right now: heart failure that demands consistent cardio, plus a hip injury and other orthopedic issues that make the gym feel like a minefield. After getting vague guidance from real clinicians who were focus

You sign the clipboard forms, tap the signature pad, and hope for the best but what if you actually understood the laws sitting underneath that moment? I’m Heather Johnston, MD, and I went down the rabbit hole on patient rights so you don’t have to. We start with HIPAA in plain English, including the part most people miss: it’s not only about privacy, it’s also about your right to get a copy of your own medical records. We also talk about the proposed HIPAA Security Rule updates and why cybersec

Date: 6/30/26 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 34 Comfort Care: Palliative and Hospice Episode summary: Palliative and hospice care can be confusing, and are often synonymous with the idea of giving up. In this episode, I review what each one is, how they work with already existing healthcare and medical teams, how it helps family of a seriously sick patient, and how insurance coverage works. References: National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Cent...

Date: 6/18/26 Name of podcast: Dr. Patient Episode title and number: 33 Second Opinions in Healthcare Episode summary: In Episode 33 of Dr.Patient, host and physician Dr. Heather Johnston is joined by two guests — Mia and Joby — to share their personal experiences navigating the medical second opinion process after serious cancer diagnoses. Mia, a breast cancer survivor, and Joby, who faced three separate cancer diagnoses including bone cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma, open up about the emotion...

32 Last Call: Alcohol, Breast Cancer and the Advice Gap: In this episode of the Dr. Paitnet Podcast, I’m going to be exploring the growing disconnect between what decades of breast cancer research shows and what women are told in the exam room when it comes to alcohol.

It can be so challenging to find a primary care doctor these days. I'll review types of providers, what to look for and where to find them.