Ever wondered how doctors navigate the murky waters when they're at odds over a diagnosis or medical question? This week's MedEvidence Monday Minute is discussing this intricate dance. Dr. Michael Koren and Kevin Geddings of WSOS St. Augustine Radio peeled back the curtain on medical disagreements and the importance of tailored healthcare plans. As we bid adieu to Heart Month, they also enlightened us on the latest heart health research, including groundbreaking cholesterol treatments, and how patients can get involved without stepping on their primary physician's toes.
At MedEvidence, we bridge the gap between complex medical jargon and your everyday health concerns. From the nuances of medical misinformation to the evident nature of healthcare, our conversations with medical experts are an invaluable resource for anyone curious about the behind-the-scenes of medical decision-making and research. You'll come away with a deeper appreciation for the intricacies of medicine and the pivotal role of research in settling those tough debates between professionals. Join us for a thought-provoking journey into the heart of medical science, where we uncover not just the facts but the stories, people, and truths behind them.
Ever wondered how doctors navigate the murky waters when they're at odds over a diagnosis or medical question? This week's MedEvidence Monday Minute is discussing this intricate dance. Dr. Michael Koren and Kevin Geddings of WSOS St. Augustine Radio peeled back the curtain on medical disagreements and the importance of tailored healthcare plans. As we bid adieu to Heart Month, they also enlightened us on the latest heart health research, including groundbreaking cholesterol treatments, and how patients can get involved without stepping on their primary physician's toes.
At MedEvidence, we bridge the gap between complex medical jargon and your everyday health concerns. From the nuances of medical misinformation to the evident nature of healthcare, our conversations with medical experts are an invaluable resource for anyone curious about the behind-the-scenes of medical decision-making and research. You'll come away with a deeper appreciation for the intricacies of medicine and the pivotal role of research in settling those tough debates between professionals. Join us for a thought-provoking journey into the heart of medical science, where we uncover not just the facts but the stories, people, and truths behind them.
Welcome to the MedEvidence Monday Minute Radio Show hosted by Kevin Gettings of WSOS St. Augustine Radio and powered by ENCORE Research Group. Each Monday morning, Dr. Michael Koren calls in to bring you the latest medical updates with insightful discussions. MedEvidence is where we help you navigate the real truth behind medical research, with both a clinical and research perspective. So sit back, relax and get ready to learn about the truth behind the data in medicine and health care. This is MedEvidence.
Kevin Geddings:
So do you ever like, h um that song, Dr. Koren, when you and another physician, medical doctor, are disagreeing on a medical diagnosis?
Dr. Michael Koren:
I can't say I've had that experience, Kevin.
Kevin Geddings:
What happens in that situation where you know like it's you and someone else and doctors disagree on something. How do you guys resolve it? Because as patients we never really see that right?
Dr. Michael Koren:
It's funny you ask that about 15 years ago we had this product called Ask 100 Doctors and it was medical survey software that would create a scenario for 100 doctors to answer and let folks see what the opinions were and whether or not there was sort of a majority opinion amongst the physicians who were surveyed.
Dr. Michael Koren:
And in some cases it was pretty straightforward that there was a very high prevalence of one opinion versus another. In some cases there's complete disagreement and I thought it might have been an interesting business idea. It might have helped some patients, but actually patients got freaked out by it that they said like isn't there a right answer? You know, and the truth is, there's not always a right answer and sometimes the context is important, which gets to things that you and I have talked about, which is every person is an individual and every person has to have their own health care plan. But it is fascinating how doctors and other people can disagree and in many cases your opinion is well-founded, in other cases maybe less well-founded. But that's the beauty of research, is that when you have a question where maybe doctors disagree, you've subjected to an experiment and you see who's right.
Kevin Geddings:
Yeah, absolutely, speaking of research and access to it in a digestible way for laymen like myself, check out the website MedEvidence. com. That's the voice of Dr. Michael Koren, medical doctor, cardiologist, research scientist and also heads up the show at ENCORE Research Group. They do leading edge medical research right here in our part of Northeast Florida, including at their offices near UF Flagler Hospital just off of 312 in St. Augustine. So if you'd like to participate in some of this research and, of course, as we wrap up Heart Month, the month of February, there are some opportunities for our listeners to get involved in studies that could help improve their heart health right doctor.
Dr. Michael Koren:
You got it. You got it. Again, we're doing some very, very interesting things with a number of different studies that are related to your heart. In particular, we have some really fabulous stuff for cholesterol. I just got back from a meeting this weekend in Miami on a really, really interesting product that lowers LDL cholesterol the bad cholesterol by 50%, raised LDL cholesterol by 100% and so far is looking terrific in terms of a great safety profile. So we're getting that started up. We're really excited about that. And we have the oral PCS-K9 inhibitors. To remind you, there are injectable drugs such as Repatha or Leqvio or Praluent, and they're very, very effective at lowering cholesterol and Topostatin, but not everybody wants to take an injection, so we now have oral agents that do the same thing as these injectables, so we're super excited about that as well.
Kevin Geddings:
Dr. Michael Koren, of course, with ENCORE Research Group. Learn how you can participate in these studies by going to ENCOREdocs. com. You're talking about these studies, made me think of one question our listeners may have if they are dealing with heart disease, how does it work in terms of participating in your studies and then their ongoing relationship with their existing cardiologists or GP?
Dr. Michael Koren:
It doesn't affect it. We work with many different physicians in the area and many physicians in the area work with us, so we have a good relationship with the general medical community and we would always advise people to let your physicians know that you're involved in a clinical trial and we're more than happy to explain the details of the clinical trial to your physician, and this does not jeopardize in any way, shape or form your primary relationship with your doctors. In fact, it should enhance your relationship and often will send laboratory information or other results to the primary physician so that they have more data on you. And in general, it's a very good relationship with the community, so we definitely encourage people to not be worried about that. You're not doing something behind the back of your physician. In fact, you're doing something good for your health where your physician can be involved.
Kevin Geddings:
Yeah, I would think that's a key item right where you're able to give them updates. Also, just as someone who has participated in one of these studies, you get just amazing levels of health care. I mean, you're going to see somebody every month, so if you have a heart disease condition and it's troubling you, this would be a good way to help deal with some of that anxiety right.
Dr. Michael Koren:
Totally, Totally. And we get a lot of referrals from doctors in the community. You know, sometimes they're at a little bit of a loss and they find that sending people's clinical trials is a way to get more information and maybe get a medicine that will help. So we've had great relationships with folks in the community and you shouldn't as a patient, you shouldn't be worried that your doctor won't like it.
Kevin Geddings:
Yeah well, once again, that's the voice of Dr. Michael Koren. He joins us on Monday mornings, typically right around this time. We appreciate him taking time out of his busy schedule. You can learn more about how you can participate in some of these clinical trials that we're talking about. Of course, in addition to getting amazing health care, you're also probably eligible to get a little financial compensation as well. Go to ENCOREdocs. com. That's ENCOREdocs. com, and something that we well, mostly Dr. Koren spends a lot of time on,
Kevin Geddings:
MedEvidence. com. That website, Dr. Koren, remind us again what we're going to find when we go to MedEvidence. com.
Dr. Michael Koren:
MedEvidence is our platform to help people understand the truth behind the data, and I'll tie it back into the song that you played with the segment, which is there ain't no good data, there ain't no bad data, they just clinical trials. I guess we'll see.
Kevin Geddings:
Yeah, and Dr. Koren used to be in a band. You should actually you should do a cover of that song.
Dr. Michael Koren:
I was thinking about that when I was in medical school, we used to do parodies of songs. I have quite a few in my repertoire that we've done over the years. We may have to have a discussion about that. It's pretty humorous, but I've definitely touched that space more than once. But getting back to MedE vidence, it's a fabulous website where people can see discussions between physicians. They can understand that opinions sometimes very but there is a truth behind the data and we help people understand that truth so you can go out make a plan.
Dr. Michael Koren:
Yeah so again, getting back to our first premise, if you have a history of heart disease or you have risk factors for heart disease, think about it, make a plan. Find out what your cholesterol is. Find out what your lipoprotein little a is. Find out that's what it's congestive heart failure that's touch you, of your family, and we can help you do all that.
Kevin Geddings:
Yeah, well, it all starts by checking out the website ENCORE docs. com. That's ENCORE docs. com where you can participate in clinical research, not just dealing with heart disease, but so many topics, I really can't enumerate them all right now. Also, and check out the website MedE vidence. com. If you're tired of getting all this conflicting and oftentimes garbage information off of Facebook and just Googling, go to MedE vidence. com maybe first when you have questions about a various health. You know some sort of a health topic? Yeah, I would think weird. Al Yankovic has nothing on you when it comes to you know funny cover, spoof cover songs, right?
Dr. Michael Koren:
I thought about him in a long time. Well, he's definitely weirder than I.
Kevin Geddings:
Yeah, he's a bizarre dude, but I'll give him credit. He's talented and he's made a ton of money doing something I didn't think you could make a ton of money doing. Yeah, Dr. Koren, hope you have a good Monday. Thank you very much for your time.
Dr. Michael Koren:
Okay, you too,
Narrator:
Thanks for joining the MedE vidence podcast. To learn more, head over to MedE vidence. com or subscribe to our podcast on your favorite podcast platform.