EP 35: Dialysis, DaVita, Fresenius and Corruption with Author Tom Mueller - Part 1

PART 1 New York Times best-selling author, Tom Mueller PhD, joins Nurses Uncorked to discuss his book about the corruption in the Dialysis industry. The book is titled, How to Make a Killing: Blood, Death, and Dollars in American Medicine . In the 1960s, dialysis in America was a miracle cure, on the cutting-edge of high-tech medicine. Dialysis represented the first time that doctors had replaced a vital organ with a machine. Dialysis became, in 1972, America’s first (and to date the only) “Medicare for All” condition, when Congress pledged to pay the dialysis treatments of virtually all Americans with kidney failure. Since then, however, dialysis in America has degraded to 1-size-fits-all, assembly line care. Non-profit centers have been bought up by for-profit firms, eventually creating a duopoly between DaVita Dialysis and Fresenius . Harmful practices such as short, high-speed dialysis sessions (termed “bazooka dialysis” in the book), and the involuntary discharge and subsequent blackballing of dialysis patients, are widespread. Patient outcomes, mortality etc in the US are substantially worse than any other developed nation. Yet at the same time, cost of treatment has skyrocketed. We dedicate these episodes (part 1 & 2) to those fighting chronic kidney disease; and to the brave dialysis patients, dialysis nurses, techs, and informants who continue to fight. Help Us Keep This Podcast going and become an official Patron of Nurses Uncorked! Gain early access to episodes, patron only bonus episodes, giveaways and earn the title of becoming either a wine cork, wine bottle or Grand Preserve for exclusive benefits! https://patron.podbean.com/nursesuncorkedpodcast 20% discount for Nurses Uncorked listeners: Code: "killing20" https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393866513 Books by Tom Mueller: Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil https://a.co/d/izhYMGg Crisis of Conscience: Whistleblowing in an Age of Fraud https://a.co/d/bOcyn1O https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Killing-American-Medicine/dp/0393866513 Connect with Tom Mueller: https://www.tommueller.co/ tom@tommueller.co Twitter/X: @tommuellerX LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ tom-mueller-026a3635 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tom.mueller.7796 Instagram: tbmuellerx Sources: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2813463 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2797778 How to Make a Killing: Blood, Death and Dollars in American Medicine, Author Tom Mueller (Released August 1, 2023; US Publisher: W. W. Norton) New episodes of Nurses Uncorked every Tuesday. Help us grow by giving our episodes a download, follow, like the episodes and a 5 ⭐️ star rating! Please follow Nurses Uncorked at! https://www.tiktok.com/@nurses.uncorked?_t=8drcDCUWGcN&_r=1 https://instagram.com/nursesuncorked?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA== https://youtube.com/@NursesUncorkedL https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094678265742&mibextid=LQQJ4d You can listen to our podcast at: https://feed.podbean.com/thenurseericarn/feed. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nurses-uncorked/id1698205714 https://spotify.link/8hkSKlKUaDb https://nursesuncorked.com DISCLAIMER: This Podcast and all related content [published or distributed by or on behalf of Nurse Erica, Nurse Jessica Sites or Nurses Uncorked Podcast is for informational purposes only and may include information that is general in nature and that is not specific to you. Any information or opinions expressed or contained herein are not intended to serve as legal advice or replace medical advice, nor to diagnose, prescribe or treat any disease, condition, illness or injury, and you should consult the health care professional of your choice regarding all matters concerning your health, including before beginning any exercise, weight loss, or health care program. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health-care emergency, please contact a qualified health care professional for treatment. Any information or opinions provided by guest experts or hosts featured within website or on Nurses Uncorked Podcast are their own; not those of Nurse Jessica Sites, Nurse Erica or Nurses Uncorked Company. Accordingly, Nurse Erica, Nurse Jessica Sites and the Company cannot be responsible for any results or consequences or actions you may take based on such information or opinions.