S1 Ep158: Cash-only practice, with John C. Cianca, M.D., FAAPMR, president of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

About this episode

Dr. John C. Cianca discusses his transition to a cash-only practice and the implications for patient care and the medical field.

The consolidation of outpatient medicine has swept many independent physicians into larger systems, private equity arrangements or hospital employment. John C. Cianca, M.D., FAAPMR, a physiatrist in Houston, Texas, and president of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, went the other way. More than two decades ago, he left his Baylor-affiliated medical college to build a true solo, cash-only practice — no front desk, no MAs, no prior authorizations, no step therapy requirements. Medical Economics Senior Editor Richard Payerchin talks with Cianca about why he made that move, what it cost him early on and what it freed him to do for patients. They also cover what primary care physicians consistently misunderstand about physical medicine and rehabilitation, how AAPMR became an early leader in documenting and advocating for long COVID patients, and how AI is already reshaping medical education in ways that may make traditional professional society programming obsolete. Music Credits: CALM CHILL RELAXED SMOOTH JAZZ (OWE YOU) by Tasty Tunes - stock.adobe.com A Textbook Example by Skip Peck - stock.adobe.com Editor's note: Episode timestamps and transcript…

People in this episode

Host: Richard Payerchin

Guest: John C. Cianca, M.D., FAAPMR

Topics covered

• cash-only practice
• outpatient medicine
• physical medicine
• long COVID
• medical education
• AI in healthcare

Keywords

• cash-only practice
• outpatient medicine
• physical medicine
• long COVID
• AI in healthcare
• medical education
• independent physicians

Sponsors

Copic medical liability insurance

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor

Places: Houston, Texas

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