36. The Cost of Caring: Keeping Healthcare Workers Safe in Thailand

36. The Cost of Caring: Keeping Healthcare Workers Safe in Thailand

Remember those clanging pots for healthcare heroes? The gratitude has faded but the dangers are louder than ever. In this episode, we explore five hazards - biological, sharps, ergonomic, violent, and psychological - threatening those who care for us. There are two million needle stick injuries each year and 60% of health care staff face workplace violence. We look at solutions from motorized lifts to save backs to streamlining paperwork to save minds. We move beyond resilience to see what health systems can do to ensure that healthcare worker safety isn't a luxury, but a right. References: * Bouya S, Balouchi A, Rafiemanesh H, et al. Global Prevalence and Device Related Causes of Needle Stick Injuries among Health Care Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ann Glob Health. 2020;86(1):35, 1–8. * Abdul Halim NSS, Ripin ZM, Ridzwan MIZ. Efficacy of Interventions in Reducing the Risks of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Workplace Health Saf. 2023;71(12):575-587. * Harrell M, Selvaraj SA, Edgar M. DANGER! Crisis Health Workers at Risk. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(15):5270. * Jacquier-Bret J, Gorce P. Prevalence of Body Area Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023;20(1):841. * Krishnanmoorthy G, Rampal S, Karuthan SR, Baharudin F, Krishna R. Effectiveness of Participatory Ergonomic Interventions on Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Sick Absenteeism, and Work Performance Among Nurses: Systematic Review. JMIR Hum Factors. 2025;12:e68522. * Liu J, Gan Y, Jiang H, et al. Prevalence of workplace violence against healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Occup Environ Med. 2019;76(12):927-937. * Mohr DC, Elnahal S, Marks ML, Derickson R, Osatuke K. Burnout Trends Among US Health Care Workers. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(4):e255954. * Murthy VH. Confronting Health Worker Burnout and Well-Being. N Engl J Med. 2022;387(7):577-579. * O’Brien CJ, van Zundert AAJ, Barach PR. The growing burden of workplace violence against healthcare workers: trends in prevalence, risk factors, consequences, and prevention – a narrative review. eClinicalMedicine. 2024;72:102641. * Ugonabo N, Shah P, Adotama P, Zampella JG. Needlestick and Sharps Injuries Among Resident Physicians. JAMA Surg. 2021;156(1):96-97.

35. Healthcare in the Air: Retrieval Medicine in Remote Australia

How would you survive a critical emergency hundreds of miles from civilization? Retrieval medicine is a high-stakes flying ICU that brings medical expertise directly to a patient’s side. In this episode we trace the evolution of care in the air, from 1870s mail balloons to modern jets that fight the laws of physics. Shannon Nott from the Royal Flying Doctor Service tells us about delivering lifesaving care across vast distances in the Australian Outback. From the hidden danger of expanding gases at altitude and how aviation-style safety checklists keep teams and patients alive, we hear why your geography shouldn't be your destiny. References: * Shirley PJ, Hearns S. Retrieval medicine: a review and guide for UK practitioners. Part 1: Clinical guidelines and evidence base. Emerg Med J. 2006;23(12):937-942. doi:10.1136/emj.2006.036897 * Hearns S, Shirley PJ. Retrieval medicine: a review and guide for UK practitioners. Part 2: safety in patient retrieval systems. Emerg Med J. 2006;23(12):943-947. doi:10.1136/emj.2006.038075 * Laverty C, Tien H, Beckett A, et al. Primary aeromedical retrieval crew composition: Do different teams impact clinical outcomes? A descriptive systematic review. CJEM. 2020;22(S2):S89-S103. doi:10.1017/cem.2020.404 * Muyambi K, Gardiner F, Sollid S, et al. Aeromedical retrieval services characteristics globally: a scoping review. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2022;30(1):71. doi:10.1186/s13049-022-01053-x * Parrino C, Galvagno SM Jr. Aeromedical transport for critically ill patients. Crit Care Clin. 2024;40(3):481-495. doi:10.1016/j.ccc.2024.03.004

34. Preventing Maternal Deaths During Childbirth in Ethiopia

A mother dies from preventable causes related to pregnancy or childbirth every two minutes. We have the medical knowledge about what works to prevent these avoidable deaths. So why do they still occur? Explore the global maternal mortality crisis and the three delays that turn a joyful event into a tragedy. Abebe Alene tells us how Dessie Hospital in Ethiopia halved its maternal deaths. We talk about simplifying birthing workflows in hospitals, standardizing lifesaving medical procedures, the life-saving power of midwives, and the role of paid maternity leave policies. References: * Gunja MZ, et al. Insights into the U.S. Maternal Mortality Crisis: An International Comparison. Commonwealth Fund. June 4, 2024. doi:10.26099/cthn-st75 * Davidson KW, Terry MB, Braveman P, et al. Maternal mortality: a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention panel report. Obstet Gynecol. 2024;143(3):e78-e85. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000005488 * Ekwuazi EK, Chigbu CO, Ngene NC. Reducing maternal mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Case Rep Womens Health. 2023;39:e00542. doi:10.1016/j.crwh.2023.e00542 * Langlois EV, Reid A, Khosla R. Mothers deserve better: evidence-based strategies to address maternal mortality. Lancet Glob Health*. Published online April 8, 2025. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(25)00149-4 * Nassar AH, Usta I. Factors contributing to the reduction of the global maternal mortality ratio. Lancet Glob Health. 2026. * World Health Organization. Maternal mortality. 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality [https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality]

33. The Rural Community Pharmacy: A Lifeline on Catalina Island

In rural counties most pharmacies are independently owned. When these rural pharmacies close, they don’t just leave a gap in healthcare, they affect a region's economy. Because who wants to move to a town where you can’t get a prescription filled for 40 miles? Hear the audio story that I created at the Transom Story Workshop on Catalina Island about Sue Ponce, the sole pharmacist on Catalina Island’s only drug store for three decades. When I arrived at the workshop I thought I was there to learn some audio technical skills. What I didn’t expect was to also rethink how stories work and their place in healthcare. References: * Berenbrok LA, Tang S, Gabriel N, et al. Access to community pharmacies: A nationwide geographic information systems cross-sectional analysis.J Am Pharm Assoc. 2022;62(6):1816-1822.e2. * Catalano G, Khan MMM, Chatzipanagiotou OP, Pawlik TM. Pharmacy Accessibility and Social Vulnerability.JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(8):e2429755. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.29755. * DiStefano MJ, Chen NC, Asche CV, Anderson KE, Mattingly II TJ.“The crux of the community”: A qualitative focus group study of the impact of community pharmacy closures in Colorado and Utah.J Am Pharm Assoc. 2026;66:102940. doi:10.1016/j.japh.2025.102940. * Gravlee E, Ramachandran S, Qato D.Critical Access Pharmacy Designations Could Strengthen Access. Health Affairs Forefront. December 19, 2025. doi:10.1377/forefront.20251216.325474. * Kono M, Deller S. Rural Pharmacies an Overlooked Piece of the Rural Health Care Milieu.Choices. 2023;34(4). * Luchen GG, Hall KK, Hough KR. The Role of Community Pharmacists in Patient Safety.PSNet. October 25, 2021. Accessed May 7, 2026. https://psnet.ahrq.gov/perspective/role-community-pharmacists-patient-safety [https://psnet.ahrq.gov/perspective/role-community-pharmacists-patient-safety]. * Moodley S. Rethinking Community Pharmacy: A Path To A Sustainable Model.Health [http://Model.Health] Affairs Forefront. July 28, 2025. doi:10.1377/forefront.20250724.565622.

32. What Matters to You: A Simple Question That Transforms Care in Switzerland

In healthcare, we’re trained to move fast, to diagnose, treat, and fix. But what happens when we slow down just enough to ask a different question: What matters to you? In this episode, we reflect on how one simple question can transform not just clinical decisions, but relationships, trust, and meaning for patients, families, and clinicians. Christian von Plessen shares what happens when we stop asking “What’s the matter?” and start asking “What matters to you?”. Whether you're wearing a stethoscope or the hospital gown, this seemingly simple question is a reminder of why connection matters. References: * von Plessen C, Vasserot K, Bonnevie L, Coelho V, Dell'Eva E, Piazza V, Staines A. “What matters to you ?” From campaign to daily practice. Rev Med Suisse. 2025 Jun 4;21(921):1192-1196. French. doi: 10.53738/REVMED.2025.21.921.47318. * Barry MJ, Edgman-Levitan S. Shared decision making — the pinnacle of patient-centered care. N Engl J Med. 2012;366(9):780-781. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1109283. * Staines A, Laroussi-Libeault L, Coelho V, Pomey MP. “What matters to you?”: a powerful question to unlocking partnership in care. Int J Qual Health Care. 2025;37(1):mzaf007. doi:10.1093/intqhc/mzaf007. * Barry M. Ask “what matters to you?” when it matters most. Institute for Healthcare Improvement Blog. September 17, 2019. Accessed April 11, 2026. * Janerka C, Hooper AR, Sanders B, Gallagher O. How has ‘what matters to you’ been used for patient care? A scoping review. Health Expect. 2025;28:e14300. doi:10.1111/hex.14300. * Kebede S. Ask patients “what matters to you?” rather than “what’s the matter?”. BMJ. 2016;354:i4045. doi:10.1136/bmj.i4045.