Dr. Niran Al-Agba

Inseparable: The Physician and The Mother

As physicians, we do our best to set patients up for successful futures. This instruction can begin when a person is a few days old and may continue for a lifetime. In primary care, we observe children grow into adults, finish their educations, and embark on families of their very own. The single greatest aspect of medicine for me has been to realize the impact our lasting relationships can have; something that was facilitated by being a female physician.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:24:45+00:00February 3, 2017|Categories: Patient, Physician|Tags: Parenting, Patient Physician Relationship, Physician Mother|

Taking Our Seat at the Table: The Practicing Physicians of America

Physicians must stand up and be counted. Our time is now. Practicing physicians can deliver valuable insight and novel perspective on how to enact change. We must give the power to make healthcare decisions back to the patient and their doctor, rather than to the insurance and pharmaceutical industries.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-14T03:22:03+00:00January 26, 2017|Categories: Physician|Tags: Anti-MOC, Burnout, MOC, MOC Reform, Patient Physician Relationship, Physician Advocacy, Physician Autonomy, PPA ACA|

At Thanksgiving, Do #OneKindAct.

Extending an olive branch is never easy, but it is necessary. Commit to do just #OneKindAct. Make it extraordinary. Make it compassionate. Make it a statement that we do not tolerate hate, bigotry, racism, violence or discrimination of any kind.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-04T00:53:50+00:00November 22, 2016|Categories: Physician|Tags: Patient Advocacy, Patient Physician Relationship|

How This Physician Grieves

As of Sept. 15, 85 children from 33 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have died due to infection with the flu during the 2015-2016 season. Piper Lowery, who was (continue reading →)

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-04T00:40:52+00:00November 8, 2016|Categories: Patient, Physician|Tags: Child Death, Grief, Influenza, Mental health|

Don’t Surrender Doctors… Fight. My Call to Action.

Independent physicians are at the beginning of a challenging movement as we fight to stay relevant and solvent during the transition of health care from independence to “regulation without representation”. In 1773, (continue reading →)

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-03T23:12:11+00:00October 13, 2016|Categories: Physician, Policy|Tags: ACA, Burnout, EHR, EMR, Independent Practice, MACRA, MIPS, Physician Autonomy, Rural Medicine|

I Wish My Patients Knew…

I Wish My Patients Knew… I would not change anything about my career choice. Being a physician was my calling from the time I first entered a hospital nursery with my father at 5 years of age. I knew it then as sure as I know it now. Primary care comes with an unbelievable amount of responsibility, stress, exhaustion, and frustration; but there is also overwhelming joy, fulfillment, gratitude, freedom, and love. I could not be more proud to be a physician and there is no other profession in the world that is more rewarding than mine.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-03T22:47:26+00:00September 11, 2016|Categories: Patient, Physician|Tags: Patient Advocacy, Patient Physician Relationship|

Practicing Medicine My Way.

“To say the things he truly feels; and not the words of one who kneels. The record shows I took the blows – and did it my way.” My way would involve fewer bureaucrats making significant healthcare decisions that impact the entire country and its population at large. Both patients and physicians are taking blows from those in charge of the system who know nothing about the world of primary care.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-03T22:23:22+00:00August 29, 2016|Categories: Physician, Practice|Tags: Physician Advocacy, Physician and Media, Physician Autonomy|

Building Better Metrics: Invest in “Good” Primary Care and Get What You Pay For

Estimates suggest that a primary care physician would spend 21.7 hours per day to provide all recommended acute, chronic, and preventive care for a panel of 2,500 patients. An average workday of 8 hours extrapolates to an ideal panel of 909 patients; let us make it an even 1000 to simplify. A primary care physician could easily meet acute, chronic, and preventative needs of 1000 patients, thereby improving access.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-03T22:32:08+00:00August 17, 2016|Categories: Patient, Physician, Policy|Tags: Burnout, Physician Autonomy, Physician Suicide, Primary Care, Rural Care, Underserved Area|

The Office of Civil Rights: The Tale of a Medical Records Renegade

When did we physicians give up our freedom and basic right to earn a living?

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-03T22:33:27+00:00August 15, 2016|Categories: Physician, Policy|Tags: Civil Rights, Discrimination, Law, Medical Records, Physician Autonomy|

My Response to Sarah Kliff: We Are Frustrated, Weary, and Stressed Too.

In my humble opinion, that type of communication provides tremendous value. Paying more to a physician who provides services that benefit patients directly is a metric worth tracking. If physician and patient can work together by rowing in sync on the same boat, maybe we could get those in control of the healthcare system on board with us after all. Medicine is not a one-way road. You are spot on about that.

Niran Al-Agba2020-05-03T17:05:22+00:00June 14, 2016|Categories: Physician, Practice|Tags: Burnout, Physician Advocacy, Physician and Media, Physician Autonomy, Physician Suicide|