They Call Him “Dr. Hotspot”

By Suzanne Kashuba

Watch Doctor Hotspot on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

“That's just the way it is
Some things will never change
That's just the way it is
Ah, but don't you believe them.”

-- “The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby

With the aging population, expensive drugs and high-tech procedures, is there any end in sight to the upward spiral of healthcare costs?

While answers are never easy, an innovative doctor from one of America’s poorest cities doesn’t believe in the status quo.  He’s proposing some unconventional solutions—and making positive change happen.

Family physician Jeffrey Brenner, M.D., was infuriated by the lack of assistance for a gunshot victim in his own neighborhood in Camden. N.J. Inspired by this incident, he’s setting out to bend the cost curve while improving the quality of care for primarily poor, urban patients. A pipe dream? Not in his view. As executive director of the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers, he’s developed a new model which has garnered considerable attention – praised by some and challenged by others.

Dr. Brenner was featured in a January 2011 article in “The New Yorker” and recently interviewed for PBS’ “Frontline.” (See the complete video above.) He also writes an informative blog.

But will it work in Buffalo, N.Y.? Find out more from Dr. Brenner himself. He’s speaking at the Buffalo City Forum and buffet luncheon on Tuesday, Nov. 15 in the WNED studios, 140 Lower Terrace, Buffalo. (Doors open at noon; lunch begins at 12:15 p.m.)

His presentation also will be broadcast live on WNED-AM 970 and wned.org/news beginning at 1 p.m.

Buffalo City Forum is a community speaker series open to the public, produced by WNED-AM 970 and Leadership Buffalo in collaboration with JacksonParker Communications. It’s hosted by WNED Director of News and Public Affairs Jim Ranney.

Tickets ($20 or $15 for members of WNED or Leadership Buffalo) can be purchased by calling (716) 849-2626, ext. 17 or e-mailing kmorris@leadershipbuffalo.org.

What do you think would bring down the cost of health care?