Chances are Raiter Clinic physician Dr. David Luehr won't quit his day job anytime soon, but he's pleased to have been asked to participate in a nationally aired interview on the CBS Evening News last Tuesday, Jan. 23.
"They interviewed me for 45 minutes," chuckled Luehr, "but I was actually on the air for only 20 seconds!"
Luehr's interview was part of a segment called, "Surf the Web and Save on Prescriptions," outlining the reasons why medical patients are well-advised to research the cost of prescription medicines before buying.
Speaking as both a family physician and past president of the Minnesota Medical Association, Luehr commented that many patients are swayed by advertising and come in to his office asking for the most expensive drug. He explained that sometimes the most expensive drug is not necessarily the best and only way to go - and often there are generic medications that cost less and work just as effectively. One of the best ways to discover what those alternatives might be, according to the CBS news segment, is to go to the Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs site and look for the drugs earmarked "Best Buy."
"I would especially encourage them to go to this Web site if they have seen the latest ad for the latest miracle drug," Luehr said during the on-air interview.
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Luehr said he was first contacted by CBS News about doing the interview on Jan. 5. He explained that as president of the Minnesota Medical Association last year, he was part of a contingent from the MMA and the Senior Federation to present before Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty about the merits of the Consumer Reports Best Buy site. He said Pawlenty had several ideas of his own about ways of controlling the soaring costs of medicines, and he was interested in knowing more about this avenue of patient advocacy.
On the morning of Jan. 15, CBS sent two cameramen and reporter Wyatt Andrews to Cloquet, where they conducted the interview at Raiter Clinic.
Luehr has been a family physician at Raiter Clinic for 28 years and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Community Memorial Hospital as well.
He said he was also part of another interview last year on a national television program aired in Tokyo, Japan, about the new "Minute Clinics" that are springing up all over the world in malls and other high-traffic areas.
"That time they interviewed me for two and a half hours," grinned Luehr, " - and it turned out they only aired three lines!"
Pine Journal Publisher/ reporter Wendy Johnson can be contacted at: wjohnson@pinejournal.com .
