Magnesium has been making waves in the wellness world, with claims ranging from improved sleep, mood, gut health, and brain function. As healthcare providers, patients often ask us whether magnesium supplementation is a good idea. Is it really...
Recent blog posts
Using the AHA's PREVENT Tool to Assess Cardiovascular Risk
The red and pink hearts decorating our homes and stores in February remind us not only of Valentine’s Day but also of Heart Health Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death nationally. To lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, the American Heart Association recommends screenings for risk factors. In 2023, they announced theirnew PREVENT tooldesigned to...
Iron Deficiency Without Anemia: The Hidden Diagnosis
It’s a busy Monday morning, and you walk in to see a 4-year-old child for her well check. Her parents mention she’s been more tired and moody lately, but otherwise, she’s a happy, healthy kid—just a bit of a picky eater. So, you check her Hemoglobin level… and it comes back perfectly normal.
Tiny Ingestions, Big Worries: Navigating High-Risk Pediatric Foreign Body Ingestions in Urgent Care
As an urgent care clinician, I’ve handled my fair share of foreign body ingestions. But nothing quite prepares you for when the patient is your own child. One late night, just as I had finally settled in with Netflix, my seven-year-old son appeared at the top of the stairs—wide awake when he should have been fast asleep. If you’ve read my previous blog about Mycoplasma...
All blog posts
By topic:
Integrative Medicine: Creatine: Miracle Muscle Booster or Just Hype?
Creatine has come a long way from being a supplement for bodybuilders and elite athletes. Today, it’s generating buzz in women’s health, aging, and even brain health. Patients are asking about it, and the research is catching up. So, is creatine really worth the hype? Let’s break down what we know, what’s still unclear, and how you can guide your patients.
Let’s Review Direct Oral Anticoagulant (DOACs)
If you’ve ever worked an ED at 3 AM during a holiday weekend, you know what’s coming: a patient visiting from out of town presents with a radiology report that is positive for a DVT. With no hematology or cardiology consults available, no access to the patient’s records, and the clock ticking, you’re left to manage the situation.
Emotional Boundaries in Medicine: Yay or Nay?
Here’s what I was taught: you are the clinician, and the patient is the patient. Your job is to diagnose and treat. Don’t diagnose or treat friends or family—your emotional closeness could cloud your judgment. And don’t turn patients into friends. Don’t let empathy cross an invisible line. Keep appropriate boundaries.
The State of AI in Emergency Medicine
When I joined a Family Medicine practice in July 2004, fresh out of PA school, I was fortunate enough to share an office space with Dr. Robert Wettach, a 76-year-old GP who had spent decades caring for patients in a small town in southeast Iowa. Semi-retired, he still saw patients a few days a week, but his real passion was storytelling.
Chief Complaint: Differential Diagnosis of Red Eye: When to Refer and When to Manage
The “red eye” is a common presenting symptom in primary care, spanning a spectrum of conditions from benign to sight-threatening emergencies. Knowing how to differentiate these conditions quickly is key to providing safe, effective care.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: A Silent Threat in Urgent Care
Winter is here, and patients with URI symptoms are pouring into urgent care. Patient after patient with similar complaints can feel like you’re on rinse and repeat all day long.
Read moreRub Some Gel on It? Alternative NSAIDs for Acute Low Back Pain
Acute low back pain is one of the most common reasons patients present to the emergency department. Yet, when it comes to evidence-based management, our approaches often feel like “dealer’s choice.” We know NSAIDs are better than muscle relaxers and opioids, but what about topical options?
The Beginners Guide to Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT)
Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is having a moment, and patients are taking notice. With more women seeking relief for vasomotor symptoms of menopause, the demand for evidence-based conversations and clear guidance is growing. Yet, many of us were taught little about how to prescribe MHT confidently. If you’ve ever hesitated at the prospect of prescribing hormone...
Practice-Changing Education
Experience education that goes beyond theory. Explore Hippo Education’s offerings below.
Looking for Large Group Rates on the #1 Rated CME?