Regardless of your specialty or setting, there is a mountain of knowledge to take in during your first year of practice that goes far beyond medicine. Whether you work in-patient or clinic, ICU or dermatology, there is a unique culture that you are...
Recent blog posts
Helping Patients Sleep: Practical, Non-Pharmacologic Insomnia Strategies
Insomnia and I are very well acquainted with one another. Like 10% of the population, I experienced chronic insomnia for years. And like nearly one-third of adults, I still experience insomnia from time to time. Through my own history, as well as years of research into the literature and undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), the gold standard for...
Sore Throat? Try McIsaac first before grabbing that swab!
It’s 9 a.m. in urgent care, and your next patient is here for a sore throat. They want a rapid strep test and antibiotics. But we all know that most sore throats are viral, and antibiotics won’t help. That’s exactly why clinical decision tools, such as the Centor and McIsaac criteria, matter. They guide testing decisions, help us avoid unnecessary antibiotics, and keep...
Pediatric Obesity Treatment Beyond Lifestyle Counseling: Medications, Surgery, and What Clinicians Need to Know
Many pediatricians have had this moment in clinic: a patient returns for a follow-up weight check after months of conversations about nutrition, physical activity, and screen time — and the number on the scale hasn’t budged. Maybe it has even gone up.
All blog posts
By topic:
Global Clues: The Essential Travel History for Febrile Patients
It’s 2 a.m. in the ED. The waiting room is full, and the next patient sounds straightforward: fever. Then they add, “I just got back from an international trip.”
Pediatric Concussion: Safe Return‑to‑Learn & Play Protocols
It’s a scene most of us know well: a worried parent, a frustrated athlete, and the inevitable question: “When can they go back?”
The New Indication for an MRI in the ED
I was working in one of our satellite EDs talking with an elderly patient and her daughter about some recent headaches and increased confusion. She was in her early 70s, with a history of Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD). After my initial evaluation and exam, I went back to my computer to place some orders. Looking over her chart, I noticed something odd; the patient had been...
Why Is This Runner Always Tired? The Anemia You Might Be Missing…
You find the anemia first. Maybe it’s a low hemoglobin on a routine panel. Or a ferritin that makes you pause. But something doesn’t make sense. The patient is young and healthy, with no obvious sources of blood loss. So you ask a few more questions.
Are At-Home Blood Pressure Monitors Accurate? A Guide for Clinicians
Historically, hypertension was diagnosed with two or more elevated blood pressure readings on separate occasions. However, as of 2025, The American College of Cardiology now recommendshome blood pressure monitoring for any patient that has suspected hypertension or those currently taking hypertension medications.
Understanding Coagulation Disorders: A Sample Chapter from Hippo’s MOCA-Peds 2026 eBook
When you’re deep into MOCA-Peds questions, few things can spike your heart rate faster than a lab value that doesn’t quite fit or a bleeding history that feels just a little too complicated for a “pick-the-best-answer” moment. Coagulation disorders live right in that space: high-stakes, detail-heavy, and absolutely fair game for exams. Whether it’s a bruising toddler, a...
Read moreLower Back Pain Part 2: Treatment and Follow up
Last month, we started a two-part series on the evaluation and treatment of acute lower back pain (LBP) in the ED. This month, we are going to get into treatment options and how to help arrange follow-up care.
Compassion Fatigue: The Hidden Cost of Caring in Nursing Practice
As nurse practitioners, we step into some of the most vulnerable and sacred moments of our patients’ lives. Whether it’s delivering life-altering news, managing chronic illness, or walking alongside someone at the end of life, our work is meaningful. It’s also emotionally demanding. Over time, this emotional labor can take a toll in the form of compassion fatigue.
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?