All blog posts
By topic:
Shave and punch biopsies are essential procedures for those who manage skin conditions and skin diseases. They can provide helpful information about undiagnosed skin lesions such as neoplasms, bullous disorders, keratoses, or dysplastic nevi. A diagnostic biopsy can also be the definitive treatment for malignant, irritated, or precancerous lesions. There's a right and a wrong way to do things, though. Here are our top 10 tips to prevent...
Conversations in the emergency department can be challenging, especially when we need to say "no" to patient requests. Let’s explore why this is difficult, the importance of having a script, and a framework for handling these conversations.
The holidays may be over, but ‘tis still the season for slip and falls on the ice that result in tailbone and coccyx area injuries. Coccyx injuries are a common chief complaint in urgent care during this wintery, icy time of year. Classic coccydynia (aka coccyx pain) is worse when sitting and can worsen when rising from a seated position. At first glance, this seems like a straightforward chief complaint, but it lends itself to...
As we usher in a new year, we find ourselves at the forefront of healthcare, continuously providing vital services and compassionate care to those in need. Amidst the challenges of the ever-evolving healthcare landscape, we must remember that we, too, deserve care and attention – not just for the sake of our well-being but also for the benefit of those we serve. According to an article published by the Journal of General Internal Medicine,...
Tens of millions of people in the United States have trouble accessing the healthcare services they need. Whether for lack of housing, insurance, or transportation or because of language and literacy barriers, there are so many reasons why people who need medical care may not be able to reach us. Or when they do, we may not always know how to help. As front-line clinicians, we can play a role in helping our vulnerable community members....
In this month’s episode of Peds RAP, we discuss the case of a two-year-old child that presented with a history of constipation and abdominal distention. The journey to diagnosis uncovered a complex medical condition - Hirschsprung’s Disease.
As December is Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month, now is the perfect time to emphasize the importance of toy safety to parents and caregivers. Toys bring joy and learning opportunities to children, but they can also pose serious health risks. According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) report on Toy Related Deaths and Injuries in 2022, there were 11 deaths in children under age 14 related to toys. There...
Hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. experience homelessness, and those individuals face unique barriers when they come in to see us for medical care. Learning to ask the right questions, while using a trauma-informed approach, can help us better treat our patients. One tool to remember: HOUSED BEDS.
-1.jpeg)
In the dynamic world of Emergency Medicine, staying up-to-date with the latest clinical guidelines is essential to providing the best possible care for our patients. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has recently released updated guidelines that directly impact our practice in the management of ischemic stroke care, suspected appendicitis, mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in adults, and acute heart failure syndromes. ...
Ah, pneumonia – the not-so-welcome guest that always seems to overstay its welcome. But what happens when pneumonia lingers? Do we whip out the trusty X-ray machine for a follow-up, or do we cross our fingers and hope for the best? Today, we're diving into the mysterious waters of follow-up imaging after pneumonia.
As clinicians practicing acute care medicine, we’re tasked with treating a wide variety of patients.And no matter how thorough our didactic education or clinical skills training, many of the tools we use in acute care medicine are learned on the job. And there’s no better example of this than plain films interpretation. Unfortunately, this leads to wide variances in both imaging study experience and imaging interpretation accuracy amongst...
One of the biggest challenges for any PA moving to another state is the need for a new state license. This is especially true for active-duty PA military spouses due to their frequent moves. This uprooting not only personally affects couples and families, but also the patients, clinical teams, hospital systems, and communities due to turnover and loss of clinicians in the workforce as these PAs relocate.