A New-Years Resolution: Caring for Clinicians in 2024

By Katy Vogelaar, FNP-C
on January 03, 2024

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, nearly half of healthcare professionals are burned out. Burnout among healthcare providers has been shown to negatively impact patient safety, quality of care, and patient satisfaction. This new year presents a golden opportunity for us to prioritize self-care, fostering a healthier and more resilient healthcare workforce.

Navigating Whole Person Care for the Underserved in Urgent Care

By By Vicky Pittman, PA-C
on December 11, 2023

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. This is especially true for those of us working in urgent care. 

Unraveling the Case of a Constipated Toddler: Hirschsprung’s Disease

By Jen Janocha, PA-C
on December 11, 2023

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.

Toys for Kids: Keep them Safe

By Katie Iverson, PA-C, MPAS
on December 06, 2023

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 were also 209,500 emergency department visits due to toy injuries in those under age 14, with 38% of those injured being young children under age 4. Many toys can cause minor scrapes or cuts and according to the U.S. CPSC report, 41% of the ER visits due to toy injury were for lacerations or bruising in 2022.

Caring for Underserved Communities: Using the HOUSED BEDS Tool

By Sarah Walsh, PA-C
on December 05, 2023

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.

ACEP's New Clinical Practice Guidelines

By Amber Sheeley, PA-C and Melissa Orman, MD
on December 04, 2023

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.

With this update, ACEP is collating the results of recent articles, plus providing expert synopsis and commentary in an effort to drive good patient care forward on some really important topics.  Let’s explore these updates and their implications for emergency providers.

X-Rays and Pneumonia: The Great Follow-Up Debate

By Micaela Bowers, MD
on November 30, 2023

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. 

Meet Hippo Education’s Newest Course, Radiology Bootcamp: Plain Films

By Katie Iverson, PA-C, MPAS
on November 14, 2023

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 providers. 

The Realities of PA Military Life

By Katie Iverson, PA-C, MPAS
on November 03, 2023

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. 

Incidental Findings: A Step-by-Step Guide

By By Vicky Pittman, PA-C
on November 03, 2023

Consider this. You’re working your next shift and it’s a busy one. The waiting room is full and you haven’t even had a chance to eat lunch.

While trying to disposition that patient with hematuria and back pain, you quickly glance at their CT scan and then review the radiologist’s read. Boom, kidney stones, just like you thought.  But, as you continue to scroll through the entire reading you come across the dreaded incidental finding of a pulmonary nodule. What do you typically do with this information?