Posts about Primary Care
As a primary care provider, you’re often the first to catch signs of substance use—and one of the most trusted to help manage it. Urine drug screening (UDS) is one of the tools in your back pocket, but it comes with questions:
In my primary care practice, I see a lot of women in perimenopause and menopause. But since my training was during an era when the WHI had raised alarms about hormone replacement therapy (HRT), I've had to get up to speed. Fortunately, the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) updated their hormone therapy position statement in 2022, and we now know the benefits of menopausal hormone therapy outweigh the risks for many people.
You’ve probably seen the headlines: Autism rates are rising. You might have heard it called an epidemic—a term that’s not just attention-grabbing, but also fuels fear and confusion. Parents might be asking you about this in clinic. Many argue that the rise in diagnoses just means we’re getting better at identifying what has always been there. Others feel the alarm bells ringing, wondering what’s causing this apparent surge.
Pelvic exams can be uncomfortable—even distressing—for many patients. That’s why adopting a trauma-informed care approach is essential. It means recognizing how common trauma is and shaping your care to prioritize safety, empowerment, and trust. When done thoughtfully, a pelvic exam can become more than just a clinical necessity—it can be a meaningful moment of connection and support.
Measles was declaredeliminated in the United States in 2000. Yet, in 2025, it’s back with force. At the time of this writing, theCDC reports outbreaks in 31 states, with 1,001 confirmed cases and two pediatric deaths—96% of those infected being either unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status against measles. One-third of U.S. cases this year have occurred in children under age five, including infants under 12 months.
When caring for patients with dementia, some of the hardest moments don’t come from the diagnosis itself—but from the complex, emotionally charged decisions that follow. From driving safety to end-of-life planning and managing agitation, there are no easy answers. Here’s a practical guide to help you navigate the challenges, support families, and make thoughtful, patient-centered decisions in the clinic.
Prescribing antibiotics in the outpatient setting is more complex than it gets credit for. We’re balancing evolving guidelines, limited face-to-face time, patient expectations, and a growing public health threat: antimicrobial resistance.
Gambling isn’t just a Vegas weekend anymore. It’s in your pocket, on your screen, and baked into your patients’ day-to-day lives—from push notifications for the next big game to ads between TikToks. This growing accessibility? It’s a serious concern for the rising rates of gambling disorders—and it’s something more of us in medicine need to be paying attention to.
It is tragic that in 2025, measles—a fully preventable disease—has caused two deaths (at the time of writing) and sickened hundreds across the United States. With outbreaks making headlines, patients are flooding our inboxes and exam rooms with urgent questions:
Thyroid management is filled with nuances that make clinical decision-making feel like a moving target. From determining when to test to selecting the right treatment option, especially in tricky cases like subclinical hypothyroidism, the questions can pile up fast.
As healthcare providers, we know the many physical benefits that exercise brings—better cardiovascular health, improved mobility, and weight management. But what about the broader benefits of exercise, especially for older adults? It's one thing to prescribe physical activity, but it's another to communicate why it matters, particularly when it comes to enhancing cognitive function, preventing falls, and fostering mental well-being.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. While most cases are diagnosed in individuals over 65, rates are rising in adults under 50, making early screening more critical than ever. Screening reduces CRC mortality by catching cancer in its early, treatable stages, yet many patients remain hesitant or unsure of their options.
