Iron Deficiency: The Diagnosis You’re Probably Missing (and Why It Matters)
You know the patient.
Posts about Primary Care
The “Test for Everything”? A Real-World Look at Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Tests
Multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests are emerging blood-based screenings designed to detect multiple cancers by analyzing cell-free DNA and methylation patterns. While these tests are already available (despite lacking FDA approval), current evidence shows high specificity (~99%) but relatively low sensitivity (~40%), meaning false reassurance from negative results is a real concern. Additional challenges include lengthy diagnostic...
A Practical Approach to Memory Loss: Differentiating Dementia, MCI, and Normal Aging
It happens at the worst possible time. You’re wrapping up a visit, already running behind and just as your hand reaches for the doorknob, your patient says:
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 treatment of chronic insomnia, I have developed a helpful, informal...
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.
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.
Focus, Please: Adult ADHD in Primary Care
Adult ADHD is having a moment: patients are showing up with TikTok checklists, AI-generated “diagnoses,” and a lot of lived frustration. And honestly, that makes sense: untreated ADHD can look like chronic overwhelm, missed deadlines, “brain fog,” relationship conflict, and repeated experiences of feeling like you should be able to do things you can’t consistently execute. In primary care, the challenge is sorting out what’s ADHD, what’s a...
Who Chooses the Treating Clinician? Understanding Direction of Care
Occupational medicine is rarely a "one size fits all” approach. For clinics and clinicians operating across state lines, managing workers' compensation isn't just a clinical challenge; it is a regulatory maze.
Introducing Hippo Education’s Latest Video Course: Occupational Medicine Bootcamp
Picture this: you walk into a patient’s room with a chief complaint of lower back pain. Straightforward, right? Then the patient casually adds, “It started after I hurt my back at work.”
What’s the Deal with Weighted Vests?
If you’ve been outside in the past six months (or anywhere on social media), you’ve probably seen someone power-walking in a weighted vest. Weighted vests are no longer just for elite athletes or military fitness tests. These days, they're showing up on your patients, your friends, maybe even on you. Weighted vests are said to boost bone density, preserve muscle, improve balance, and even help with weight loss. But are these claims backed...