Posts about Primary Care
In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landscape of reproductive healthcare in the United States has shifted dramatically. One unexpected consequence? A surge in interest in vasectomy—a safe, effective, and underutilized form of male contraception.
The opioid crisis continues to strain healthcare systems nationwide, with millions struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD) each year. As the epidemic evolves, so do the tools available to combat it. One of the most promising advancements? Long-acting injectables (LAIs). These medications are changing the game—providing consistent dosing, minimizing diversion risk, and helping patients maintain recovery without the daily reminder of a...
In primary care, we often describe ourselves as “jack-of-all-trades” clinicians — experts in breadth and advocates for the patient as a whole person. Yet for many of us, there comes a point when we crave more depth, new purpose, or a different kind of impact. That’s where primary care fellowships can open doors.Whether you’re a resident contemplating what’s next or a seasoned clinician feeling the pull toward growth, post-residency...
Whena person in northern Arizona died of the plague in July 2025, we wondered if we had time-traveled back to the medieval era. The last time most of us thought about the plague was likely in school, studying for our boards.
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is transforming the way healthcare providers approach diagnostics, enabling immediate insights that enhance patient care. As this tool becomes more integrated into clinical practice, we, as healthcare professionals, face some challenges when building a sustainable POCUS program. From selecting the right equipment to navigating certification, credentialing, and billing, there’s a lot to consider.
If you're a primary care clinician, chances are you order lipid panels more than any other lab. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains the leading cause of death globally, and a staggering 80% of ASCVD-related events are preventable. Prevention is our domain, but how do we best estimate risk and guide shared decision-making?Enter the PREVENT calculator, the American Heart Association’s (AHA) updated tool for assessing...
Last year, my healthcare system was struck by a cyberattack. Overnight, our electronic systems were down and we lost access to all of our usual digital tools—no electronic health record (EHR) access, no online prescribing, no ability to order lab tests or diagnostic imaging studies electronically. Meanwhile, our waiting room was full and our schedules were packed with back-to-back appointments. The ransomware downtime lasted five weeks and...
Imagine this: you’ve just finished seeing a full panel of patients, your inbox is overflowing, and you still have six notes to finish before you can even think about heading home. Sound familiar? Chances are you’ve daydreamed about a world where charting doesn’t steal your evenings or your sanity. Enter: AI note-writing assistants.
It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie: a person gets bitten by a tick and then, months later, develops a mysterious allergy to red meat. Short of Peter Parker’s fateful spider bite and the superpowers it conferred on him, how can an insect bite — which may go completely unnoticed at the time — cause such a change in a person’s health? And how can clinicians diagnose and manage this unusual condition in everyday practice?
If you work in primary care, chances are you’re talking about GLP-1 prescriptions for weight loss multiple times a day. Maybe you're explaining why Wegovy isn’t covered, managing labs and titration schedules, or helping a patient understand why they regained weight after stopping. It's a challenging landscape, and we’re all trying to keep up.
There was a time when prescribing continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) felt like an impossible ask unless your patient had type 1 diabetes or was on multiple daily insulin injections. Between the mountains of prior authorization paperwork and rigid insurance requirements, most of our patients with type 2 diabetes didn’t qualify — even if they were desperate for better data or a clearer picture of their blood sugar trends.
On November 10, 2025, the FDA announced a request to change to the labeling for menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). This was big news, and it has major ramifications for our patients.