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...

By Micaela Bowers, MD on

June 02, 2026

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:

By Micaela Bowers, MD on

May 28, 2026

Same Injury, Different Rules: How State Laws Can Change Patient Care in Workers’ Comp

By Erin Pressley, PA-C on

May 27, 2026

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...

By Neda Frayha, MD on

May 07, 2026

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.

By Ashley Greer PA-C on

April 27, 2026

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. 

By Katy Vogelaar, FNP-C on

March 30, 2026

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...

By Michael Baca-Atlas, MD, FASAM on

March 26, 2026

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.

By Erin Pressley, PA-C on

March 18, 2026

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.”

By Erin Pressley, PA-C on

March 18, 2026

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...

By Ashley Greer PA-C on

March 12, 2026

Lower Back Pain: Pearls, Pitfalls, and Practical Tips

Whether you are working in primary care, urgent care, or the emergency department, chances are you see a patient complaining of lower back pain during every shift. It’s one of the most common reasons patients seek care, but also a chief complaint that leads to over-testing, over-treating, and is one of the driving factors behind the opioid epidemic.

By Matthew Hall, CRNP on

March 04, 2026

Vasectomy in the Post-Roe Era: Vas Deferens or Vas Defiance?

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.

By Matt Zeitler, MD on

February 24, 2026