We’ve all been there. A patient shifts uncomfortably on the exam table, hesitating before admitting what brought them in: “I think I have…hemorrhoids.”
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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:
Early Lessons for New Nurse Practitioners (Part 1)
Regardless of your specialty or setting, there is a mountain of knowledge to take in during your first year of practice that goes far beyond medicine. Whether you work in-patient or clinic, ICU or dermatology, there is a unique culture that you are stepping into. Hopefully, it is a culture of teamwork, grace, and growth. But wherever you find yourself, there are a few...
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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...
Sore Throat? Try McIsaac first before grabbing that swab!
It’s 9 a.m. in urgent care, and your next patient is here for a sore throat. They want a rapid strep test and antibiotics. But we all know that most sore throats are viral, and antibiotics won’t help. That’s exactly why clinical decision tools, such as the Centor and McIsaac criteria, matter. They guide testing decisions, help us avoid unnecessary antibiotics, and keep...
Pediatric Obesity Treatment Beyond Lifestyle Counseling: Medications, Surgery, and What Clinicians Need to Know
Many pediatricians have had this moment in clinic: a patient returns for a follow-up weight check after months of conversations about nutrition, physical activity, and screen time — and the number on the scale hasn’t budged. Maybe it has even gone up.
Global Clues: The Essential Travel History for Febrile Patients
It’s 2 a.m. in the ED. The waiting room is full, and the next patient sounds straightforward: fever. Then they add, “I just got back from an international trip.”
Pediatric Concussion: Safe Return‑to‑Learn & Play Protocols
It’s a scene most of us know well: a worried parent, a frustrated athlete, and the inevitable question: “When can they go back?”
The New Indication for an MRI in the ED
I was working in one of our satellite EDs talking with an elderly patient and her daughter about some recent headaches and increased confusion. She was in her early 70s, with a history of Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD). After my initial evaluation and exam, I went back to my computer to place some orders. Looking over her chart, I noticed something odd; the patient had been...
Why Is This Runner Always Tired? The Anemia You Might Be Missing…
You find the anemia first. Maybe it’s a low hemoglobin on a routine panel. Or a ferritin that makes you pause. But something doesn’t make sense. The patient is young and healthy, with no obvious sources of blood loss. So you ask a few more questions.
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.
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