Ovarian Cancer In 2023 in the United States, ovarian cancer will cause an estimated 19,710 new cases and 13,270 deaths. Although the numbers are declining, this is still staggering. Ovarian cancer is a rare disease, with carcinomas comprising approximately 90% of tumors and germ cell and stromal …
This was a 50-year-old male smoker with a history of hyperlipemia, previous stent, on Plavix and ASA who presented for chest pain to the ER. It was his second visit for chest pain. He was chest pain-free with one NTG SL, and his first troponin was negative. …
There are just a couple more days left in May, and in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, today we’re turning to a few ‘quick-hit’ strategies that some of our longtime speakers at our continuing medical education (CME) conferences rely on when they know they need to take a …
Coping Strategies for Difficult Days: Mental Health Awareness Read More »
In December 2019, I decided it was time for a career change. Not a profession change, but a location change. My daughter moved to Colorado when she graduated from college in 2014, and I knew I eventually wanted to live closer to her. So, I started my …
May is Mental Health Awareness Month May is Mental Health Awareness Month – a time to focus on reducing the stigma associated with mental illness while also prioritizing strategies for improving and stabilizing mental health. And as a CME provider for thousands of health care professionals, we …
Leaving Your Emotion at the Door: Mental Health Awareness Month Read More »
Recently, a student following me at our clinic remarked on how quickly I could move through patients during the day. “You see about 60 people daily, and while it doesn’t seem like you are rushing them through, I don’t think I could ever do that. I am …
Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts’ CME Conferences are legendary, with attendees knowing they’re getting top-notch healthcare education and a front-row seat for some of the best speakers in the nation. And, with every conference offered at destination locations, our attendees can sneak in some rest and …
Abracadabra! You can now transcend the risk of all contamination with the use of magical gloves! During the peak of the COVID pandemic, it wasn’t uncommon for me to see individuals walking around my neighborhood grocery store wearing disposable gloves. Fear fed this behavior. Customers would place …
Adalimumab? Brodalumab? Abrocitinib? Have you ever wondered: is there an easy way to remember not only what class each drug belongs to, but also how to pronounce these generic names? I must admit, I commonly slaughter the generic names of biologic drugs. I usually add a vowel, …
For millions of Americans, going to the dentist is something we do twice a year. However, ingestion or inhalation of dental instruments during procedures can have significant complications, such as damage to the GI tract, pneumonia, respiratory distress, sepsis, and even peritonitis. Obviously, much of the above …
Your time, your pace, your CME We’re getting ready to launch our 2023 series of CME Conferences – the first conference of the year will be in Savannah next month May 1-4 – and just like we’ve been doing for the past 10 years, we’ll provide top-level …
On-demand CME: At-home Learning for NPs, PAs and Physicians Read More »
Did you know that some of our conferences offer a dual-track option, so that you can attend live presentations in gorgeous, vacation destinations and still have access to recorded presentations for sessions you couldn’t attend live? Watch a session at the airport when you’re heading back home, or even …
Where We Began – The Biomedical Model For more than a century, the biomedical model — derived from Louis Pasteur’s germ theory of disease — has been the dominant force in Western medicine. Postulating that all disease is a product of a biologic defect (Conti, 2018). The …
Evolution of Pain Management – biomedical model → biopsychosocial model → teams’ model Read More »
EMS was called to the home of a 24-year-old female who was altered. She started acting “bizarre” and eventually became unresponsive, so her family called 911. The ambulance arrived and, per protocol for an altered level of consciousness patient, checked her blood sugar which they found to …
The world has been engulfed in the Covid pandemic: wearing mask, washing hands, social distancing, and getting vaccines. Instance rates have been openly discussed, posted on news headlines, and made its way in political agendas. All the while, a greater pandemic is silently existing year after year. …
Every year, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Updates the Standards of Care. There are also live updates throughout the year when there is cutting-edge, new research.I have had the great privilege of working on ADA’s Professional Practice Committee over the past 3 years. This is the incredible …
What’s new in the American Diabetes Association Standards of Care! Read More »
Have you ever tried to listen to a patient’s heart sounds, and you can’t hear a thing? No lub (S1), no dub (S2). This may occur for a variety of reasons (heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, chronic lung disease, and a large body habitus, to name …
National Heart Health In light of February being the month we celebrate Black History as well as National Heart Health, I would like to consider the women, pregnant women today. Each year, about 700 women in the U.S. die from pregnancy-related problems, and more than 50,000 women …
February: Black History and National Heart Health Month Read More »
Tattoos have challenged me in my work as a dermatology provider. Patients have often invested significant time and monies into this growing form of body art and are sometimes interested in my thoughts and reaction. As a result, I have avoided commenting and instead focus on a …
At Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts, we’ve made a name for ourselves as the top provider of CME with a twist: Our In-person CME Conferences are always in destination locations, allowing our attendees to earn CME while refreshing and relaxing! Cynthia Griffith, MPAS, PA-C, a frequent speaker covering …
Who’s ready for some football? Well, the season has almost come to an end. But, there is one big game that nearly all of America will be watching. Those who provide care to patients are concerned about the three most common injuries in American football. The three …
In 2016 the Centers for Disease Control heeded a call to action by publishing CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain — United States, 2016 (Dowell, et al., 2016). This document was created to provide a better framework for primary care providers to manage chronic pain …
Changes, updates, new words of wisdom, or words of folly? Read More »
When should we worry about a young patient who has a cough? Consider this case that could happen any primary care office or urgent care. A 36 year old female presents with dry cough for 3 days. She had some fatigue and was having a tough time …
Recently, I completed a trial in the office I have worked in for 21 years. It struck me how infrequently I assessed psoriasis (PsO) patients for psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Since we have had an electronic medical records (EMR) system since the mid-1990’s, I was able to head …
Screening Psoriasis Patients for Psoriatic Arthritis Read More »
A 2017 AMA survey of 200 physicians aged 35 and younger found that 92% rated work/life balance as a top priority, yet only 65% felt they’d achieved it. In 2022, CHG Healthcare surveyed 145 physicians who had been out of residency for two to three years and …
In my time as a Women’s health practitioner, I have found few things more frustrating for a patient (and the provider) than the development of sexual dysfunction after successful treatment of mental health disorders. It feels cruel to have to choose between our mental wellbeing and our …
Anorgasmia & Antidepressants: What to do with this catch 22 Read More »
Cardiovascular disease remains a significant cause of morbidity and the number one cause of mortality in the United States. Chest pain is one of the most common symptoms prompting patients to seek medical evaluation in primary care and the emergency department. The etiologies of chest pain range …
Key Updates from the ACC/AHA Evaluation & Diagnosis of Chest Pain Guidelines Read More »
It’s estimated that physicians spend an average of 16 minutes on electronic medical records (EMRs) for every patient, with a recent study revealing that all that time adds up to an average of 4.5 hours per day. Perhaps not surprisingly, the time spent on EMRs can be …
Charting patient cases: What works for clinicians Read More »
The American Medical Association’s (AMA) 2022 National Burnout Benchmarking report, which surveyed burnout, stress, and job satisfaction from January 2020 to December 2021, revealed that 72% of the 11,000 physician and health professional respondents were satisfied with their current job—a 4% decrease from pre-pandemic levels and a …
How successful clinicians reduce stress in the workplace Read More »
Did you know that a type of anti-depressant medication might help your patients with chronic pain as well? Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, or SNRIs for short, are a class of prescription strength medications that were originally created to treat depression and related ailments. They are effective for major depression, social …
Your first patient of the day ran late, and now your whole schedule got turned upside down. Another patient arrived with additional – and unexpected – cardiology issues to discuss. Or you got an emergency call from home that’s thrown you off track. No matter the reason, …
Writing the insulin prescription so the patient gets the formulary preference and doesn’t run out of insulin too soon is as important as helping them with the first injection. Of patients prescribed insulin, 25% never use or refill the prescription. About 62% of patients have interrupted and …
Insulin Initiation and Persistence: Prescriptions are often a Challenge Read More »
Psoriasis Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the skin that is increasingly being recognized as a systemic inflammatory disorder. There are many considerations a provider must take into consideration when treating patients with psoriasis including a number of previously unrecognized comorbidities. Psoriasis, particularly severe disease, …
Psoriasis: Part 2 of 2 Lesser known comorbidities associated with Psoriasis Read More »
Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the skin that is increasingly being recognized as a systemic inflammatory disorder. According to current studies, more than 8 million Americans have psoriasis. Men and women develop psoriasis at equal rates. You can develop psoriasis at any age. A …
Psoriasis: Part 1 of 2 Myriad of Clinical Presentations of this disease Read More »
Women’s health evidenced-based guidelines are updated frequently by various national organizations, and it can be challenging for a busy clinician to remain current. Women’s Health Guidelines include such topics as STIs, Contraception, Cervical Cancer Screening, Breast Cancer Screening and Osteoporosis Screening. In 2021 the CDC updated their …
2022 Women’s Health Guidelines Update, Hot Off the Press!  Read More »
Hypoglycemia definitions have been updated in the past few years. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), based on the international hypoglycemia study group have advised: The companies have co-pay cards for reducing out of pocket for PWD with …
Severe Hypoglycemia Treatment has Changed. Help People with Diabetes have a Safer Rescue Read More »
If you’re a nurse practitioner (NP), Physician Assistant (PA), or Physician looking to earn continuing medical education (CME) credits, you’ve come to the right place. Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts (SBHPP) is the fastest-growing, leading provider of comprehensive, evidence-based, affordable CME medical conferences. And, with all …
You need CME credits, but you have limited time and funding. Or, your learning style is better suited to a self-directed pace, in a quieter environment. Or maybe convenience is your love language, and online is, well, easiest. No matter your truth, we’ve got your back, because …
When Online is the Only Way: CME Live Stream & On-demand Read More »
You need continuing medical education (CME) credits, and you’ve carved out some time on your schedule. But now what? With so many options available, what makes the most sense for your needs? At Skin, Bones, Hearts & Private Parts (SBHPP), we get it. Some of us can’t …
Some of the most common fractures in the foot are to the proximal aspect of the 5th metatarsal.1 The approach to fractures in this region may be confusing and difficult to know how to manage. Depending on the exact location and fracture pattern, the prognosis and treatment …
Why do you think the concept of scheduling sex is so taboo to some? Well, first because sex itself is taboo. So inherently anything surrounding the idea of it falls under that taboo umbrella. Most of us don’t even like to talk about sex, let alone put …
Your patient with chronic heart failure had a 12-Lead EKG done as part of the initial evaluation to your clinic. You note the heart rate (80 beats/minute), rhythm (regular), and intervals (all within normal limits except for a wide QRS complex (> 120 ms). You remember the …
Approximately 50 million people in the United States have acne. Acne affects about 85% of teenagers. Though there is no mortality associated with acne, there is often significant physical and psychological morbidity, such as permanent scarring, poor self-image, depression, and anxiety. The direct cost of the disease …
In the United States approximately 34 million individuals have a diagnosis of diabetes with pre-diabetes impacting an estimated 88 million more1. At an annual cost of $327 billion dollars care related to diabetes accounts for one out of every four dollars spent on health care costs within …
Hyperglycemia – when does it become an emergency? Read More »
As we find ourselves migrating back to the workplace, I am frequently hearing from parents, teachers and otherwise highly-functioning adults who are reporting difficulties with focus, concentration, motivation and task completion. As clinicians, we have longstanding familiarity with the implications of Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), including impaired …
Practicing medicine in 2022 has certainly been challenging, especially given the recent global pandemic that forever changed the way we practice medicine. In addition to the challenges related to COVID-19, another hot topic that emerged was health care equity in relation to the way we, as health …
Documenting skin color in medicine: are we unconsciously racially profiling? Read More »
Heart Failure Heart failure remains a significant cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the United States. On April 1st 2022, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/Heart Failure Society of America released the “2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure” replacing the “2017 ACC/AHA/HFSA …
Hot Off the Press: 2022 Heart Failure Practice Guideline Update Read More »
What is platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP)? What is platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP)? Is PRP utilized in orthopedics? Why have world-class athletes like Rafael Nadal, Alex Rodriguez, and Tiger Woods used the treatment? PRP is considered a regenerative medicine technique. It is also considered an “orthobiologic” (along with …
Should I Try Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy for My Injury? Read More »
Understanding PCOS PCOS is common (affecting up to 10% of women), complex, and more severe than ever! Recent research has linked this condition of androgen excess to many potential risks and complications, including various cancers, cardiometabolic risks, mental health challenges, and ObGyn complications. Recent research has also …
Hyperglycemia In the United States, approximately 34 million individuals have diabetes, with prediabetes impacting an estimated 88 million more1. At an annual cost of $327 billion, care related to diabetes accounts for one out of every four dollars spent on health care costs within the US2. The …
Hyperglycemia – when does it become an emergency? Read More »
Atrial Fibrillation Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common supraventricular arrhythmia that increases in prevalence with age and significantly increases the risk of embolic stroke. Therefore, healthcare providers need to know current treatment options to prevent cardiovascular sequela associated with AF. But, first, the practicing clinician must identify …
Don’t skip a Beat When Managing Atrial Fibrillation Read More »
Hydrocodone & the Opioid Epidemic Hydrocodone is an opioid pain reliever and a cough suppressant, similar to codeine. Hydrocodone blocks the receptors on nerve cells in the brain that give rise to the sensation of pain. Because it is similar to codeine (and may be seen as …
Air Travel & Medical Aid With the pandemic beginning to wain in some areas, travel is on people’s minds again. While not at pre-COVID levels, air travel continues to increase as more people travel for business, pleasure, and medical tourism. Inevitably, nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants …
Anxious Depression I’ve often marveled at the human tendency to believe somehow that, at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, there will be some sudden and fundamental shift in the fabric of the universe. What I mean by that is – our hope and belief …
Unused Expired Medications If you’re reading this, your first thought is probably ‘why would I EVER throw away medications! I or someone in my family might need them again. It is tempting to “hoard” unused medications, but there are reasons to get rid of them. Today, I …
Serotonin Syndrome versus Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome With an estimated 1 in 6 individuals in the US taking at least one psychotropic medication, prescribers will need to be aware of the potential side effects ranging from mild to life-threatening. The most prescribed psychotropic medications are antidepressants, followed by …
Mental Health Challenges As 2021 ends, I find myself wondering what new clinical challenges the next year will bring. It is particularly true of mental health problems as our patients, and we face more uncertainty (and less consensus) in this pandemic era in which we find ourselves. …
A nursemaid’s elbow is a common name for a radial head subluxation. This injury has also been termed elbow subluxation, pulled elbow, or slipped elbow. All of these describe a sudden pull of a pronated arm leading to the displacement of the annular ligament.1 Who? How? Radial …
Psoriasis and your Patients These days, it seems that most of us can’t avoid seeing a TV ad for a psoriasis medication when watching our favorite shows. Most of these ads seem to promise “clear to near-clear skin” using these medications. Unfortunately, this promise follows many horrible …
How much uterine bleeding is too much uterine bleeding? How do people know when to seek treatment? At what point is it ok to tell a medical professional there is something wrong or to ask for treatment options? What about society might dictate the course of this …
