#Family Medicine

[appalachiananarchist]

Actual letter I received after a patient's migraine rescue med got denied:

We have denied the request for Sumatriptan for the following reasons: patient has failed to try the preferred alternatives: 1. Sumatriptan 2. Rizatriptan

One of these days I am going to make headlines as a clearly documented case of spontaneous combustion when the anger boiling inside me explodes, exploding me with it. At least on that day I won't have to deal with insurance companies anymore.

Another gem from this week: I sent a lady with suspected acute ischemia of the limb to the hospital where she had a CTA done. Insurance wanted to deny it all because I "did not do an ABI" before sending her. Because, you know, when someone's leg is purple and cold with no palpable pulse, you should definitely delay hospitalization to do some ABI testing to confirm there's a problem.

[heardatmedschool]

“This is Gynecology, not Family Medicine. We are not happy here.”

[wayfaringmd]

“Shouldn’t my insurance pay for it if you ordered it?”- patient exasperated about the cost of a necessary but uncovered test. Welcome to America, where insurers without medical training determine what service is medically necessary.

[eirianerisdar]

The department’s chief doctor wants to call you, the secretary says. How about 12:45 pm, she says.

…12:45 pm is 15 minutes before the end of morning clinic session, which means in order to answer his phone call I either have to see each patient in 5 minutes instead of 6 or ask my last three patients to wait past clinic time

I call them at 12:30 telling them I have six patients left and could the boss please call me at 1pm instead

They have now rescheduled to 4:45 pm so I have the privilege of seeing my 29 afternoon session patients not in 3 hours but in 2hrs 45 mins instead which comes out to an even 5.5 mins per person

Because God forbid the boss not leave for his lunch hour on time

[justinesattendingadventures]

I survived residency!

Yes I still have 7 days left...

But I have now officially graduated!

[dxmedstudent]

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A post shared by Dr. Glaucomflecken (@docglauc)

[atmedicine]

Im having such decision paralysis that I haven't started applying for jobs yet and it's now officially terrifying. I'm terrified.

[trishmishtree]

The funniest part of doing my KSA modules (to keep my board certification) is getting to see a bunch of other random doctors complaining in the comments of each question about how dumb or unfair a question is

There was one question asking us to calculate a positive likelihood ratio and the comments were full of people complaining about how clinically irrelevant the question is

Every time I see a question with like 10+ comments under it, I know it's going to be a doozy that everybody got wrong and is salty about

One dude is so sick of this question set that he's just started leaving sad face emojis in the comments

Pretty much every question has comments under it that are either "the test writers are in the pocket of big pharma, always pushing to start drugs!!!" or "your question is bad and you should feel bad," with the occasional "your question is out of date, they updated the guidelines in 2022"

Every time I get one wrong after multiple tries, I can always count on the slew of angry doctors in the comments airing their grievances and know that the problem is the question, not me 😂

Oh boy, you know they're gonna tear this question a new one

[amarcare]

Expert Family & Elderly Care Specialist for Your Loved Ones

Caring for our family members is a responsibility that we hold dear to our hearts. When it comes to the well-being and comfort of our loved ones, we want nothing but the best. That's where an Expert Family & Elderly Care Specialist comes in.

At Amar Care, we understand the unique needs and challenges faced by families and older adults. Our highly trained and experienced specialist is dedicated to providing exceptional care for your loved ones, ensuring their happiness, health, and overall quality of life.

What sets our Specialist apart is their deep understanding of the intricacies involved in family and elderly care. They approach each individual with compassion, respect, and empathy, recognizing that each person has their own set of needs and preferences. With a personalized approach, our Specialist works closely with families to develop tailored care plans that address the specific requirements of their loved ones.

[appalachiananarchist]

Funny clinic story: I had a lady come in to establish care. She moved here from somewhere out west. She had COPD from smoking. She was distraught that "some doctors don't treat a lot of COPD and don't know how to do it well." She asked me over and over again if I was familiar with COPD management.

Sweet child. You are in central Appalachia now. Welcome. We have one functional communal lung between all of us, and it is damaged, too. I learned how to manage COPD before I learned how to take a medical history.

[heardatmedschool]

“For new doctors, domestic violence should be like appendicitis. You are not the one that will solve the problem, but you have to suspect and also help contain the fire in the meantime.”

[wayfaringmd]

She’s fine, she’s just psychotic. Sometimes people are just psychotic and you have to deal with it.

- local psychiatrist

[eirianerisdar]

Nothing like breaking down sobbing in front of the associate consultant today telling her why I had to take two seperate sick days last month because the patient load is wearing me out

I told her I can't see patients the way I want to if we have to see a new patient for 2-3 complaints every five minutes, eight hours a day with a short lunch in the middle. Working 5.5 days a week

Her response was to tell me "Hey don't go into too much detail with some patients who don't want to listen to you."

Which, I mean, fair enough, but it doesn't change how the doctor-patient consultation model was modeled after a minimum 20-minute consultation and I get five

I mean she did say that I managed to address a lot of patients' concerns within those five minutes so patients are usually very grateful to me but it's a cold comfort when she essentially is saying if you don't want to burn out you have to care less about certain patients

If doctors seem in a hurry sometimes this is one of the reasons

[justinesattendingadventures]

I Have a Job!

I'm now realizing that this little medblr has been severely neglected during residency, but I'd rather neglect a blog than my mental health I guess. But hey I have a job! I'll be working at a private practice starting in September, doing family medicine (including pediatrics and gynecology), procedures, osteopathic medicine, and gender affirming care. I think it's a good fit for me and I like the idea of a salary rather than RVU based payment. I don't ever want to slip into thinking of my patients as money.

[premiermedical01]

FDA Approves New Option for Uncomplicated UTIs in Women

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections affecting women, with millions of cases occurring each year. For years, treatment options have remained largely the same, relying on antibiotics that, while effective, contribute to rising concerns about antibiotic resistance. However, there’s exciting news on this front—the FDA has approved a new treatment option for uncomplicated UTIs in women, offering hope for better management and reduced resistance risks.

Why This Approval Matters

For women who frequently experience UTIs, treatment can often feel frustrating and repetitive. Many standard antibiotics are still effective but come with the growing concern of bacterial resistance. The newly approved treatment provides an alternative that is not only effective but also addresses the need for simpler, more targeted therapy.

What is an Uncomplicated UTI?

An uncomplicated UTI is an infection that occurs in an otherwise healthy individual with a normal urinary tract structure and function. These infections are most commonly caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) and can result in symptoms such as:

Burning sensation during urination

Frequent urge to urinate

Cloudy or strong-smelling urine

Lower abdominal discomfort

While uncomplicated UTIs can often be resolved with a short course of antibiotics, repeated infections and limited treatment options have created a need for new solutions.

What’s New in UTI Treatment?

With the FDA’s approval of this new option, women now have access to a novel treatment that is designed to be more effective against common UTI-causing bacteria while reducing the impact on beneficial gut flora. Unlike broad-spectrum antibiotics, which can disrupt the body’s microbiome, this treatment is more targeted, potentially leading to fewer side effects and a lower risk of resistance.

Potential Benefits of the New UTI Treatment

More Effective – Works well against drug-resistant E. coli strains. Faster Relief – Shorter treatment courses mean quicker symptom resolution. Fewer Side Effects – Designed to minimize gastrointestinal discomfort and microbiome disruption. Reduced Resistance Risk – Helps combat the growing issue of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

What This Means for the Future

The approval of this new treatment is a major step forward in UTI care. As antibiotic resistance continues to be a global health concern, having alternative therapies that are safe, effective, and less likely to contribute to resistance is crucial. For women who experience frequent UTIs, this could mean better outcomes and fewer recurrences.

Final Thoughts

If you or someone you know struggles with recurring UTIs, this new FDA-approved option could be a game-changer. As it becomes more widely available, it may soon become a go-to choice for uncomplicated UTI treatment, making life a little easier for millions of women.

Learn More:

FDA Approves New Option for Uncomplicated UTIs in Women