Commentary and Observations from
the Medical Front Lines
Sign up to receive posts from The Exchange
CATEGORIES
Latest Miscellaneous Articles on PCE's The Exchange
Bringing Awareness to Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
Posted By: 
Lakshi M. Aldredge, MSN, ANP-BC, DCNP
November 10, 2020
Social media has revolutionized the way that humans see themselves. Thanks to filters and Photoshop, we can create and post the perfect image of ourselves, correcting the various flaws that we perceive. Unfortunately, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a very real disorder for 2% to 4% of adolescents, 3% of young adults, and 2% to 3% of older adults.
BDD is described as a preoccupation with nonexistent or slight defects in physical appearance, leading to the perception that one is una... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Psychiatry
Climate Change and Health: Let’s Take a Stand to Save Lives!
Posted By: 
Mary Knudtson, DNSc, NP, FAAN
September 11, 2020
Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agree that climate change has a significant negative effect... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Public Health
Sunscreen Updates
Posted By: Lakshi M. Aldredge, MSN, ANP-BC, DCNP
August 11, 2020
Everyone knows they should protect their skin from the harmful effects of UVA and UVB exposure. The proper way to do so, however, has been the subject of muc... Continue Reading
Filed under: Dermatology, Miscellaneous
Acute Versus Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia
Posted By: 
Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
June 09, 2020
Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI), also commonly called bowel or intestinal ischemia, refers to inadequate blood flow to the small intestine (arterial or venou... Continue Reading
Filed under: Gastroenterology, Miscellaneous
National Nurses Week May 6-12: Let’s Not Forget Where It Started
Posted By: 
Debra A. Danforth, DNP, APRN
May 08, 2020
Two hundred years ago, on May 12th, Florence Nightingale was born—it is now a day when we celebrate nurses around the world. Did you know that... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, NPs & PAs
Throat Abscess Differentiation
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
April 28, 2020
Deep neck space infections are frequently seen in medical clinics and EDs despite the advent of antibiotics. They most commonly arise from a septic focus of... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous
Silver Linings
Posted By: 
Heather M. Hylton, MS, PA-C
April 10, 2020
In the wake of the fear, confusion, and devastation propagated by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are realizing the world as we have known it will forever be a cha... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous
Global Commitment and Pandemic Prevention
Posted By: Heather M. Hylton, MS, PA-C
April 07, 2020
Several years ago, I was fortunate to hike in the Zambia bush where I was accompanied by a naturalist who spoke of the many issues related to wildlife trade... Continue Reading
Filed under: Infectious Diseases, Miscellaneous, Public Health
Intermittent Fasting: Is it Hype or Is There Science Behind It?
Posted By: Mary Knudtson, DNSc, NP, FAAN
March 10, 2020
Intermittent fasting (IF) is a form of time-restricted fasting that involves consuming foods during a specific time window and fasting for the remaining hour... Continue Reading
Filed under: Health Policy and Trends, Miscellaneous
Consent for Invasive Exams While Under Anesthesia?
Posted By: Mary Knudtson, DNSc, NP, FAAN
March 06, 2020
There was an interesting article in the New York Times called "She Didn't Want a Pelvic Exam. She Received One Anyway. Continue Reading
Filed under: Health Policy and Trends, Miscellaneous
Loretta C. Ford Turns 99
Posted By: Debra A. Danforth, DNP, APRN
January 14, 2020
On December 28, 2019, Dr Loretta C. Ford, co-founder of the first nurse practitioner program, turned 99. Loretta is known to her friends as "Lee,... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, NPs & PAs
Raynaud’s Phenomenon: A Common Sense Approach to Diagnosis and Management
Posted By: 
Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS
December 27, 2019
Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is all too common in New England during the colder months of the year. In October, we often see patients return who ha... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Rheumatology
Can High-dose Vitamin D Prevent Functional Decline in Our Older Population?
Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS
December 24, 2019
Lower extremity functional decline in our elderly population is a major risk factor for falls, hip fracture, frailty, and loss of autonomy. As the baby boome... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Orthopedics, Preventive Medicine
Intermittent Fasting
Posted By: 
Susan M. Tiso, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
December 20, 2019
If you think about how humans have been eating for centuries, it has likely included some "natural" intermittent fasting. For examp... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Miscellaneous, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
Circadian Rhythms and Metabolic Syndrome
Posted By: Susan M. Tiso, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
December 17, 2019
As researchers explore the complex relationship of circadian rhythm and metabolic syndrome, they are searching for root causes and best treatment approaches Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Miscellaneous, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
The Continued Study of an Old Drug: Aspirin
Posted By: 
Daniel Thibodeau, MHP, PA-C
December 13, 2019
It started out by taking extract from the willow tree and using it as a medicinal agent well over 150 years ago. Today, this extract, now transformed into ac... Continue Reading
Filed under: Cardiometabolic, Miscellaneous
Older Driver Safety Awareness Week
Posted By: Debra A. Danforth, DNP, APRN
December 06, 2019
December 2-6, 2019 is Older Driver Safety Awareness Week. This week aims to promote public understanding of the importance of mobility and transportation in... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous
Can Robots Read Your CT Scan?
Posted By: 
Beth Sandy, MSN, CRNP
October 30, 2019
At a plenary session of the World Conference on Lung Cancer in September, 2019, in Barcelona, Spain, Hugo Aerts, PhD presented fascinating data on the use of... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Oncology/Hematology
An Updated Cochrane Review: Can Exercise Reduce Falls in Our Elderly Population? Which Exercises Show Proof?
Posted By: Richard S. Pope, PA-C, MPAS
October 22, 2019
We all know how devastating falls can be in our older patients. I send many to physical therapy specifically for fall prevention. Most have osteoporosis, an... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Orthopedics
The “HINTS” Examination in Vertigo
Posted By: Ben Taylor, PA-C, PhD, DFAAPA
October 15, 2019
Vertigo is a symptom, not a diagnosis. It presents a unique problem for many clinicians because it is symptomatic of a plethora of diagnoses, ranging from be... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Neurology
FDA Approves First Oral GLP-1 RA
Posted By: 
Lawrence Herman, PA-C, MPA
October 08, 2019
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved semaglutide (Rybelsus, Novo Nordisk) as the first oral glucagon-like peptide receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA)&mda... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous
What’s the Best Way to Stay Hydrated?
Posted By: Susan M. Tiso, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
September 17, 2019
I see patients with acute illnesses in urgent care every week, and many have fever and anorexia, and are a bit dehydrated. As part of the management plan, I... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Public Health
Managing Multiple Generations in Your Workplace
Posted By: Debra A. Danforth, DNP, APRN
September 13, 2019
/*styles for graphic info (hed, subhed, source, credit)*/ .rg-container { font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-h... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous
An Interesting Wrinkle in the Hahnemann University Hospital Bankruptcy
Posted By: 
Lawrence Herman, MPA, PA-C
August 02, 2019
Hahnemann University Hospital has been an institution in downtown Philadelphia, seemingly forever. The level I trauma center, medical training facility, and... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous
Beat the Heat
Posted By: Debra A. Danforth, DNP, APRN
July 05, 2019
Your body may be unable to cool itself in hot temperatures, which could lead to a heat stroke or heat exhaustion. This is very common in the summer months. H... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous
Firework Safety Tips
Posted By: Debra A. Danforth, DNP, APRN
July 02, 2019
Happy Canada Day (July 1) and Happy 4th of July to all the NPs and PAs! According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous
National Stop the Bleed Month
Posted By: Debra A. Danforth, DNP, APRN
May 17, 2019
Did you know that May 2019 is the first-ever National Stop the Bleed Month? Also, May 23 is the second annual Stop the Bleed® Day. So what is “... Continue Reading
Filed under: Health Policy and Trends, Miscellaneous, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
It’s a Digital World: Screen Time Recommendations for Children
Posted By: Susan M. Tiso, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
May 03, 2019
We definitely live in a different day and age than when I was a child… As children, my siblings and I just opened the door and went outside to play all day... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous, Preventive Medicine, Public Health
The History of Simulation
Posted By: Debra A. Danforth, DNP, APRN
March 26, 2019
As director of a simulation center at an academic institution, it has been exciting to see the remarkable advances made in this field over time. The u... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous
Who Should Step Up to Help in an In-flight Medical Emergency?
Posted By: Lawrence Herman, MPA, PA-C
January 25, 2019
Recently I got an email from Medscape that detailed three articles, and one piqued my curiosity: “Who Should Step Up to Help in an In-flight Medical Emerge... Continue Reading
Filed under: Miscellaneous