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Primary Care Update

Primary Care Update

Mark Ebell 211 Episodes Aug 11, 2026

Four healthily skeptical primary care physicians discuss the latest in primary care medicine. Essential Evidence Editor Mark Ebell MD, Rush University's Kate Rowland MD, MSU Professor of Medicine Gary Ferenchick MD, and POEMs co-founder Henry Barry MD, MS provide a fast-paced weekly update on evidence-based primary care.

Episodes

Episode 213: dementia risk factors, COVID-19 vaccines, and shoulder MRIs
Episode 213: dementia risk factors, COVID-19 vaccines, and shoulder MRIs Aug 11, 2026 00:26:31 This week, Kate, Gary and Mark discuss 3 new studies: whether we can do anything about modifiable risk factors for dementia, whether COVID-19 vaccines are still useful, and how to interpret abnormal shoulder MRIs.
Episode 212: preventing multimorbidity, high dose vit D, skin cancer screening, and withdrawing a GLP-1
Episode 212: preventing multimorbidity, high dose vit D, skin cancer screening, and withdrawing a GLP-1 Aug 3, 2026 00:30:26 Primary care docs Kate Rowland, Mark Ebell, Henry Barry and Gary Ferenchick talk about 4 new studies: prevention of multimorbidity in people at high risk of diabetes, high-dose vitamin D in healthy older adults, whether screening for skin cancer reduces melanoma mortality, and tirzepatide withdrawal and weight maintenance .
Episode 211: semaglutide for AUD, preventing post-vax syncope, PCR panel for RTI, fluvoxamine for long-COVID
Episode 211: semaglutide for AUD, preventing post-vax syncope, PCR panel for RTI, fluvoxamine for long-COVID Jul 15, 2026 00:34:12 Join primary care professors Mark Ebell, Kate Rowland, Gary Ferenchick and Henry Barry as they discuss 4 new studies: semaglutide for alcohol use disorder, a vibrating cool pack to prevent post vaccination syncope, PCR for 23 respiratory pathogens in primary care to reduce antibiotic use, and fluvoxamine for Long-COVID Fatigue.LinksSemaglutide for AUD: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42070571/Vibr
Episode 210: screen time, stopping levothyroxine, new mRNA flu vaccine, and NAS supplements.
Episode 210: screen time, stopping levothyroxine, new mRNA flu vaccine, and NAS supplements. Jul 2, 2026 00:36:37 This week primary care physicians Kate Rowland, Mark Ebell, Gary Ferenchick and Henry Barry discuss four new studies: screentime for children, discontinuing levothyroxine, a new mRNA flu vaccine from Moderna, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) Supplementation for healthy aging.Links to articles:AAP screen time policyDiscontinuing levothyroxine studymRNA flu vaccine from ModernaNAD supplem
Episode 209: cocoa, best UTI antibiotic, LAA closure for AF, and evolocumab for primary (sort of) prevention
Episode 209: cocoa, best UTI antibiotic, LAA closure for AF, and evolocumab for primary (sort of) prevention Jun 18, 2026 00:38:30 Primary care docs Mark Ebell, Kate Rowland, Henry Barry and Gary Ferenchick tackle 4 new studies: health benefits of cocoa supplements, the best antibiotic for managing uncomplicated UTIs in women, left atrial appendage closure for AF with high bleeding or stroke risk, and evolocumab for primary (sort-of) prevention of MACE in patients with diabetes.Essential Evidence Plus: www.essentialevidencepl
Episode 208: drinks with diabetes, new Paxlovid trial, antiplatelet agents in stroke, and dietary advice from the AHA
Episode 208: drinks with diabetes, new Paxlovid trial, antiplatelet agents in stroke, and dietary advice from the AHA Jun 2, 2026 00:32:06 This week, primary care doctors Mark Ebell, Kate Rowland, Henry Barry and Gary Ferenchick discuss four new studies: whether water is better than diet drinks in diabetes, a new RCT of Paxlovid for COVID in contemporary patients, to switch or not to switch antiplatelet agents after a stroke, and the latest AHA 2026 dietary advice for heart health.Drinks for diabetes: ttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4
Episode 207: AI, singing for post-partum depression, and new AHA lipid guidelines
Episode 207: AI, singing for post-partum depression, and new AHA lipid guidelines May 20, 2026 00:38:19 This week Kate, Mark and Henry talk about empathetic robots, mother-baby singing groups for postpartum depression, and new American College of Cardiology lipid guidelines.Indiana AFP POEMs course in French Link: https://www.iafp.org/2026ac Empathetic robots: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41359230/ Weekly singing groups for postpartum depression: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41087020/ACC/AHA/e
Episode 206: biomarkers for dementia, toileting, bleeding risk, and diagnosing volume overload.
Episode 206: biomarkers for dementia, toileting, bleeding risk, and diagnosing volume overload. May 6, 2026 00:30:21 Join primary care faculty Gary Ferenchick, Kate Rowland, Henry Barry and Mark Ebell as they discuss 4 important new studies: the value (?) Of biomarkers in cognitive impairment, toilet training, bleeding risk with apixaban versus rivaroxaban for VTE, and diagnosing volume overload in adults  from the JAMA Rational Clinical Exam series.
Episode 205: inhaled steroid dose, titrating GLP-1s, zoster vaccine and dementia, and trusting AI
Episode 205: inhaled steroid dose, titrating GLP-1s, zoster vaccine and dementia, and trusting AI Apr 29, 2026 00:36:32 This week, primary care doctors Kate, Gary, Mark and Henry discuss high vs low dose inhaled steroids for high risk patients with asthma, click based semaglutide titration to reduce GI problems, zoster vaccine and dementia risk, and whether we are trusting AI too much.  
Episode 204: lowering triglycerides, cannabinoids for pain, managing AF + stent, and lower LDL targets for CAD
Episode 204: lowering triglycerides, cannabinoids for pain, managing AF + stent, and lower LDL targets for CAD Apr 14, 2026 00:34:29 This week primary care physicians Kate Rowland, Mark Ebell, Gary Ferenchick and Henry Barry tackle 4 new POEM-worthy studies: new therapy for elevated triglycerides, cannabinoids for chronic pain in adults, the best antithrombotic for patients with AF + drug eluting cardiac stent, and lower versus standard LDL targets for patients with heart diseaseEssential Evidence Plus: https://www.essentialevi
Episode 203: melatonin for dementia, new PE guidelies, inhaled steroids for asthma
Episode 203: melatonin for dementia, new PE guidelies, inhaled steroids for asthma Apr 5, 2026 00:28:54 This week, primary care physicians Henry Barry, Gary Ferenchick and Mark Ebell discuss several new studies: melatonin for older adults with cognitive impairment, new pulmonary embolism guidelines, and inhaled corticosteroid dosing for children and adults with asthma. Kate has the week off.
Episode 202: Repatha for prevention, baby lotions to prevent eczema, opioids for kid pain, and treatment of appendicitis
Episode 202: Repatha for prevention, baby lotions to prevent eczema, opioids for kid pain, and treatment of appendicitis Mar 18, 2026 00:34:16 This week, primary care docs Mark, Kate, Henry and Gary discuss skin lotions to prevent eczema, adding an opioid to ibuprofen for kids with acute injuries, evolocumab (Repatha) for very high risk persons, and 10 year follow-up of antibiotics vs surgery for uncomplicated appendicitis.

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