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Send us Fan Mail Healthcare providers spend their careers telling patients to prioritize their health, follow medical advice, and stop ignoring their symptoms. So why are we so terrible at taking our own advice? This week on Joint Effort PAs, we're talking about why healthcare professionals make some of the worst patients. From self-diagnosing and downplaying symptoms to avoiding appointments, working through injuries, and convincing ourselves we know better, we're unpacking the irony of being great at taking care of everyone except ourselves. We're also flipping the script: What's it like treating another healthcare provider? Does their medical knowledge make things easier, or does it create an awkward dynamic of second-guessing, overexplaining, and wondering who's actually in charge of the appointment? Whether you're the provider who hasn't seen a PCP in years or you've found yourself treating a colleague who already has their own diagnosis and treatment plan, this episode might hit a little too close to home.

Send us Fan Mail We hope everyone is still celebrating the last day of PA Week! In this episode of Joint Effort PAs, we're diving into the increasingly unrealistic expectations placed on healthcare providers and staff. From patients demanding special accommodations and free services to disrespectful behavior, entitlement, and the expectation of immediate access and convenience, we're talking about what happens when patient-centered care starts crossing professional boundaries. We discuss the difference between advocating for patients and enabling unreasonable demands, why going the extra mile can sometimes backfire, and how to navigate difficult encounters without compromising your professionalism, your team, or your own well-being. Because PAs already go beyond every single day—but going above and beyond shouldn't mean being walked all over. Let's talk about where compassion ends, boundaries begin, and why healthcare isn't just another customer service industry.

Send us Fan Mail This week on Joint Effort PAs, Hannah and Beth are breaking down the knee exam with practical tips, clinical pearls, and a few tricks to help you work smarter, not harder. From ligament testing and meniscal maneuvers to recognizing subtle findings and avoiding common pitfalls, we're talking about how to make your exam more efficient, accurate, and meaningful. Whether you're a new PA finding your footing or a seasoned ortho provider looking to sharpen your skills, this episode is packed with pearls you can put to use in clinic tomorrow.

Send us Fan Mail Having health insurance doesn't always mean having equal access to healthcare. This week, Hannah and Beth dive into the disparities in orthopedic care, exploring how insurance barriers can impact everything from surgical timeliness to postoperative rehabilitation. Are we truly providing the same standard of care to every patient, or does their insurance determine their path to recovery? When patients struggle to follow through with treatment--is it because the system setting them up to fail?

Send us Fan Mail This week, we’re joined by our friend and fellow PA, Kristina, to talk about building a career that doesn’t fit neatly into one box. From working full-time in psychiatry and picking up PRN shifts in orthopedic urgent care to navigating side hustles and ultimately launching her own direct-access practice, Kristina has created a career on her own terms. We talk about balancing multiple roles, finding opportunities outside of the traditional PA path, what it actually takes to start your own practice, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. Whether you’ve been thinking about a side hustle, adding a second job, starting something of your own—or you’re just curious how someone manages to do all of the above—this one is for you.

Send us Fan Mail This week, we’re breaking down the proposed changes surrounding Modifier 25 and what they could mean for PAs, physicians, and practices that routinely provide an E/M service and a procedure on the same day. We talk about what Modifier 25 actually means, why insurers are targeting it, how the proposed reimbursement cuts could affect the way we practice, and the bigger problem with continually asking healthcare providers to do more for less. Because apparently evaluating the problem, making a medical decision, and treating it in the same visit is just getting a little too efficient.

Send us Fan Mail What makes someone a “real” PA? 👀 After a recent story about someone allegedly creating a fake PA-student social media presence caught our attention, we started thinking about a much more uncomfortable question: what happens when someone has the very real degree and very real credentials—but maybe didn’t exactly master everything it took to get there? In this episode, we talk about the spectrum between outright pretending and simply doing whatever it takes to make it through school: cutting corners, relying heavily on classmates, memorizing just enough to pass, just skating through rotations, and ultimately graduating with the exact same letters after your name as everyone else.  This isn’t about calling out our colleagues or deciding who “deserves” their PA-C. Every profession has stronger and weaker clinicians, and struggling in school doesn’t automatically predict the provider someone becomes. It’s a conversation about what those credentials actually mean—and why earning them might be the end of PA school, but it definitely isn’t the end of proving yourself as a clinician. Because at the end of the day, the diploma may say 100% real PA-C… but becoming a REAL GOOD one takes a whole lot more. 🦴🎓💗

Send us Fan Mail Are you a great problem solver… or have you accidentally trained everyone around you to let you solve everything? This week, we’re talking about the fine line between being helpful and becoming the person who catches every dropped ball. When you’re competent, proactive, and maybe just a little controlling, it’s easy to step in, fix the problem, and keep things moving. But eventually, being everyone’s safety net can leave you overwhelmed while preventing the people—and the system—around you from ever getting better. We talk about enabling, the need for control, why capable people tend to accumulate more work, and the uncomfortable reality that sometimes good leadership means letting someone struggle instead of immediately rescuing them. How do you know when to step in and when to step back? When is helping actually hurting? How do you let something fail without letting the whole team go down with it? And can you relinquish control without feeling like you’re being lazy, selfish, or a bad teammate? Sometimes being the best problem solver in the room means realizing not every problem is yours to solve. 🦈 At some point, you have to let people sink or learn how to swim.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Joint Effort PAs, we're having The Surgical Discussion: how we talk with patients about whether surgery is—or isn't—the right next step. We break down how we explain indications, risks vs. benefits, expected outcomes, recovery, and what happens when things don't go according to plan. We also talk about complications, managing expectations, when a second opinion makes sense, and why recommending against surgery can sometimes be just as important as recommending it.

Send us Fan Mail We’re back for Part 2 of “Am I in the Right Specialty?” — because apparently choosing a career based on vibes, caffeine tolerance, and how personally offended you get by a clinic running 45 minutes behind is completely reasonable. This week, we finish our throwback magazine-style specialty quiz and find out where your PA personality really belongs. More questions, more questionable logic, and more opportunities to realize that your specialty may have chosen you long before you chose it. Grab a pen, keep track of your answers, and play along with us. Your specialty fate awaits.

Send us Fan Mail Ever wonder if you picked the right corner of medicine—or if you’ve just been in too deep for too long? Is your soul longing for an unmatched specialty?  We think there should be a quiz a la pre teen magazine that matches you to your perfect fit Play along and see if your current specialty is actually your perfect match… or if it’s time to reconsider everything. We broke this episode into two parts so come back next week for the rest!

Send us Fan Mail One year. Fifty-plus episodes. Countless laughs, hot takes, clinical pearls, and a community we never imagined we'd build. In this special anniversary episode, we're taking a step back to celebrate one year of Joint Effort PAs. We reflect on why we started the podcast, what we've learned along the way, some of our favorite moments, and how the show has evolved over the past year. From recording our very first episode to connecting with listeners across the country, this journey has been more meaningful than we ever expected. We're also sharing what's next for Joint Effort PAs—the ideas we're excited about, where we hope to grow, and our vision for the future of the podcast and our profession. Whether you've been with us since Episode 1 or you're just joining the conversation, thank you for being part of this community. Here's to one incredible year...and to whatever comes next. 🥂 Happy 1st Anniversary, Joint Effort PAs!  💜🦴🎙️

Send us Fan Mail From evaluating mysterious rashes at family cookouts to examining swollen fingers at weddings, removing fishhooks on vacation, or answering texts that begin with "I know you're off, but...", the curbside consult is practically a rite of passage in medicine. In this episode, we're sharing our funniest, most awkward, and most memorable off-the-clock consults—including the times we've found ourselves giving medical advice in grocery stores, restaurants, and living rooms. We'll also talk about where to draw the line and how to navigate those situations without damaging relationships (or your sanity). Whether you're an orthopedic PA, another healthcare professional, or just someone who's ever cornered a medical friend with a health question, this episode is relatable.

Send us Fan Mail Steroid injections are one of the most common procedures in orthopedic practice—but they're also surrounded by myths, misconceptions, and a lot of patient questions. In this episode, we're breaking down all of it. We tackle the questions patients ask every day, from "Will this hurt?" and "How long will it last?" to "How many injections can I get?" and "Will it damage my cartilage?" Along the way, we discuss: How steroid injections actually workWhen they're appropriate—and when they're notCommon side effects and how to counsel patientsCortisone flares, skin changes, and effects on blood sugarTiming injections around surgeryUltrasound-guided vs. landmark-guided injectionsTips for setting realistic patient expectationsCommon myths we hear in clinic (and whether they're fact or fiction)Whether you're a new orthopedic PA, a seasoned clinician looking to sharpen your patient education, or simply someone curious about corticosteroid injections, this episode is packed with practical pearls you can use in clinic the very next day. Join us as we separate fact from fiction, answer the questions patients are thinking—but don't always ask—and help you become more confident when it's time to say, "Okay, little pinch!"

Send us Fan Mail Every week as orthopedic PAs, we're faced with decisions that don't have a perfect answer. Some are serious, some are fun, all are things we've encountered. From ethical dilemmas and clinic management challenges to difficult patient interactions, career decisions, orthopedic hot takes, and some of our biggest pet peeves, nothing is off the table. There isn't always one "correct" answer—but there is always something to learn from hearing both sides. If you've ever had something crazy happen and thought What would Beth/Hannah Do? Hopefully this answers it!