Home of Medicine with Dr Amie Burbridge and Dr Ben Lovell

Navigating Challenging Conversations in Medicine

We’re back for the second episode of Season 3! In this episode of Home of Medicine, Ben and I explore how to handle tough conversations in healthcare. 
 
Reflecting on navigating challenging consultations, Ben walks us through a case of fatigue: What happens when your patient doesn’t want to go home? 

What can you do if they insist on admission? 

Ben explains the HALT Criteria, and, as ever, Amie never stops learning with Ben.

You'll also hear practical strategi...

New year, new season!

We are back with some great episodes for 2025. 

In this episode we reflect on a case of shoulder pain and how this has impacted the way that I practice every day. 

Ben has a light bulb moment!

Get in touch a.burbridge@nhs.net or find us on Linkedin/Bluesky

In this episode Ben and I delve into fluid assessments during the acute take and how to manage hyponatraemia. 

We reflect on how to manage an ED admission with incidental finding of a low sodium level.  

How would you manage this? Did we do things right or wrong? Would you have done anything differently?

For more clinical reasoning; https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php

Get in touch at a.burbridge@nhs.net

@amieburbridge @DrBenLovell

It's the middle of the night and a patient presents with seizures. 

What would you do and what could be causing this? Ben and I are baffled, can you figure out what is going on?........

For more clinical reasoning; https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php

Get in touch at a.burbridge@nhs.net

Ben and I go back to our roots and discuss a patient who presented with a headache to the Same Day Emergency Care unit. Things aren't always as they seem.  Can you guess what is going on before Ben?

We discuss how bias affects our decision making, especially when we are tired. 

For more clinical reasoning; https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php

Get in touch at a.burbridge@nhs.net

Ben and I reflect on the complexities of a case of lethargy and Immunotherapy. 

We discuss the importance of cross-speciality working and how we can learn so much from each other at work. 

** I mistakenly say metastatic multiple melanoma, instead of metastatic melanoma at the beginning of the episode, apologies **

For more clinical reasoning; https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php

Get in touch at a.burbridge@nhs.net

Ben and I discuss shortness of breath, and I completely miss the diagnosis. 

Can you figure out what is going on?

I resort to AI to help .......



For more clinical reasoning; https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php

Get in touch at a.burbridge@nhs.net

Find us on X @amieburbridge @DrBenLovell

In this episode we discuss cranial nerve palsies and I once again face my fear of neurology.  We reflect on what imaging is best at the front door. 

Ben is quoting Steps lyrics yet again; 5,6,7,8 .............

For more clinical reasoning; https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php

Get in touch at a.burbridge@nhs.net

Find us on X @amieburbridge @DrBenLovell

@amieburbridge @DrBenLovell

In this episode Ben and I discuss tiredness and its many possible causes. 

We reflect on the power of a mentor and the positive, lasting effect they can have on a career. 

For more clinical reasoning; https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php

Get in touch at a.burbridge@nhs.net

Find us on X @amieburbridge @DrBenLovell

In this bitesize episode Ben and I are back and we discuss our favourite medical mnemonics. A great way to revise and recap on common medical conditions.

Please rate, review and share

Head to https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php for more learning 

Follow us on Twitter 
@amieburbridge
@DrBenLovell

Ben and I are  back with another case of foot drop, yet with a very different history and diagnosis. 

Ben tests my neurology skills (again), and I flounder (again). 

We reflect on diagnostic momentum and confirmation bias and how this may affect a patient's journey in hospital. 

Please rate, review and share the podcast. 

Contact us at;  a.burbridge@nhs.net

For more clinical reasoning check out https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php

We are back with a very challenging case of a headache and I, for once, am completely lost for words. Ben is officially a genius in my eyes.

Ben resorts to quoting Steps lyrics! 

Coming soon - Home of Medicine YouTube Channel - Watch this space!

Follow us on X @amieburbridge @DrBenLovell

For more clinical reasoning based education take a look at https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php

Contact me at a.burbridge@nhs.net or Homeofmedicine999@gmail.com

In this bite size episode Ben and I discuss reverse ward rounds and how they can be beneficial as a training tool. 

We also reflect on peer review and maybe this is something we should all be doing?.

Get in touch;  a.burbridge@nhs.net

In this captivating episode, Ben and I are back discussing bilateral leg pain.

We reflect on the importance of taking a break at work for prevention of exhaustion, rather than waiting until exhaustion sets in and how a well timed break can improve clinical decision making.

Contact us at;  a.burbridge@nhs.net

In this first ever bitesize episode Ben and I discuss the art of giving feedback during a busy day at work and we reflect on how small changes at work can lead to bigger changes.

Contact me at a.burbridge@nhs.net

Please rate, review and share this podcast.

In this episode join Ben and I as we discuss a case urinary retention in pregnancy. We explore possible causes and reflect on what to do when we don't know what to do. 

We reflect on acknowledging the limitations of our competencies and knowledge. 

For more clinical reasoning head to  https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php

Get in touch; a.burbridge@nhs.net

In this episode Ben and I discuss a patient I first saw last year, and we reflect on what happened next. 

We discuss kindness, openness and honesty and we encourage everyone to take a mid ward round coffee break to help develop team work and wellbeing. 

Please rate, review and share this podcast

For more learning check out https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php

Contact us at;
a.burbridge@nhs.net
Tweet @amieburbridge @DrBenLovell

This episode is a repost of season 2, episode 7, in which Ben and I discuss a case I saw over a busy weekend.  

In the next episode we will release an update of the case, as we consider the final diagnosis. 

Please rate, review and share!



a.burbridge@nhs.net

We are back to discuss a case of foot drop and I reflect on my self confessed neurophobia. 

Ben and I share our thoughts about investigations in the acute setting. 

Subscribe, share and join us as we unravel the mystery of the sudden foot drop. 

Visit https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php for interactive e-learning modules to develop your clinical reasoning. 


Contact me on a.burbridge@nhs.net 

Join Ben and I as we discuss causes of delirium and get stumped by blood gases. 

For more clinical reasoning visit https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php

Welcome to the latest episode as Ben and I navigate fever of unknown origin. 

We discuss the impact of the prior diagnoses on clinical reasoning and how diagnostic momentum can have a big influence at work. 

For more learning check out https://www.efimacademy.org

Join Ben and I as we discuss headaches, decision fatigue and recency bias.

We reflect on the importance of reflection and how it's OK not to be OK.

For more learning;

Check out Ben's book "Eureka: Clinical Skills, Diagnostics and Reasoning".

Visit www.efimacademy.org for further interactive e-modules.

The EFIM Academy aims to develop your clinical reasoning by working through real life cases. Happy learning!

Join us for another fantastic episode, as Ben and I discuss 'the swollen leg'. 

We navigate a challenging case with the usual discussion of decision making and how it can be affected by where you see a patient. 

Whether you're a health professional or simply curious, this episode promises to be both informative and entertaining. Don't miss as we unravel the mysteries of swollen legs together!

In this episode I am joined by Professor Nicola Cooper, a physician and and expert in clinical reasoning education, we dissect a case of abdominal pain.

We reflect on night brain and how being sleep deprived can affect our decision making processes and how the night team should never be criticised. 

Clinical Reasoning in Medical Education group (www.creme.org.uk)

Wiley.com. (n.d.). ABC of Clinical Reasoning, 2nd Edition | Wiley. [online] Available at: https://www.wiley.com/en-ae/ABC+of+Clinical+Reasoning%2C+2nd+Edition-p-9781119871538 [Accessed 25 Jan. 2024].

Murthy, V.K...

In this episode I am joined by the fantastic Sam, for the pre PACES podcast. I am put in the hot seat as Sam and I talk through a challenging case of shortness of breath and chest pain on a night shift. 

We discuss overcoming your fears, the importance of reflection and the value of a collateral history. 

For more from Sam listen @ https://www.prepacespodcast.com/

Visit www.efimacademy.org for interactive e-modules to help develop your clinical reasoning.

Welcome to another enlightening episode with Ben and I.  Ben presents a case with an unexpected blood result and we share our experiences and insights as to how we would handle the situation.  

Subscribe, share, and join us as we try and unravel the unexpected blood result. 

Visit www.efimacademy.org for interactive e-modules that can help develop your clinical reasoning. Happy learning!

Ben and I are back and we discuss feeling overwhelmed in ED. 

Ben, as ever, helps me process a challenging day and how to improve my palliative care skills.   We talk through diagnosing dying and reflect on if we have ever been taught how to do it. 

Amie discusses a man who presented with chest pain, and how things could have been very different if she hadn't sent him home. 

Ben, as usual provides excellent analysis of the situation as we discuss cognitive biases and time pressures at work. 

Check out https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php for more interactive learning 

Ben and I are back and we discuss a case of a 35 year old male presenting with palpitations. 

Ben takes us back to the 1980's, where he discusses the importance of the CAST trial, Cardiac Arrhythmia Supression Trial. 

We work through the case and how different we approach things in the ED department. 

@amieburbridge @DrBenLovell

A very special episode with Ben and Dr Zack Ferguson,  a trainee in acute internal medicine. 

We discuss a case of abnormal liver function tests and debate if we should we admit to investigate further.   

For further learning visit; https://www.efimacademy.org/login/index.php