Welcome back 🦴
Your foundational PA reference — presentations by age, study notes, and your own uploads, all in one place.
🔍 Search everything
6 presentations
90+ terms
2 checklists
4 frameworks
Jump in
Look it up. See it by age. 🦴
Search a presentation and get the differential laid out for peds, adults, and geriatrics — with your own notes and diagrams attached.
🔍 Search everything
6 presentations
Red flags & DDx by age
Presentations
History & SOAP Note
Your structured approach to taking and documenting a history
Top tip from your notes: ask one question at a time, and use sign-posting — give a heads up about why you're asking something that may not feel relevant, and confirm it's okay.
S — Subjective
| Component | What to capture |
|---|---|
| ID | Identify the patient |
| CC | Chief complaint — what they present with |
| HPI | History of presenting illness — use OLDCARTS (below) |
| PMHx | Past medical history — current vs past |
| PSHx | Past surgical history |
| Meds | Not just prescribed: vitamins (unregulated), OTC, nutraceuticals, nasal spray, eye drops, creatine. Confirm dose / frequency / route. |
| Allergies | Ask what happens if they consume it. Food, meds, environment, latex, metal, contrast. NKDA = no known drug allergies. |
| SocHx | Job, who lives at home, alcohol, marijuana, smoking, IV drugs, sexual health (active + protection), travel. |
| FHx | Relevant family history, parents / sibling history. A moment for empathy — no timeline on grief. |
| FIFE | Feelings · Ideas · Function · Expectations |
| ROS | Review of systems — sleep, eating, other pains, vision / dental, exercise changes |
OLDCARTS — for the HPI
Onset — acute vs chronic · Location — narrow it down · Duration — continuous / intermittent
Character — "tell me about the pain" (dull, stabbing, throbbing, sharp)
Aggravating / alleviating — tried what? pressure, medication, movement?
Radiation — does it shoot anywhere? · Timing — time of day, worse over time?
Severity — 0–10 scale, impact on function
Character — "tell me about the pain" (dull, stabbing, throbbing, sharp)
Aggravating / alleviating — tried what? pressure, medication, movement?
Radiation — does it shoot anywhere? · Timing — time of day, worse over time?
Severity — 0–10 scale, impact on function
Useful framing: "Why didn't you come 3 months ago — why did you come now?" It surfaces what's really driving the visit.
O — Objective (vitals)
| Vital | Notes / normal |
|---|---|
| T | Oral, rectal (peds), tympanic, temporal, axillary. >37.9 °C = fever |
| HR | Radial, 60–100 bpm. >100 = tachycardia. 15s ×4 or 30s ×2; if irregular do full 60s. Don't use thumb. |
| RR | 12–20 breaths/min |
| BP | Seated 5 min before; arm at heart level; cuff 2.5 cm above elbow. Pump 30 mmHg above where radial pulse vanishes; first sound = systolic, sound stops = diastolic. |
| SpO₂ | 80–100 (restrictive ~>90) |
| Ht / Wt | Crucial in peds (dose-dependent) |
Stethoscope: diaphragm = respiratory / high-frequency; bell = low-frequency.
A — Assessment
Rule out systemic causes with your sieve → Differentials
P — Plan
| # | Step |
|---|---|
| 1 | Patient education |
| 2 | Imaging — X-ray, U/S |
| 3 | Blood work / labs |
| 4 | Rx — practitioner, rest, ice; med __ mg q6–8h PRN |
| 5 | F/U — follow up |
| 6 | Red flags — "if this happens… go to emerg or come back" |
Physical Exam Checklists
From your OSCE checklists — tap a box to track practice
Vital Sign Assessment
Preparation
Washes hands before the examination
Introduces self & verifies patient identity
Explains the procedure to the patient
Temperature
Selects appropriate device & records findings
Pulse
Locates radial pulse; counts 30s ×2 (or 60s); notes rhythm & strength
Respiratory Rate
Observes chest rise while pretending to take pulse; counts 30s ×2
Blood Pressure
Arm at heart level; correct cuff; locates brachial artery
Inflates 20–30 mmHg above systolic; deflates slowly for Korotkoff sounds; records
Post-Procedure
Explains results; washes hands; documents all vitals accurately
HEENT Exam
Head
Inspect: hair loss, texture, skin changes · Palpate: tenderness, masses
Eyes
Inspect bilaterally; periorbital swelling, erythema, ecchymosis
eyelids: lash distribution, hordeolum (stye)
Conjunctivae & sclera; visual acuity & fields; EOM (H pattern); pupillary response
Ophthalmoscopy — evaluate fundi
red light reflex = back of eye
Ears · RF: mastoiditis
Inspect external ear; palpate tragus/pinna/mastoid; otoscope (TM)
Special: whispered test; Weber & Rinne (air vs bone)
Nose · RF: epistaxis
External & internal (otoscope): polyps, turbinate, obstruction
posterior bleed can be fatal — may drip down throat
Palpate maxillary (cheeks) & frontal (above eyebrows) sinuses
Mouth / Throat · RF: peritonsillar abscess, epiglottitis
Inspect lips, teeth, tongue, tonsils, uvula, palate; palpate TMJ, glands
Thyroid / Neck
Palpate thyroid while swallowing; cervical nodes
fixed + painless node = concern for cancer
Auscultate for bruits
whoosh = partial carotid obstruction
Differential Builder
Your "surgical sieve" — run any presentation through these so you don't miss one
VINDICATE (from your SOAP assessment notes). Tap any branch for the prompt and worked examples.
Medical Terminology
Break any term into prefix · root · suffix
Build a term: Peri / cardi / um → Peri- (around) + cardi (heart) + -um (structure) = the structure around the heart.
Prefixes
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Intra- | Within, inside | Intravenous |
| Inter- | Between, among | Intercostal |
| Sub- | Under, below | Subcutaneous |
| Supra- | Above, beyond | Supraventricular |
| Uni- / Bi- / Tri- | One / two / three | Unilateral, bicornuate, triceps |
| Multi- / Pan- | Many / all | Multifocal pneumonia |
| Dys- | Painful, difficult, abnormal | Dyspnea |
| Eu- | Good, normal | Eupnea |
| Mal- | Bad, poor | Malnutrition |
| A-, An- | Without, lack of | Aseptic |
| Auto- | Self | Autograft |
| Micro- / Macro- | Small / large | Microcephaly, macrocephaly |
| Hyper- / Hypo- | High / low (vs normal) | Hyper-/hypothyroidism |
| Pre- / Post- | Before / after | Prenatal, postnatal |
| Peri- | Around, surrounding | Pericardium |
| Para- | Beside, near | Parathyroid |
| Ecto- / Endo- | Outside / within | Ectopic, endocrine |
| Epi- | On, upon, near | Epicardium |
| Hemi- | Half | Hemiplegia |
| Mono- / Poly- | One / many | Polycystic |
| Tachy- / Brady- | Fast / slow | Tachycardia, bradycardia |
| Trans- | Across, through | Transdermal |
| Leuk- / Eryth- / Cyan- | White / red / blue | Leukocytes, erythrocytosis, cyanosis |
| Echo- | Ultrasonic waves | Echocardiogram |
Root Words
| Root | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cardi/o | Heart | Cardiomyopathy |
| Dermat/o | Skin | Dermatologist |
| Gastr/o | Stomach | Gastritis |
| Hemat/o | Blood | Hematuria |
| Neur/o | Nerve | Neuralgia |
| Oste/o | Bone | Osteotomy |
| Ophthalm/o | Eye | Ophthalmology |
| Ren/o | Kidney | Renal colic |
| Pulmon/o | Lung | Pulmonary embolism |
| Psych/o | Mind | Psychosis |
| Gynec/o · Andr/o | Female / male | Gynecomastia, androgen |
| Hepat/o | Liver | Hepatitis |
| Enter/o | Intestine | Enteritis |
| My/o | Muscle | Myalgia |
| Arthr/o | Joint | Arthralgia |
| Rhin/o | Nose | Rhinoplasty |
| Hyster/o · Oophor/o | Uterus / ovary | Hysterectomy, oophorectomy |
| Encephal/o · Cerebr/o | Brain / cerebrum | Encephalopathy |
| Onc/o | Tumor, mass | Oncologist |
| Splen/o · Hepat/o | Spleen / liver | Splenomegaly |
| Tympan/o · myring/o | Eardrum | Myringotomy |
| Acr/o | Extremities | Acromegaly |
Directional — learn in contrasting pairs
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Anterior / Posterior | Front / back of body |
| Superior / Inferior | Upper / lower |
| Lateral / Medial | Side / middle |
| Proximal / Distal | Near / far from torso or joint |
| Superficial / Deep | Near / away from body surface |
Suffixes
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -itis | Inflammation | Appendicitis |
| -ectomy | Surgical removal | Appendectomy |
| -ology | Study of | Neurology |
| -emia | Blood condition | Anemia |
| -osis | Condition (general) | Neurosis |
| -pathy | Disease, disorder | Neuropathy |
| -scopy | Examination | Colonoscopy |
| -oma | Tumor, mass | Lipoma |
| -gram, -graphy | Record, image | Mammogram |
| -rrhage, -rrhagia | Excessive flow | Hemorrhage, menorrhagia |
| -rrhea | Flow, discharge | Rhinorrhea |
| -plasty | Surgical repair | Arthroplasty |
| -centesis | Puncture to remove fluid | Paracentesis |
| -cele | Hernia, protrusion | Cystocele |
| -stomy | Surgical opening | Colostomy |
| -algia, -dynia | Pain | Arthralgia |
| -rrhaphy | Surgical suturing | Enterorrhaphy |
| -megaly | Enlargement | Hepatomegaly |
| -plegia | Paralysis | Quadriplegia |
| -lysis | Breakdown | Hemolysis |
| -iasis | Presence of | Cholelithiasis |
Eye / HEENT Clinical Pearls
Fundoscopy findings, conditions & the differentials you mapped
🚨 Eye Emergencies — your red-flag list
- Painful vision loss
- Pain with movement
- Sudden onset — "sudden is not good"
- Any vision loss
- Ecchymosis & swelling
- Periorbital swelling → orbital cellulitis
Fundoscopy & Retinal Findings
| Finding | Points to |
|---|---|
| Roth spots | Infective endocarditis |
| Papilledema | ↑ ICP, diabetes, brain tumour |
| Cotton wool spots | Diabetes |
| Hyphema | Blood under the iris |
| Red light reflex | Confirms clear path to back of eye |
Eye Conditions Glossary
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Subconjunctival hemorrhage | Blood under conjunctiva — not concerning |
| Iritis / uveitis | Autoimmune; painful |
| Keratitis | Inflammation of cornea |
| Hordeolum (stye) / Chalazion | Painful / painless eyelid lump |
| Pterygium / Pinguecula | Triangular growth / yellowish bump on eye |
| Ptosis | Drooping eyelid |
| Miosis / Mydriasis | Constricted / dilated pupils |
| Anisocoria | Unequal pupils → congenital or brain bleed |
| Ectropion / Entropion | Eyelid turned out / in |
| Horner's syndrome | Ptosis + miosis + anhidrosis |
Vision Loss Differential
Painful vision loss
- Uveitis / iritis
- Ocular migraines
Painless vision loss
- Open-angle glaucoma
- Cataracts (uni)
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Amaurosis fugax (uni)
Discharge: viral → viral Sx · bacterial → purulent · allergic → gritty, bilateral, watery. RAPD = swinging-light test. H-test = tracking / nystagmus.
Mnemonics & Frameworks
The memory scaffolds from your notes
OLDCARTS — HPI
Onset · Location · Duration · Character · Aggravating/alleviating · Radiation · Timing · Severity
FIFE — patient perspective
Feelings · Ideas · Function · Expectations
VINDICATE — differential sieve
Vascular · Infectious · Neoplastic · Degenerative · Idiopathic/Iatrogenic · Congenital · Autoimmune · Traumatic · Endocrine
SOAP — note structure
Subjective · Objective · Assessment · Plan
Calculators & Decision Tools 📊
Quick links to the MDCalc clinical calculators — each opens on MDCalc in a new tab. Always confirm criteria against the current source.
A starter set to grow into — the decision tools your rotations use most, drawn straight from the pharmacology dataset.
MDCalc tools
Pharmacology 💊
A searchable study scaffold of common meds — class, indications, contraindications, risks, and renal dosing.
⚠️ Study scaffold — not clinical guidance
Medications
Notes & Uploads 📝
This is your drop-off spot. Jot down ideas to improve the site, and hand off your OneNote exports — then forget about them. Every morning a little helper tidies everything up for you.
✨ Last tidy — what changed
Last tidy: Sun 21 Jun 2026, 6:02 AM
Your inbox was empty — nothing new to tidy this time.
Your 6 AM helper runs every morning — this is what it did last time, plus anything worth your attention.
💡 Site improvement notes
Anything you wish worked differently, a presentation you want added, a typo you spotted — type it here. It saves automatically as you go, so you never lose a thought.
Saved
With an upload code set below, your note is sent straight to the notebook’s inbox. Without a code (or offline) it downloads so you can upload it after. The 6 AM helper picks it up either way.
📥 Upload to the notebook’s inbox
Drop your OneNote exports or notes here from any computer — PDFs, Word docs, images, markdown. They land straight in the notebook’s shared inbox and get sorted automatically every morning at 6 AM. Nothing is saved to this device.
This is the private code the notebook’s owner gave you. It’s stored only on this device so you won’t need to type it again. ✓ Remembered on this device
Drag & drop files here
or browse your computer
Files up to 25 MB each. Accepted: PDFs, Word docs, images, OneNote exports, and notes.
📤 How to export from OneNote
⚠️ Good things to know (gotchas)
🌅 What happens at 6 AM
⏰
Every morning at 6:00, a little helper wakes up and tidies your inbox for you — automatically, with nothing for you to click.
- Your improvement notes get added to a running log, so all your ideas live in one tidy place.
- Your OneNote files, images and PDFs get sorted by topic into neat folders.
- Your library updates so everything is findable.
That's the whole deal: you drop things in the inbox and forget them. You never have to file anything by hand.
Publish to your own Cloudflare 🚀
This whole site is just a folder of files that you own. You can put it online for free on your own Cloudflare account — no monthly fee, no credit card.
📦 What you're uploading
Upload the whole project folder — the index.html file plus its sub-folders (like organized/ and your assets). Cloudflare hosts it exactly as-is. Make sure index.html sits at the top level of the folder, not tucked inside another folder.
🛠️ Publish it (no terminal needed)
Dashboard drag-and-drop ⭐ No terminal needed
Best for: a small static folder (index.html + a few sub-folders) you want live without a command line or GitHub.
- Create a free Cloudflare account at dash.cloudflare.com/sign-up: enter email + password and verify via the confirmation email. The free plan is the default — no credit card needed.
- Make sure
index.htmlsits at the top level of your folder (not nested). Drag-and-drop accepts a single folder OR a .zip of the files (max 1,000 files, 25 MiB each). - In the left sidebar open Workers & Pages (some dashboards label it "Compute (Workers)" → Workers & Pages).
- Click Create application (or "Create"), then on the Pages side choose Get started → Drag and drop your files (Direct Upload, not "Connect to Git").
- Enter a project name (lowercase letters, numbers, hyphens) — it becomes your URL, e.g.
my-site.pages.dev— then drag your folder or .zip onto the upload area. - When upload finishes, click Deploy site.
- After a few seconds your live URL appears:
https://PROJECT-NAME.pages.dev. Click it to confirm the site loads. - To update later, open the project, go to the upload / "Create a deployment" tab, and drag the new version. Each upload is a new deployment with rollback history.
🌐 Add your own custom domain (optional)
- In the Cloudflare dashboard, open Workers & Pages and select your Pages project.
- Go to the Custom domains tab and click Set up a domain.
- Enter the domain/subdomain (e.g. www.example.com) and click Continue then Activate domain.
- If the domain is already on Cloudflare, the CNAME DNS record is created automatically — wait for status "Active".
- If not on Cloudflare: for a subdomain add a CNAME at your DNS host pointing to
PROJECT-NAME.pages.dev; for an apex domain (example.com) first add the domain as a Cloudflare zone and point its nameservers to Cloudflare, then redo the steps. - A free SSL certificate is issued automatically; the domain goes live once DNS propagates and status shows "Active".
🆓 It's genuinely free
Cloudflare Pages' free tier is ample for a tiny static site: unlimited bandwidth and requests, unlimited sites, free automatic SSL/HTTPS, and a free *.pages.dev subdomain. No credit card required.
Free-plan limits (none of which matter for a small site): 500 deployments/month, and up to 1,000 files per drag-and-drop deploy, each file up to 25 MiB. Custom domains and certificates are free too.