When I had my first child when I was 27 years old, I was faced with a number of medical problems about which I could receive no adequate understanding. Granted, it was almost 25 years ago and there were no handy internet pages to help me figure things out. I embarked on a mission to understand health and how all the moving parts work together. Now that I have spent decades acquiring health knowledge, I believe it should be shared for free.
Over 20 years of nursing experience later, including over 7 years as a medical provider and formal educator, I still have an insatiable desire to continue learning. I literally can't learn enough about the human body and how people interact with their environment. Every time I learn something that helps me better understand human health, I wish I had a way to share that information with those who would benefit. Also, no matter how many patients I have seen in practice, I am stunned and saddened by those who have never received an adequate explanation regarding their condition or essential matters of human health. This site is intended to help fill those gaps.
What really concerns me about the whole medical care process in some arenas is that it has become so complex, it hardly seems to put helping people at the front and center of the "business." At times, even the well-known edict to "first, do no harm" comes in second to profits. At some point it makes more sense to build something simple from the ground up than to try to peel layers off of something hopelessly encrusted in unnecessary expense and complexity. That is the idea behind my virtual clinic.
It is my intention and privilege to try to help you get the most out of your medical care, no matter where you receive it. Ideally, I want you to be able to advocate for your own best interests, but I am here as a fearless advocate if needed. Feel free to check out the array of things we can do to help!
Browse the Topics!
Easy-to-understand and accurate health education on topics ranging from common sources of ear pain to sinus infections to help navigating the medical care system--the topic list grows every week!
Personal, flexible consulting services for those who need a deeper dive into understanding medical topics or specific medical situations.
Fully virtual medical clinic for Minnesota residents. Safe and affordable medical visits complete with prescriptions if needed. Focus on depression and anxiety evaluation treatment.
New service--Accutane (isotretinoin) for severe acne!
Contact us for details
Learn more and request appointments here!
Have you ever wondered why your ears feel plugged or "pop," why antibiotics can help with certain infections but not others, or why rashes seem to get worse when you scratch them? Here are some explanations, in plain language, about these and other topics.
Sometimes it's incredibly helpful to understand the system--for example, what factors does your provider use to make medical decisions?
From personal anecdotes to little-known facts about the industry, nurse practitioner Carissa Arens writes to help further the cause to help empower individuals to take charge of their own health.
Have you ever wondered why your ears feel plugged or "pop," why antibiotics can help with certain infections but not others, or why rashes seem to get worse when you scratch them? Here are some explanations, in plain language, about these and other topics.
Sometimes it's incredibly helpful to understand the system--for example, what factors does your provider use to make medical decisions?
From personal anecdotes to little-known facts about the industry, nurse practitioner Carissa Arens writes to help empower individuals to take charge of their own health.
- former student, 2019