Home of Medicine

The Home of Medicine podcast, brought to you by EFIM Academy in partnership with the European Federation of Internal Medicine (EFIM). Hosted by Dr. Amie Burbridge and Dr. Ben Lovell, both experienced Consultants in Acute and General Medicine in the UK, this podcast delves into complex medical cases faced in Acute and General Medicine.

Visit podcast website

Download MedPod Learn

Make more of your medical podcast listening. Browse and listen free in MedPod Learn; Premium adds structured notes, self-test questions, reflection and exportable learning records.
This website provides podcast information and episode previews.
Try MedPod’s learning tools with a St Emlyn’s sample
September 8, 2026

Vomiting

Black vomit during severe vomiting can represent upper gastrointestinal bleeding even with an initially normal haemoglobin, while dehydration can also raise urea; serial reassessment, gastroenterology discussion and shared anticoagulation decisions help manage the uncertainty.

July 29, 2026

Anaemia

Acute medicine, gastroenterology and haematology teams get a case involving profound microcytic anaemia, chronic gastrointestinal blood loss, blood in stoma output and self-neglect. It links cautious transfusion and investigation with direct examination of hidden care problems, decision-specific capacity, safeguarding and reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent patients.

July 28, 2026

Self Neglect

Acute medicine, gastroenterology and safeguarding teams get a case involving profound microcytic anaemia, blood in stoma output and self-neglect. It links chronic physiological adaptation with urgent investigation, consent, decision-specific capacity, reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent patients and multidisciplinary care.

June 30, 2026

Double Vision

Acute medicine, neurology and ophthalmology clinicians get a diagnostic-reasoning case for binocular diplopia with headache, ptosis and abnormal ocular movements. It separates true diplopia from blurred vision, localises ocular motor findings and challenges premature closure on microvascular cranial neuropathy.

June 16, 2026

Unexplained Shortness of Breath

Good for acute medicine and cardiology clinicians assessing exertional dyspnoea in a young, athletic-looking adult. Tachycardia, hypertension, polycythaemia, mild transaminitis and possible cardiomegaly are linked to targeted, non-judgemental questions about hormones, gym drugs and online supplements.

June 2, 2026

"It feels like I have Bruised Lungs Doctor" - Managing Clinical Uncertainty

Haemoptysis-like symptoms, night sweats and weight loss create real diagnostic uncertainty when observations, inflammatory markers and imaging look reassuring. A safer review restarts from the beginning, checks key investigations personally and uses graded assertion when discharge feels unsafe.

May 19, 2026

Altered Consciousness

Low GCS is a syndrome, not a diagnosis. The first bedside sequence is airway, oxygenation, GCS, glucose, exposure, ABG and ECG, while sepsis, CNS infection, seizure, metabolic disturbance and toxidrome remain active possibilities.

May 5, 2026

Acute Kidney Injury

Vomiting and poor intake can explain AKI, but they should not end the search. Recheck fluid response, dip urine, assess bladder and medicines, and add calcium or paraprotein testing when back pain, anaemia or hypercalcaemia point towards multiple myeloma.

April 21, 2026

Unusual Behaviour

Collapse followed by hallucinations or thought insertion needs a rebuilt timeline before anyone settles on psychosis. The strength here is witness history, formal mental state examination, and a clear plan for when MRI, EEG or lumbar puncture should test an encephalitis or epilepsy hypothesis.

April 7, 2026

Lethargy - Case 2

The pitfall is reassuring yourself with age, manner, a clear chest X-ray or a half-finished examination. This case is worth hearing for the reminder that persistent fever, Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia and a murmur should push blood cultures, repeat cardiac examination and echocardiography up the list.