Dr. Lauren Wostrel

06/08/2026

🕷️ Tick season is here 🕷️

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞-𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬.
Tick bites are a great example.

Many tick-borne illnesses respond best when recognized and treated early. Waiting weeks to get into a traditional primary care office can create unnecessary stress and delays; especially during the busy summer months.

𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘿𝙋𝘾, 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚:
✔️ Same-day or next-day access
✔️ The ability to send photos or messages directly to their physician
✔️ Ongoing continuity with a doctor who knows their history
✔️ After-hours access for urgent concerns when appropriate

This allows us to evaluate tick bites, rashes, fevers, or concerning symptoms quickly and determine when treatment or further evaluation may be needed.

🩺 We also believe strongly in continuing medical education and staying engaged with evolving research. Our physicians participate in a monthly journal club with other physicians around the country, and our May discussion focused specifically on Lyme disease and approaches to persistent/chronic Lyme-related symptoms.

Medicine is always evolving, and we believe patients deserve doctors who continue learning.

As always:
🌿 Wear tick protection when outdoors
🌿 Check carefully after hikes, yard work, or wooded areas
🌿 Remove ticks promptly
🌿 Reach out early if symptoms develop

Sometimes peace of mind in medicine simply means knowing your doctor is accessible when you need them.

(General educational information only — not medical advice.)

06/06/2026

As a relatively young physician, one of my greatest concerns for the future of medicine is not any particular policy, administration, institution, or scientific controversy. It is the gradual erosion of our ability to engage in respectful, rigorous debate.

Medicine has never advanced through unanimity. It advances through questioning assumptions, challenging prevailing theories, scrutinizing evidence, and testing ideas against reality. Nearly every major breakthrough in our profession emerged because someone was willing to ask difficult questions and someone else was willing to answer them with better data.

The scientific method itself is an organized form of disagreement. Hypotheses are proposed, challenged, refined, and sometimes discarded. When debate is discouraged, science does not become stronger—it becomes fragile. Consensus has value, but consensus should be the result of open inquiry, not a substitute for it.

I worry when physicians, researchers, and academic institutions become more comfortable silencing opposing viewpoints than engaging them. The proper response to a flawed argument is not suppression; it is better evidence. The proper response to an unpopular hypothesis is not exclusion; it is examination. If we lose the ability to debate openly, we risk replacing scientific curiosity with intellectual conformity.

This principle transcends politics. Every generation of physicians can point to ideas that were once considered settled science and later revised or abandoned. Humility demands that we remember our own fallibility. The history of medicine is a history of correction as much as discovery.

As physicians, our loyalty must remain where it has always belonged: with our patients and with the pursuit of truth. That pursuit requires courage, intellectual honesty, and a willingness to hear arguments we may strongly disagree with.

I do not long for a profession where everyone thinks alike. I long for a profession confident enough to debate difficult questions openly, respectfully, and without fear.

Because medicine is at its best when evidence—not authority—wins the argument.

𝑶𝒎𝒏𝒊𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐 𝒂𝒆𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒐 — everything for the patient.

05/21/2026

Just because my clinic is cash-pay does not mean patients can "purchase" whatever they want.

Medicine requires compassion, listening, and partnership. But it also requires discernment.

There are times when saying “yes” would be easier. Easier to avoid conflict. Easier to keep someone happy in the moment. Easier to move on to the next patient.

But good medicine is not simply giving people what they ask for.

Sometimes protecting a patient means slowing down. Asking harder questions. Choosing caution. Saying, “Not yet.” “Not this.” Or even, “No.”

Not every medication is safe for every person. Not every treatment is necessary. And sometimes the most caring thing a doctor can do is set a boundary that protects long-term health over short-term satisfaction.

Real care is not fast food medicine.

It is thoughtful, individualized, and willing to make hard decisions when safety matters.

Send a message to learn more

04/24/2026

Various doctors and legislators in Missouri have been working to create alternative pathways, and while some progress has been made, hospitals remain a major obstacle. Many hospitals strongly oppose reforms because they benefit from the current residency system. They invest in lobbyists to block legislation that could introduce competitive options for medical school graduates and bring more doctors to Missouri.
The financial structure of residency programs is a key issue. Residency salaries are largely funded through Medicare and Medicaid, meaning taxpayers—not hospitals—cover those costs. In fact, hospitals often receive additional funding beyond residents’ salaries, allowing them to profit from hosting residency programs. At the same time, residents can generate significant revenue for hospitals, often estimated at around $300,000 per year, while earning salaries closer to $50,000.
This imbalance is part of a broader concern about how the residency match system operates and why many believe it has become unsustainable and in need of reform.
This is a great video by Dr. Peter.

04/18/2026

💡 𝐃𝐏𝐂 𝐯𝐬. 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 — 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐄𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫/𝐎𝐫
One of the biggest misconceptions I hear about Direct Primary Care (DPC) is this:
“If I have insurance, I don’t need DPC.”
—or—
“If I use DPC, I can’t have insurance.”

Neither of those is true.

In reality, most patients who choose DPC still carry some form of insurance (or use a health-sharing plan). They’re just choosing DPC because they want better access, more time with their doctor, and predictable costs for everyday care.

Here’s the problem with the traditional model:
📅 The average wait time to see a primary care physician in the U.S. is around 3–4 weeks.
That doesn’t work when you have:
Strep throat
A sinus infection
A new issue that needs timely attention

So what happens?
➡️ You end up in urgent care…
➡️ Paying a higher fee and higher co-pay
➡️ Seeing someone who doesn’t know you

And that cycle repeats.

DPC flips that model:
✔️ Same or next-day access in many cases
✔️ Direct communication with your physician
✔️ Focus on prevention and ongoing care—not just sick visits

Then insurance (or a health-sharing plan) is still there for what it does best:
🏥 The big, unexpected things — hospitalizations, surgeries, major illnesses

🧠 Think of it this way:
DPC = your day-to-day care, access, and relationship
Insurance = protection for the “what ifs”

They’re not competitors.
They’re tools and they work best together.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated with access to care, long wait times, or bouncing between urgent care visits… you’re not alone. There is another way to structure your healthcare.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐢𝐜𝐤? 👶
We looked at our actual patient data; here is how often young kids come in for sick visits.

🏥 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆
Based on real visit frequency:
👉 Over a year of co-pays:
$𝟔𝟕𝟓 𝐭𝐨 $𝟐,𝟎𝟎𝟎+ 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭

❤️ 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑫𝑷𝑪
One flat monthly fee
Same-day visits included
After-hour access by phone for urgent needs
No copays, no surprise bills
👉 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 $𝟒𝟔𝟖-𝟓𝟖𝟖/𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫

💡 The Difference
When care is easy to access, parents come in when they should; not when they’re forced to wait.
We’re not guessing on these numbers; they’re based on how often families actually need care.

Insurance still plays an important role for major events like emergencies, surgeries, and high-cost medical conditions (ie. cancer).

DPC is designed to make the day-to-day, expected healthcare simple, accessible, and affordable.

04/16/2026

🧬 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 𝐈𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can be life-changing when used appropriately. I’ve seen it help both men and women regain energy, improve mood, support metabolic health, and overall feel more like themselves again.

But like any medical treatment, it’s not “set it and forget it.”

One pattern I’ve noticed over time — across different care settings — is that sometimes hormone therapy is started, but ongoing monitoring doesn’t always happen the way it should.

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰:
🧪 Labs should be part of your care plan
When starting or adjusting hormones, labs help ensure levels are therapeutic — not too low, and not too high.
👩 For women on HRT:
Once stable on a consistent dose and feeling well, labs are often checked about once a year (sometimes sooner depending on symptoms or changes).
👨 For men on testosterone therapy (TRT):
Monitoring needs to be more frequent.
Typically, labs every 3–4 months is appropriate.

⚠️ 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞?
Testosterone therapy can increase red blood cell production, which in some cases leads to secondary polycythemia; a condition where the blood becomes thicker.
If not monitored, this can increase the risk of complications such as clotting events.

This doesn’t mean TRT is “bad.”
It means it needs to be managed intentionally and monitored appropriately.

💡 Bottom line:
If you are on hormone therapy, it’s reasonable to ask:
“How often should my labs be checked?”
“What specifically are we monitoring?”
“What risks are we watching for over time?”

Good medicine isn’t just starting treatment; it’s walking with patients over time and adjusting safely along the way.

𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.

02/19/2026

As a doctor, I do prescribe weight loss medications when appropriate. But after my last baby, I chose to focus on my own habits: nutrition, movement, sleep, and consistency, without pharmaceuticals.

I’m sharing my weight graph from the past year to normalize something important:

Weight loss is not a straight line down.

There are plateaus.
There are bumps up.

Right now, I’m about 4 pounds up from my pre-Thanksgiving baseline. And that’s okay.

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we celebrate around food, family, and community. A 2–4 pound fluctuation during that time, especially in the winter months when activity naturally decreases is normal.

If your weight is up a few pounds right now, you’re not failing. You’re human.

Progress is built over months and years and not ruined by one season.

Consistency over perfection. Keep going!

02/11/2026

When mom is a doctor… 🧸🩺
You don’t panic when a stuffed animal loses an ear.
You grab suture and fix it.

Raising kids alongside medicine is never boring.

01/30/2026

🦠 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐮𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐞

When people say, “It can’t hurt to try an antibiotic,” I gently disagree.

𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙮:
📈 Antibiotic resistance is rising.
In the U.S. alone, antibiotic-resistant infections affect over 2.8 million people each year and cause 35,000+ deaths annually. Globally, resistance continues to increase year over year.

But there’s another consequence that’s discussed far less:
🦠 Antibiotics don’t just kill ‘bad’ bacteria — they disrupt the gut microbiome.

Your gut bacteria play a critical role in:
- Immune system regulation
- Inflammation control
- Digestion and nutrient absorption
- Metabolic and hormonal balance

Even a single course of antibiotics can alter the gut microbiome for months. Repeated or unnecessary exposure increases the risk of:
- Chronic GI symptoms
- Food sensitivities
- Recurrent infections
- Inflammatory and metabolic issues

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 “𝐧𝐨” 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞. Sometimes the most responsible care is restraint — protecting your future health instead of offering a quick fix today.

𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.
𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴: 𝘊𝘋𝘊 – 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜.𝘚. 𝘞𝘏𝘖 – 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘕𝘐𝘏 – 𝘎𝘶𝘵 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵

01/28/2026

🩺 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: “𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜”

During residency, I was in family medicine outpatient clinic presenting a patient with classic cold symptoms — congestion, runny nose, cough.
This was pre-COVID, and the diagnosis was clear: viral upper respiratory infection.

I explained this to my attending.
The patient, however, insisted they NEEDED an antibiotic.

The attending agreed it was viral… then said:
“To make him happy, just go ahead and give him a Z-Pac.”

That moment stuck with me — because this happens frequently in family medicine clinics, urgent cares, and ERs.

𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢:
🦠 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐝𝐨 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬.
Colds, most bronchitis, most cases of pink eye and many ear infections are viral. Antibiotics don’t shorten illness, prevent spread, or help recovery.

📉 Yet up to 25–30% of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary and even dangerous.

Why does this keep happening?
Because 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 — and the long-term consequences are real.

➡️ In the next post, I’ll explain how unnecessary antibiotics don’t just fuel resistance — they can damage your gut microbiome and immune system in ways most patients are never warned about.

𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘈𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯.
𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴: 𝘊𝘋𝘊 – 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘜𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴
𝘊𝘋𝘊 – 𝘈𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵