This is the official blog for the Family Medicine Residency which is housed within the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Utah. If you have questions, please email us at fmvitalsigns@hsc.utah.edu
By Nolan Sandygren I got my dog, Rowan, at the start of my third year of residency for all of the usual reasons. I wanted a running buddy, a driving companion on road trips, a dog to play with in the backyard, to take to the park, or on hikes. I had grown … More How Dog Rearing Can Provide Compassion in Clinical Care
By Greg Baird I’m talking about Mayo Clinic, and I’m referring to Atul Gawande’s flagship article on the cost of healthcare (“The Cost Conundrum”). We–the healthcare system–ought to reward leaders in organizations like Mayo Clinic who try to limit “Gawande is talking about money. Give innovators money!” unnecessary spending. Gawande is talking about money. Give … More How do we reward the Mayos? Saving healthcare from hospitals.
By Brad Schleenbaker I was 12 years old when I found out about Poison Oak. It wasn’t pleasant. A weekend stop in Huntsville, AL, on the way to Florida, left my face unbearably itchy. While my family enjoyed the sunny, uncrowded beaches of Destin in the fall my scrawny, unhappy frame sulked underneath a beach … More One Big Benefit to Being a Female Doctor (I think)
by John Houchins Healthcare transformation is the hot topic of the day in our country. Politicians are debating it and working on legislation to move it forward. Business leaders are recognizing that they need to be part of the process as healthcare expenses becomes a much larger part of their operational costs. Hospital systems are … More Educating the Healthcare Workforce of the Future: The Role of Teams
by Alli Straubhar An Iraqi woman presented for evaluation of her diffuse body pain. As she told her story in broken English, it was apparent that she had suffered indescribable abuse and seen unfathomable terrors. Her wounds had long since healed, her bruises can no longer be seen, and her broken bones had mended. What … More Refugee Health Services: Frustration and Optimism
by Kyle Bradford Jones Note: This post originally appeared on the AAFP’s Fresh Perspectives blog, as well as KevinMD. Pamela Wible, MD, a family physician who is an expert in physician suicide prevention, recently asked other physicians why so many in the profession kill themselves. The answers were plentiful, tragic and not at all surprising. One physician … More A Physician’s Story of Mental Illness
Family Medicine Vital Signs 