The Scope Radio

While hospitals and physicians do their best to workaround drug shortages, the fact remains they continue to be a major problem and continue to impact patient care on a daily basis. Dr. Tom Miller and Erin Fox, PharmD and Director of Drug Information Service for University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics, talk about the shortages, why they’re happening, and what can be done about them.

You’ve childproofed the house to avoid any accidents that could occur – but what many parents overlook are choking hazards in food. Dr. Cindy Gellner explains why certain foods can cause choking in young children, and the few foods that she mentions might surprise you. She also describes the symptoms of choking in kids and what you can do if your child is choking.

Helmet use is higher than ever, but there has been no reduction in the number of skiing or snowboarding injuries or fatalities. So what’s going on? Dr. Tom Miller asked Neurosurgeon Dr. William Couldwell why helmets don’t seem to be enough and what he thinks needs to be done about it.

In the United States, obesity and diabetes have risen to epidemic proportions. Dr. Jared Rutter, professor of biochemistry at the University of Utah, explains why our body’s metabolism wasn’t designed to cope with today’s diet, and how that leads to disease. He also talks about his research to combat obesity and diabetes by fixing problems with the body’s metabolism.

When people hear about cutting costs in health care, the assumption is often that quality of care also suffers. Proponents of a learning health system say that it will actually increase the quality of care while decreasing costs. We asked Charles Friedman what a learning health system is, how it would improve heath care and obstacles that need to be overcome to implement it.

It’s probably happened to every guy at least once - getting kicked or hit in the crotch. Sure it hurts when it happens, but does it really damage things? Is there ever a time where it merits a trip to the emergency room? You might be surprised at the answer. Find out from Dr. Troy Madsen on this episode of ER or Not.

The information you tell your doctor plays a critical part in them providing maximum care for your physical and emotional health. Yet, a recent survey suggests 52 percent of women lie to their doctor. Dr. Kirtly Jones discusses some of the reasons why women may lie to their doctor, and explains why not telling your doctor the whole truth can lead to various problems.

Valentine’s Day means love is in the air, and that goes for your teenager as well. It’s a topic that a lot of people don’t want to talk about, especially with their kids. Dr. Cindy Gellner discusses how parents can approach this sensitive subject. She also explains why it’s important that your teenager has the correct information about sex coming from you, not what they hear from their friends or find on the Internet.

Pretend for a second that Cupid shot people with real arrows and not just arrows of love. What should you do if you were hit? Try to pull it out? Leave it in? Push it though like in the movies? Emergency department physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about arrow injuries, what you should not do if it happens to you and how they would remove it.

If you’ve made the decision to become a live kidney donor, you’ve probably already got a recipient in mind. But if you could save more than one live with your kidney donation, would you do it? Transplant surgeon Dr. Jeffery Campsen talks about live donor kidney chains and how you can start or be a part of one.

If you’ve made the decision to become a live kidney donor, you’ve probably already got a recipient in mind. But if you could save more than one live with your kidney donation, would you do it? Transplant surgeon Dr. Jeffery Campsen talks about live donor kidney chains and how you can start or be a part of one.

Bob Costas stepped down from hosting Olympic coverage for the first time since 1998 because of a painful case of pink eye. Dr. Troy Madsen from University of Utah Hospital talks about Bob's pink eye, how he likely got it and why he believes it's lasting longer than Costas expected. He also tells you why you should NEVER wear contact lenses if you have pink eye.

Bob Costas stepped down from hosting Olympic coverage for the first time since 1998 because of a painful case of pink eye. Dr. Troy Madsen from University of Utah Hospital talks about Bob's pink eye, how he likely got it and why he believes it's lasting longer than Costas expected. He also tells you why you should NEVER wear contact lenses if you have pink eye.

In a type of arrangement that’s becoming more and more common, Madison Memorial Hospital has entered into a formal affiliation agreement with University of Utah Health Care that will result in better health care for the residents of Rexberg, Idaho, and the surrounding area. Stressing it’s about collaboration and not competition, Madison Memorial Hospital CEO Rachel Gonzales addresses common questions people may have about the agreement. She also talks about what it means for patients and how it will provide better health care for the community.

When you’re admitted to the hospital, there are two types of observation statuses that your doctor can categorize you as. One of these will cause a significant increase in how much you’ll be billed. Dr. Tom Miller and Russell Vinik discuss the questions you have about your medical bill, and tell you why your observation status could affect your billing.