The Scope Radio

As populations of immigrants in the United States grow, it’s important to not only understand differences in cultural practices, but also be willing to accept them as a physician. Dr. David Gontrum has spent many years working with Hispanic patients. He shares some lessons he’s learned over the years and the most important thing doctors should keep in mind when working with patients of different cultural backgrounds.

Thirty percent of healthcare spending in the U.S.—about 500 billion dollars a year—is spent on unnecessary tests and treatments. Much of this comes from CT scans and MRIs that patients ask for but don’t end up needing. Family physician Dr. Kyle Bradford Jones says there are some questions you should ask yourself before you go see your doctor about an issue. He also talks about some other ways patients and physicians can both save time and money by bypassing unnecessary treatments.

You just had your baby, so when your doctor asks you what kind of contraception you want to start using, you’re caught off guard and you’re not sure what to think. Pregnancy expert Dr. Kirtly Jones talks about how soon you can or should get pregnant after having a baby and some tips for spacing your children. She also talks options for post-partum contraception and having your tubes tied when you’re sure you’re done having children.

How often do you perform breast self-exams? Jena Andrus and Karen O'Toole from Huntsman Cancer Institute talk about an app called Check Yourself. It’s a simple app that shows women how to do breast self-exams and also has built in monthly reminders. They discuss other options for preventing breast cancer and checking yourself regularly.

The most powerful weapon against a stroke are people that know what a stroke looks like and are willing to call 911 without hesitation. If you are that person, no need to read or listen to this podcast. But, if there’s even a slight chance you would hesitate for even a slight moment, you should take 5 minutes and listen. Dr. Jennifer Majersik is the director of the Stroke Center at University of Utah Health Care and she will tell you why it’s so crucial to not hesitate. She also talks about the common reasons research has found that people don’t call 911 for a stroke.

The positions that cyclists get into both on mountain and road bikes can put a lot of strain on the neck and back. Dr. Tom Miller talks to osteopath Dr. Rich Kendall, chair of the Department of Rehabilitative Medicine at the University of Utah, on the best way to keep the neck and back healthy when on the bike for long periods. They also discuss how to treat the pain if it’s already begun.

Family history is a factor in more than 80% of children who suffer from chronic headaches. If your child suffers from headaches and migraines, you might want to consider cognitive behavioral therapy. Dr. Jim Bale, a child neurologist at the University of Utah explains cognitive behavioral therapy and its effectiveness. He also compares cognitive behavioral therapy to traditional conventional medication to help parents determine which opinion is best for their child.

A child comes into the emergency room in with fever, coughing, and chest pain. What’s causing her illness? A new type of test promises to take the guesswork out of making an accurate diagnosis and providing appropriate treatment. Robert Schlaberg, M.D., an assistant professor of pathology at the University of Utah and medical director at ARUP laboratories, describes the tool, Taxonomer, which classifies the genomes of every microbe in a patient sample. He explains the significant advantages over current diagnostic methods, and new ways in which the tool may be used in the future.

One of the biggest issues for dental schools is the rising cost of education. Dr. James Becker from the University of Utah School of Dentistry asks Dr. Carol Gomez Summerhays, president-elect of the American Dental Association, about the organization’s strategy to offset costs and help students maintain control of their careers when they graduate.

Have you ever wondered why women tend to outlive men? Turns out, there are a lot of variables and possible explanations for why the average woman will live five years longer the average man. Dr. Kirtly Jones explores some of the reasons behind this interesting phenomenon.

One of Dr. Jill Sweney’s jobs is to talk about organ donation to parents that have just lost a child. It’s tough, yet she does it because she has seen how organ donation can instantly change another child’s life. She talks about her experience, the benefits to the donor’s parents and the recipient, and why it’s important to know the donation wishes of all members of your family.

Dr. Tom Miller tells us why using antibiotics to prevent traveler’s diarrhea could cause bigger problems than the one you are trying to avoid. He also has a couple quick and easy things you can do that will help your stomach stay happy and healthy when you travel to developing countries.

Simple conversations can become an exercise in frustration when a loved one begins to lose hearing with age. Sarah Hargus Ferguson, PhD, associate professor of communications science and disorders, explains why certain sounds are harder to hear than others, and gives tips for communicating clearly with the hearing impaired. She also describes her research investigating acoustical characteristics that make clear speech, clear.

Detecting a child’s mental disorder can be difficult because many of the behaviors can also occur as part of normal development. As a result, some parents are hesitant to seek help. To help you understand this confusing issue better, Dr. Cindy Gellner gives an overview of mental disorders children can suffer from, what causes them, what to look for and what to do about it.

Nearly half of Americans get their health insurance through their employer. But just because this might be the simplest way to have insurance, it might not be the best solution for you. Dr. Kyle Bradford Jones talks about the reasons why insurance tax breaks hurts individuals, businesses, the federal government and America’s health care system.