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From forgotten lunches to last-minute outfit…
Date Recorded
August 13, 2025 Health Topics (The Scope Radio)
Kids Health
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Scot, Mitch, and Dr. John Smith get real about…
Date Recorded
January 27, 2025 Health Topics (The Scope Radio)
Mens Health
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Dr. Chochol discusses cultural considerations in…
Speaker
Meggie D. Chochol, MD Date Recorded
November 10, 2023 Health Topics (The Scope Radio)
Mental Health Science Topics
Medical Education
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Modern contraception allows men and women to have…
Date Recorded
June 27, 2022 Health Topics (The Scope Radio)
Family Health and Wellness
Womens Health Transcription
A baby that is wanted and planned for, a child by choice and not by chance, that is what modern contraception offers men and women. But you have to know what's out there, how it works, and where to get it. This is really important now more than ever.
This is Dr. Kirtly Jones from Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Utah Health, and this is the "7 Domains of Women's Health" on The Scope.
Women and men all over the world have wanted to plan their families for thousands and thousands of years, but methods used in Cleopatra's time in ancient Egypt probably weren't as effective as what is available now. If no method of contraception is used, women in sexual relationships that would make them pregnant could expect to have more than 11 babies. That's in these days of good obstetrical and pediatric care, where women are less likely to die in childbirth and babies are much less likely to die in the first five years of life. Eleven babies sound like too much? One more baby sounds like too much right now?
Let's talk about contraception. It's an egg and a sperm problem. You need to stop egg production, stop sperm production, or stop the sperm from getting to the eggs. These are the main ways that modern contraception works.
About 50% of unplanned pregnancies happen to people who are "using" contraception but using it incorrectly. This is the most common reason that methods like abstinence or periodic abstinence, think natural family planning, or methods like barrier methods like condoms or diaphragms actually fail. They weren't used correctly or at all. Methods that you have to think about at the time of sex are more likely to fail because you're more likely to fail to use them. If you combine two methods, abstain during your fertile period and use condoms all the rest of the time, your chance of getting pregnant by accident is much lower. Two methods are better than one, and this is a combo where men can be the important user. You can get condoms most anywhere, and anyone with some smarts and gumption can figure out their fertile period.
So let's talk about hormonal pills, patches, and rings. They are considered moderately effective methods or ones that have an annual failure rate between 1 in 10 to 1 in 100. That means if women use them, the chance of getting pregnant is about 1 in 10 to 1 in 100 per year. Of course, you might be at risk for pregnancy for multiple years, so these chances literally add up. Considering a lifetime of contraception using these methods, it was calculated that women would have about two unplanned pregnancies. These methods work by blocking ovulation and by changing cervical mucus so sperm cannot get to the eggs, but women don't always take the pills, or patches or rings correctly. They miss some days or they stop for a week as directed, but they stop for longer than seven days, and they are very likely to ovulate. But you could team up with your sex partner and use a moderately effective method and condoms and get much more bang for your buck birth control-wise.
Hormonal methods aren't right for everyone, and you should know by reading up or asking knowledgeable clinicians if they're right for you. Now, there may be immense hormonal contraception on the horizon, transdermal hormones to block sperm production. If it has about a 10% failure rate per year, and women taking the pill as they will, not perfectly, have a failure rate of about 10% per year, if both members of the sexually active couple use the method not perfectly, the failure rate would be about 1 in 100 per year. The two methods multiply in terms of their effectiveness. If they both used effectively, if they both, men and women used hormonal methods effectively, it would be about 1 in 10,000 women per year, and that is effective contraception.
Now for highly effective methods, these methods have failure rates of about 1 per 1,000 women per year. They are so good because you don't have to think about them and using them correctly almost always happens. These include copper IUDs, hormonal IUDs, and hormonal implants under the skin. The hormonal implants' primary method of action is to work by blocking ovulation. The IUDs' primary method of action is by blocking sperm. Copper in the copper IUD kills sperm on their way up to the egg, and the hormonal IUD blocks sperm from getting through the cervix. The IUDs and implants are highly successful at preventing pregnancy but require a trained clinician to put them in. They last a long time, the copper IUD for 12 years, the hormonal IUD for 5, and the implant for 3, but they are immediately reversible as soon as they come out.
Now, all contraceptive methods have some side effects and risks, but none have as many risks and side effects as an unwanted pregnancy. Uh-oh, did you just say, "Oops?" Did you forget to take your pills? Did the condom slip off or stay in his back pocket? Was sex forced on you and you weren't using anything? Emergency contraception is for people who had unprotected or under-protected sex. They are pills over the counter or by prescription, that must be used in the first three to five days after the unprotected sex act, and the earlier, meaning the next day or the day after, the better. The copper IUD and hormonal IUD can also be used for emergency contraception, but they aren't FDA approved for that use, and you have to find a clinician to place one in a timely manner.
Using contraception means some work on your part. You have to know what you can use and want to use. You need to know where you can get them. You need to know how you can pay for them. All this information is available from many sources, but an overall good resource is bedsider.org. Many clinics around the country provide contraception on a sliding fee scale based on the ability to pay. Most insurance plans pay for a significant amount of the cost of contraception. There's a national family planning grant called Title X, that provides low-cost contraception to anyone who needs it, and it's available in most states. But you have to lace up your boots or put on your flip-flops and do it. Children deserve to be by choice and not by chance now more than ever. Thanks for joining us on The Scope. MetaDescription
Modern contraception allows men and women to have a child by choice, not by chance. But what family planning options are available? And how effective are they? Learn the most common contraceptives available and how to choose the best one for you and your family.
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U of U Health - International Travel Clinic…
Speaker
Travel Clinic Date Recorded
April 20, 2021 Health Topics (The Scope Radio)
Family Health and Wellness Science Topics
Medical Education Service Line
Medical and Surgical Specialty Clinics
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Erectile dysfunction (ED) is more common…
Date Recorded
August 25, 2025 Health Topics (The Scope Radio)
Mens Health
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Speaker
Jessie Tenenbaum, PhD, FACMI Date Recorded
August 01, 2019
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Speaker
Teresa Rivera, President and CEO of UHIN Date Recorded
March 06, 2019
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Making sure your newborn gets enough nourishment…
Date Recorded
April 03, 2017 Health Topics (The Scope Radio)
Kids Health Transcription
Announcer: Health tips, medical news, research and more for a happier, healthier life. From University of Utah Health Sciences, this is The Scope.
Dr. Stoesser: Hi, my name is Kirsten Stoesser, and I am a family medicine physician. A question that a lot of new parents have is whether or not they need to supplement breastfeeding with formula. In most cases, this is not necessary but in some cases it can be helpful.
One of the times where we recommend that somebody supplement with formula is if the baby is not gaining weight appropriately, especially in those first few days to the first week. If we see that a baby has lost more than 10% of its birth weight and is not able to gain that back adequately enough and quickly enough with breastfeeding, then we will recommend to do supplementation with formula.
This doesn't mean, though, that you have to do a bottle feeding. There are actually some ingenious ways to be able to administer formula. One of my favorite ways is what's called the "Supplemental Nursing System," or the SNS system, and this involves sort of a drip line. There's a line that's taped over the mother's shoulder and then this line comes down and is taped across the breast and the nipple.
So a baby can still breastfeed and even if they're not getting much while breastfeeding, they are getting the formula that drips in and baby is still getting practice with breastfeeding so they're not losing that skill and mothers are still getting the stimulation at the breast, which helps to promote further breast milk production. Usually, when babies do the SNS system, they just need to do this for a few days and then they're able to catch up the growth and the weight that they need and are able to go back to breastfeeding.
There are different ways to supplement. Sometimes it can be because the baby's not getting enough nutrition, and sometimes it's because the mother's not producing enough milk. And so if the mother's not producing enough milk, having ongoing stimulation at the breast is important. So in addition to having the baby feed, one thing that I'll recommend to moms to do is to get a breast pump and after baby feeds to actually pump for five to ten minutes on both sides so that the breasts are getting adequate stimulation.
Another thing that's really important is for the mom to get plenty of sleep, which I know is hard, to make sure that she's eating regular meals, to drink plenty of fluids and to try to relax as much as possible. Another thing I'll recommend is that sometimes if just even one feed in the middle of the night, if somebody else can do that feeding, they can do a bottle feeding with either formula or with pumped breast milk, then that can allow mom to get a few hours more of uninterrupted sleep and sometimes that can help with breast milk production during the day because mom's not as exhausted.
Announcer: Want The Scope delivered straight to your inbox? Enter your email address at thescoperadio.com and click "Sign Me Up" for updates of our latest episodes. The Scope Radio is a production of University of Utah Health Sciences.
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Splinters can be painful and irritating, despite…
Date Recorded
March 31, 2017 Transcription
Interviewer: What should you do if you get a splinter? I know it sounds like a silly question, but maybe there's something we need to know. We'll find out next on The Scope.
Announcer: Health tips, medical news, research and more for a happier, healthier life. From University of Utah Health Sciences, this is The Scope.
Interviewer: Dr. Troy Madsen's an emergency room physician at University of Utah Health. And I think, you know, everybody's gotten a splinter at some point in their life. And normally, you'd grab a safety pin or maybe your pocketknife and you just start digging. Is that okay, or is that not so good?
Dr. Madsen: Probably works okay.
Interviewer: Okay.
Dr. Madsen: It hits home for me, because just a couple days ago I was picking up some stuff and got a splinter in my finger. And it's just one of those things where you get a splinter in there, it just drives you crazy. So the reality is you probably don't have to go digging for a splinter to get it out. It will work its way out on its own. It might take a couple weeks, but if you're like me, you get that splinter in there, it's all you can think about because it hurts and it stings and it's like, "I've got to get this thing out." So I probably did everything wrong. I grabbed a thumbtack off our bulletin board and just dug at it and got it out. That's probably not the best way to do it.
Interviewer: Yeah. Because I remember my mom whenever anybody would get a splinter, she'd either take a lighter and the safety pin and burn it, or alcohol. I mean. . .
Dr. Madsen: That's right. You know it's probably best to have something that's at least sort of sterile. So if you do take a lighter and you've got a safety pin or something and just run that over the lighter or, like you said, dip it in some rubbing alcohol. Something like that is going to at least get whatever germs are on there, get that off there.
And so that'd be probably the one thing I'd say is that if you can use something that's at least reasonably clean and reasonably sterile, you're going to reduce the risk of introducing some kind of infection in there. Because as you're digging for that splinter, you're sticking that thing in there, it might go a little bit deeper. It might push something down into the wound. And you don't want to then deal with some sort of a finger infection or something more serious just because you're trying to get a splinter out.
Interviewer: All right. What about, you know, as far as getting it out, do you just start digging? Or is there a method that works better than another method?
Dr. Madsen: I'm guessing everyone has their own method.
Interviewer: Nothing you learned in med school anyway, huh?
Dr. Madsen: Well, having . . .
Interviewer: Or not a procedure you use in the ER.
Dr. Madsen: It is a procedure. You know, we do occasionally have people who come in for that sort of thing. And . . .
Interviewer: Like big splinters, I mean . . .
Dr. Madsen: Usually bigger splinters or much deeper foreign bodies. And those can be just so frustrating because I'll have people come in that say, "I know I stepped on something. I know it's in there." Sometimes I'll use an ultrasound just to see if I can see anything that jumps out on there. Sometimes I'll just go right over the point where they say, "This is where it hurts." And I'll numb it up and cut in there. But, usually, these are much deeper than anything you're going to be doing at home.
So my technique for home is to say, "Okay. I see the end of the splinter kind of sticking out right here. Or I can see kind of the tip of it there." I'll go right in that spot, try and lift up the skin a bit and just open it up along that line. And then, you know, as I'm in there, scrape around with that thumbtack or that safety pin to try to feel it and work its way out. And wash it off really well, see if I can just wash everything out. And it's kind of like what I'm doing in the ER. You know, in the ER, it's a little bit deeper. Again, I'm feeling around with some forceps as I'm going in there, hopefully feeling something that I can pull out or wash out.
Interviewer: And what is the risk of infection, really? I mean, you know, I . . . we don't want to give advice, we don't want . . . but, I mean, is it a high risk, low risk?
Dr. Madsen: I would say, if I had to put a number on it, the risk of infection with having a splinter in there is less than 5%.
Interviewer: Okay. But it is a possibility.
Dr. Madsen: There's a possibility.
Interviewer: Yeah.
Dr. Madsen: And usually, when it's infection, you're going to see a little, sort of a blister formed there, something that has what looks like pus in it. Even then, quite honestly, you're probably okay taking the safety pin, running it over the lighter, whatever to sterilize it, popping that thing open, opening it up a little bit and getting it to drain.
The biggest things I'd watch for, in terms of infection, are the hand. We always get concerned about infections in the hand. If you start to get a lot of pain along the finger or pain that's tracking up into your wrist, that's a really serious thing, because then we're worried about infection actually in the tendons. That'd be the number one thing I'd say you really need to watch out for, especially, you know, if you're digging in there with a pin or safety pin, or you start to get an infection from a splinter.
Interviewer: Got you. But otherwise, however you're doing it is probably fine.
Dr. Madsen: It's probably fine. Exactly.
Announcer: Want The Scope delivered straight to your inbox? Enter your email address at TheScopeRadio.com and click "Sign Me Up" for updates of our latest episodes. The Scope Radio is a production of University of Utah Health Sciences.
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Most newborn skin problems can usually be dealt…
Date Recorded
March 20, 2017 Health Topics (The Scope Radio)
Kids Health Transcription
Interviewer: Newborn acne, is it something to worry about? What should you do about it? We'll find out next on The Scope.
Announcer: Health tips, medical news, research and more for a happier, healthier life. From University of Utah Health Sciences, this is The Scope.
Interviewer: Dr. Amy Williams is a pediatrician with University of Utah at the South Jordan Clinic. And a parent has a child and the child gets a rash. And I understand that's a call you get a lot.
Dr. Williams: Yes.
Interviewer: They tend . . . a little freaking out happens. So let's talk about when you should be concerned about that rash, and when it's probably not a big deal, and what to about it.
Dr. Williams: Yeah, great question. I think it's a really difficult thing sometimes to know what a rash is. And quite honestly, a lot of times, doctors have to get second opinions. Rashes can be sometimes very easy and sometimes they are just confusing. So the newborn, usually, they come out with a lot of rashes and I think that's something we can focus on because a lot of them are things that parents can do at home and they don't need to bring them in.
The rash that I most commonly get questions about is the newborn acne, and it usually start to show up a couple of weeks after they're born and they get something that looks very much like a teenager's acne: the white pimples and the red on the cheeks, on the forehead. Sometimes it's all over the neck. And parents get really concerned because it shows up and we . . . they don't know what to do.
A lot of times, this is all just related to the changes that are happening in the baby during that first couple of weeks: they came out of mom, they were exposed to mom's hormones and everything and they're having this changes in their body. And the acne shows up, but quite honestly, it's a very healthy, happy, non-urgent rash. And it's something that parents can do nothing about and just allow the baby to recover from it. It usually takes a couple of weeks, sometimes a couple of months.
Interviewer: And no harm done?
Dr. Williams: No harm.
Interviewer: No skin damage?
Dr. Williams: You don't have to start buying over the counter acne medicine.
Interviewer: It's a little early to start, right?
Dr. Williams: In fact, we encourage you not to do that for a baby. Their skin is so sensitive that they really can't handle any of the medication we do for teenagers or adults. It's very healthy rash and you don't have to do anything about it all, and it will go away on its own.
Interviewer: Are there ever any instances where it doesn't?
Dr. Williams: Sometimes they are so severe that we will have a dermatologist look at it and have an evaluation to see if there's any treatment. Obviously, if there are any signs that it's getting infected or the rash is changing, those are things I would definitely bring the in for. And you can always bring them in for a concerning rash and we can always talk to you about it. If it doesn't feel all right to you, bring your baby in.
Interviewer: Yeah. And you said this lasts for about two weeks, generally?
Dr. Williams: It lasts a couple of weeks to sometimes a couple of months. Sometimes, it lasts until they're four months old and then it resolves on its own. But it's not related to food, it's not related to anything else other than their body just changing.
Interviewer: So if the acne is kind of coming and going and a new one appears, and then disappears and the new appears that goes on for a couple of months, that's totally normal?
Dr. Williams: Totally normal. Don't pop them.
Interviewer: Okay. That more good advice. For the rest of your life, that's good advice, right?
Dr. Williams: Don't ever pop them. It is something that is natural and although maybe they won't look great in baby pictures, it is absolutely normal and fine. Please don't put makeup on the baby. Just let them be who they are, let them transition.
Announcer: Thescoperadio.com is University of Utah Health Sciences Radio. If you like what you heard, be sure to get our latest content by following us on Facebook. Just click on the Facebook icon at thescoperadio.com.
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More and more children are being treated for…
Date Recorded
November 07, 2016 Health Topics (The Scope Radio)
Kids Health
Mental Health Transcription
Dr. Gellner: Every year, it seems more and more children are coming in to see me and other pediatricians because of anxiety issues. And the kids are getting younger and younger. So what do you do if you have an anxious child? I'll give you some tips on today's Scope. I'm Dr. Cindy Gellner.
Announcer: Keep your kids healthy and happy. You are now entering "The Healthy Kid Zone" with Dr. Cindy Gellner on The Scope.
Dr. Gellner: A lot of parents have concerns that their child is developing anxiety. Their child will stress over everything and no matter what they say, nothing seems to be able to calm their child down. Some anxiety is okay. We all have fears. But when this anxiety starts causing a lot of problems, that's when they should come to us.
Some parents want anxiety medications for their children. Others do not. Medications really should be a last resort, as many are not really safe in young children, often not approved use until age 12. And like any medications, they come with their own set of side effects.
So how can you help your anxious child before things get out of hand? There are some things you can try before resorting to medication. I'm going to give you some suggestions that could help change your child's fear-based thinking on both the conscious and subconscious level.
First, let your child know it's okay to feel afraid at times. But don't act too worried. Anxiety gets worse if your child feels anxious about being anxious. Remind your child how strong they are. This will help them believe in themselves. Explain that their anxiety is their body's automatic response to fear because their body thinks they're in danger. Sometimes the body gets tricked and it thinks it's in danger when it really isn't in danger. And that's just the brain's way of trying to protect them.
Have your child close their eyes, focus in the moment. Have them tell you what they're hearing or smelling and pay attention to their breathing. Tell them slow, deep breaths remind the brain that they are safe.
Give them a pillow or stuffed animal or even a box of tissues and tell them to grab it and throw it as far as they can. This can help release the high energy they have. Teach your child that panic attacks are temporary and they have the skills to make it through them.
Remember, if you make a big deal about it, this will make it bigger for them and it only serves to increase the anxiety. Figure out what your child is really afraid or anxious about. Once you understand this, you will understand what they need to help feel better. You will be able to better explain the difference between fears that help and keep us safe and fears that hurt and only cause more anxiety.
Teach your child to ask, "Will worrying about this do any good?" If the answer is no, then it's a fear that hurts. Finally, teach your child relaxation and self-calming skills. I call this their toolbox for when they get anxious. Once they learn how to calm down their fears, remind them that they can do anything.
If your child's anxiety is still keeping them from enjoying the things that children should enjoy, talk to your pediatrician about helping to find a good therapist. By coming to a pediatrician, we can help with figuring out some things to help your child initially. But if things are too complicated, we can find exactly who you need to see and get you a referral to a mental health specialist that will work with your child and do exactly what your child needs.
Tell your child that this is someone that they can talk to that will help with their feelings. And remind your child every day, "You can do this." Empowering them to be in charge of their feelings will give them the courage they need to face their fears.
Announcer: Thescoperadio.com is University of Utah Health Sciences Radio. If you like what you heard, be sure to get our latest content by following us on Facebook. Just click on the Facebook icon at thescoperadio.com.
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How can you make Halloween healthier for…
Date Recorded
October 26, 2016 Health Topics (The Scope Radio)
Diet and Nutrition
Family Health and Wellness
Kids Health Transcription
Interviewer: Three alternatives to handing out candy on Halloween, that's next on "The Scope."
Announcer: Health tips, medical news, research and more for a happier, healthier life, from University of Utah Health Sciences, this is "The Scope."
Interviewer: All right, here's the deal. You've decided you want to make Halloween a little healthier for the trick-or-treaters that show up on your door stoop, how can you do that? Well, we're going to find out right now. Registered Dietician Theresa Dvorak is from the Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology at the University of Utah College of Health and, first of all, I've got to know, as a dietitian, what are the gInterviewers and goblins getting at your door stoop on Halloween?
Theresa: A combination of things, I usually do, kind of, a bucket that they can choose out of.
Interviewer: So like, apple slices, oranges, I mean, are you handing out candy?
Theresa: Well, I guess I do more non-food things and then maybe some candy things.
Interviewer: All right, so here's the premise, you're thinking maybe you might want to make Halloween a little bit healthier for the kids in the neighborhood and not get your house TP'ed at the same time. So, let's start with number one here of, like, three candy alternatives, what's your first one?
Theresa: Things like school supplies, so pencils, erasers, that have a Halloween theme to them, keeping within . . . you know, you don't want to send out just a boring pencil or something of that sort, but maybe get ones that are decorated with a Halloween theme.
Interviewer: All right, that's pretty good, I like that. How about a second alternative?
Theresa: Another alternative would be things like trinkets or toys, you know, things like the spider rings or . . .
Interviewer: Ooh, I like that.
Theresa: . . . items of that nature that might be fun to play with.
Interviewer: And what are you going to recommend for candy-alternative number three?
Theresa: And then, third could be something of a healthy choice, a healthy snack like a string cheese or apple slices, prepackaged, healthful foods. Interviewer: Yeah, because that's another one of the tricks, right? Like, I think, well, you could hand out apples, but no you can't because of the safety concerns.
Theresa: Right, just like candy, you want to make sure that it's fully packaged and sealed, so even if it was just those miniature boxes of raisins, those are great things to hand out as well, those dried fruit, individual packages.
Interviewer: Like, what about granola bars? Are those better than candy? Like, little, small granola bars?
Theresa: It depends, a lot of them, honestly, have about the same amount of sugar that a candy bar would, so incorporated into a balanced diet, maybe, but that certainly could be a choice that looks different than, say, a Snickers bar.
Interviewer: And you said that you, kind of, give out a mix of things, so why is that?
Theresa: You know, I like to let the kids choose.
Interviewer: Do they choose the apple slices ever?
Theresa: They do.
Interviewer: Do they?
Theresa: They do, honestly, yeah. I think part of it is just that it's something different that they're not getting at all at the other houses, so it's that unique piece. Yeah, and you know, Halloween too is really just about the experience, right? Going out and trick-or-treating, going door-to-door and dressing up, and out with their friends or family. And so it's the fun of the trick-or-treating and then often, too, the sorting of the items when they get home, right? Putting them into different piles and "What am I going to choose first?" or what have you. That's really the fun of Halloween is the trick-or-treating and the sorting.
Interviewer: So as a registered dietitian, it sounds like you do give out . . . do you give out candy at all?
Theresa: I do, I do a combination.
Interviewer: Yeah but kids will go for the healthier stuff?
Theresa: They do, yeah.
Interviewer: And does your house get TP'ed every year?
Theresa: No, thankfully.
Interviewer: No, everything's good, all right, that was very helpful, some, maybe, alternatives to giving out candy or, I like your idea, maybe even giving a mix or giving kids the choice.
Announcer: Want The Scope delivered straight to your inbox? Enter your email address at thescoperadio.com and click "Sign Me Up" for updates of our latest episodes. The Scope Radio is a production of University of Utah Health Sciences.
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Learning about the diagnosis of an illness…
Date Recorded
July 27, 2016 Health Topics (The Scope Radio)
Family Health and Wellness
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Hand arthritis is nearly inevitable with…
Date Recorded
October 21, 2025 Health Topics (The Scope Radio)
Bone Health
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Need to see your doctor but don’t feel like…
Date Recorded
November 04, 2015 Health Topics (The Scope Radio)
Family Health and Wellness Transcription
Interviewer: How about the next time you need to see the doctor, you don't have to go into the office, but you can see your physician virtually? We're going to talk about virtual doctor visits next on The Scope.
Announcer: Medical news and research from University of Utah physicans and specialists you can use for a happier and healthier life. You're listening to The Scope.
Interviewer: Dr. Nathan Bexfield is with University of Utah Health Care at the South Jordan Health Center. A brand new thing, because of technology, is starting to happen called virtual visits and I want to find out more about how I can visit my doctor virtually and what conditions qualify. So thanks for taking time. Tell me more about virtual visits.
Dr. Bexfield: Virtual visits are a very cool thing that we have happening here. You can have a visit with your doctor on your computer, on your iPad, iPhone, on your smartphone and just talk to them about what's going on. And we can even diagnose some disorders and some rashes and illnesses via the technology that we have.
Interviewer: So are you using live video streaming. Is it like I call you on FaceTime?
Dr. Bexfield: Yeah, it's like a FaceTime or a Skype call. It goes through something called True Clinic and we are able to talk to you and interact with you like we would if we were in the office.
Interviewer: All right. So if I have a cold, is that a good thing for Virtual Visit?
Dr. Bexfield: Actually, that one's not.
Interviewer: Okay.
Dr. Bexfield: Because that's one where we actually need to lay hands on you and listen to the heart, listen to the lungs, make sure you don't have any ear infection or anything else going on. So we need you to be in the office for that type of visit.
Interviewer: Yeah. So what virtual visits, what are they good for? What conditions?
Dr. Bexfield: Things that we can see so things like rashes. Sometimes eye things that we can look at and just tell whether or not you have a very simple pink eye or something like that. Other things that it's good for are behavioral health issues like depression, anxiety, ADHD, things like that where we are mostly discussing on how things are going, how medication is working, and things like that.
Interviewer: So a follow-up visit.
Dr. Bexfield: Yes.
Interviewer: And why is that beneficial?
Dr. Bexfield: An initial visit where we diagnose those sort of things requires us to do a physical exam and have a little more interaction face-to-face as opposed to virtually.
Interviewer: Yeah. And then those follow-up visits, why is it advantageous not to have to come into the clinic?
Dr. Bexfield: Well, often those follow-up visits are every 3 to 6 months so while that's not super often, we want to make things as convenient as possible. If you don't have to come in for the visit, and you can just talk to me for 15 or 20 minutes through a call, then we can do that. You can do that on your lunch break at work if you want to.
Interviewer: How do you get on the road to a virtual visit?
Dr. Bexfield: You call and make the appointment through our call center.
Interviewer: Just like I would call to make any appointment.
Dr. Bexfield: Exactly.
Interviewer: Okay.
Dr. Bexfield: And they will send you an email, which will have a link that you just click on and it will take you right to the platform that we use for the actual visit.
Interviewer: Do I have to ask for the virtual visit, or is that something the receptionist will offer based on what I've told them?
Dr. Bexfield: They should offer it to you, depending on what the complaint is. But if they don't, and you're wondering whether or not you can do a virtual visit, then just ask.
Interviewer: Okay. And then after I've made that appointment, how quickly does that turn around?
Dr. Bexfield: Well, it's like any other appointment. If you could be seen in the same day, we could do the virtual visit in the same day.
Interviewer: Gotcha. And if it's a rash you'd just take a look at it and you'd go, "Well, that's an easily identifiable rash. I'll write you a prescription." And bing, bang, boom, done.
Dr. Bexfield: Exactly. If we can diagnose it through the virtual visit, then that's even better. Sometimes, there are going to be cases where we can't really tell for sure whether or not it's something that we can diagnose, or whether or not it's something that we need to see in the office. So if that's the case, we may ask you to come in.
Interviewer: And if you have a physician relationship already, and maybe a reoccurring condition, you just need a refill or something that required an office visit at one point, you might even be able to do that virtually, I suppose.
Dr. Bexfield: That is definitely conceivable.
Interviewer: How is this going to change health care?
Dr. Bexfield: I think it's going to make it easy on the patients. I think if you have trouble with transportation, getting in to the clinic, this is going to make things easy for you to do some stuff at home. We can basically do anything through the Internet these days now, so why not do medicine?
Interviewer: And completely secure and private?
Dr. Bexfield: Yes. And that's why we go through True Clinic, as opposed to a FaceTime or a Skype platform. True Clinic is secure; it keeps everything private.
Interviewer: Anything else that you feel compelled to say that I forgot to ask?
Dr. Bexfield: Virtual visits are going to make things way easier on parents, especially parents who have lots of kids. I think we're going to have parents who really appreciate the fact that they can get into and see their doctor whenever they like, provided we have an appointment available, from the comfort of their own home.
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