Utilizing learning communities to deliver an integrated undergraduate medical education curriculum.

Aim: Learning communities (LCs) have been identified as a structure to support student wellness as well as create a positive learning environment and have been increasingly adopted in undergraduate medical education (UGME). In 2016, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine made curricular changes which integrated basic, social, and clinical sciences. One of the major strategies adopted to deliver this integrated curriculum was to create LCs that served as a central scaffold for students' academic development.

Simulation 2.0: Integrating Basic Scientists and Clinicians in a Simulation Environment.

An increasing number of medical schools are implementing curricular changes that better integrate clinical and basic sciences throughout all four years of medical school. One of the most frequently cited reasons is to improve medical student clinical reasoning skills while simultaneously aiming to decrease the attrition of basic science knowledge. Multiple pedagogical strategies have been explored to achieve this goal.

Postpartum depression screening: are we doing a competent job?

Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the most common and severe postpartum morbidity, affecting 10%-20% of mothers within the first year of childbirth. The adverse effects of PPD, namely, prevention of mother-baby bonding and early cessation of breastfeeding, adversely affects infant growth and brain development. Studies have found that up to 50% of women with PPD go undiagnosed.

Medication-induced obstructive uropathy and hyperprolactinemia in a pediatric patient.

Hyperprolactinemia can result from a pituitary tumor or decreased dopamine levels due to compression of the pituitary stalk. Hypothyroidism, renal failure, and drug interaction need to be ruled out as a part of diagnostic evaluation. The prolactin level often indicates the etiology, but drug interaction needs to be ruled out mainly in a patient who is on multiple medications.

Improving oral health through dental fluoride varnish application in a primary care paediatric practice.

Dental caries affect 97% of people during their lifetime. A total of 59% of children aged 12-19 will have at least one documented cavity. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends fluoridated toothpaste to all children starting at tooth eruption, regardless of caries risk.

Parapharyngeal abscess: A difficult diagnosis in younger children.

Parapharyngeal abscess is a difficult diagnosis to make in the pediatric population. Children <3 years of age present with fever, often the only sign at the initial presentation, thus causing a delay in diagnosis until the patient presents with more focal findings, such as a painful neck mass. Repeated follow-up visits with the patient until the diagnosis is confirmed are critically important to prevent complications.

Improving asthma severity and control screening in a primary care pediatric practice.

Asthma is the most commonly encountered chronic disease in children. Periodic assessment of asthma severity and control is an integral part of asthma management, but patients with uncontrolled asthma don't always schedule routine asthma care visits. The aim of this project was to improve asthma control and severity screening in a primary care setting by using a validated tool for all visits for patients with a diagnosis of asthma aged 4-21 years.

Improving early childhood literacy and school readiness through Reach Out and Read (ROR) program.

Reach out and Read program (ROR) prepares young children to succeed in school by partnering with physicians and training them in handing out age appropriate books and to counsel parents about the importance of reading aloud to their children. Children served by ROR enter kindergarten with stronger vocabulary and language skills. The aim of this project was to improve the rate of distribution of books and physician advice about reading, to the families at each well child visit in the age range of six months to five years.

Improving viable low cost generic medication prescription rate in primary care pediatric practice.

The pediatric clinics of the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (MSU-CHM) consist of academic pediatricians serving two clinics with a patient population of 5200. The internal quality measures published by the MSU health team had consistently indicated our generic medications prescription rate to be very low, with an average of about 21% for the years 2009, 2010, and 2011. There was an earnest need to increase our generic medication prescription rates, which is considered an indicator of good practice.

Improving validated depression screen among adolescent population in primary care practice using electronic health records (EHR).

Adolescent depression, has been identified as one of the important risk factors for adolescent safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends screening the adolescent population for depression with a validated screening tool at least once a year. Given the time constraints in primary care, many physicians tend to rely more on clinical questioning to screen depression.