Family medicine
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Food insecurity, defined as the lack of reliable access to sufficient quantities of affordable, nutritious food and present in 11.1% of the general population, has not been assessed in medical students. Food insecurity is related to adverse outcomes for both health and academics in undergraduate students. Assessing the presence of food insecurity in medical students, a population at high risk for burnout and depression, may allow for intervention in order to improve overall wellness in this population. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of food insecurity in a medical student population and identify potential reasons for any measured food insecurity. ⋯ Prevalence of food insecurity in medical students may be similar to the general population. While the results of this study represent only one medical school, we believe these results are similar at other medical schools. Interventions to reduce food insecurity in this population are necessary to improve overall student wellness.
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Morbidity and mortality conference (MMC) is educationally important. However, resident physicians rate it less positively than faculty, citing focus on assigning blame rather than targeting change. Additionally, many MMC presentations are selected for clinical novelty instead of avoidable outcome. Despite significant time and resources routinely committed to MMC, its educational and clinical impact is generally limited. This warrants shifting focus toward quality improvement and systems-based care. ⋯ QC demonstrated statistically significant increased relevance compared to MMC, reflecting the benefit of systems-based, thematically-linked cases.
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At a time when the US health care system needs greater access to comprehensive, on-demand primary care, the University of North Carolina Family Medicine Center found itself struggling to meet patient demands within the confines of an outdated facility. Clinic leadership sought to redesign the physical space to expand capacity, integrate other members of the care team, support extended hours of operation, and improve patient experience. ⋯ Lean methodology proved to be an effective strategy for analyzing our current workflows and use of physical space. Moreover, lean strategies proved vital for redesigning and renovating our clinic.