General Nephrology

The goal of the General Nephrology Program at the University of Utah Health is to help fellows become competent in caring for patients with general nephrology problems. Fellows will have the opportunity to work in both inpatient and outpatient clinics at the VA and University of Utah Hospitals. By the end of their training, fellows will have an understanding of percutaneous biopsy of native kidneys, urinalysis, renal ultrasound, lithotripsy, and therapeutic plasmapheresis. The educational objectives are divided into 4 dialysis rotations, each 6 months in length, as follows:

• Months 1-6 - Fellows function at the level of accurate reporting of the history, physical and other data, i.e., they correctly recall and state the relevant facts. Fellows begin to understand or comprehend this information, reviewing and reporting the relevant facts in an organized and efficient manner. Fellows begin to describe how to apply this information to make diagnostic and therapeutic decision.
• Months 7-12 - Fellows are able to accurately interpret the history, physical examination and data. The information is analyzed and an accurate differential diagnosis is formulated. Fellows are able to perform urinalysis accurately. Fellows continue in their abilities to design a diagnostic plan and therapeutic interventions.
• Months 13-18 - Fellows are able to correctly manage general nephrology patient care. This extends previous expectations to formulating a correct diagnostic plan, making the correct diagnosis. They should be beginning to critically analyze literature relevant to the care issues.
• Months 19-24 - Fellows are competent in all six core competencies. They function as selfeducators, reading and analyzing the literature, and adjusting their care based on this analysis. They also function as educators in a larger context, using their clinical experience and information they have obtained from the literature to teach their colleagues, staff and faculty.