Sketchcasting on What Drives Us

I recently came across a new means of online teaching and information delivery called sketchcasting. The premise isn’t new. It combines a podcast (someone speaking) with visuals (images). In sketchcasting, the images are instead someone drawing on a virtual whiteboard in real-time to convey information.

I recently found a sketchcast with stop-motion and speed-up effects, which really made the presentation dynamic and super-engaging. This sketchcast by Dan Pink (Author of “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us”) was created by the Royal Society for the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA).

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By Michelle Lin, MD|2019-01-28T23:39:21-08:00Jun 15, 2010|Social Media & Tech|

Paucis Verbis card: Septic Arthritis

In the workup of monoarticular arthritis, the question that emergency physicians constantly struggle over is whether the patient has a nongonococcal septic arthritis. This joint infection alarmingly damages and erodes cartilage within only a few days.

This installment of the Paucis Verbis (In a Few Words) e-card series reviews the JAMA Rational Clinical Examination article which asks “Does this patient have septic arthritis?” Pooled sensitivities and likelihood ratios were calculated. These statistics are always helpful when trying to figure out the patients probability of having a septic joint.

I was surprised to learn that only about 50% of patients with septic joints have a fever. Note that a hip or knee prosthesis PLUS an overlying skin infection pretty much equals a septic joint (LR = 15.0).

Risk factors are listed in the table with the corresponding sensitivities, specificities, and likelihood ratios.

PV Card: Septic Arthritis

Go to ALiEM (PV) Cards for more resources.

By Michelle Lin, MD|2021-10-19T19:42:49-07:00Jun 11, 2010|ALiEM Cards, Infectious Disease, Orthopedic|

Trick of the Trade: Finding the femoral vein by V-technique

I rarely access the femoral vein for central venous catheterization… except in medical or trauma resuscitations. Oftentimes in these resuscitations, there are too many people near the IJ or subclavian vein site. People are intubating, performing CPR, trying to get peripheral vein access, etc.

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By Michelle Lin, MD|2019-01-28T23:39:57-08:00Jun 9, 2010|Tricks of the Trade|

Article Review: Conceptual Model on Learner Reflection

Reflective journals and electronic portfolios are becoming increasingly popular within undergraduate and graduate medical education. I’m starting to be a believer in this learning approach, which teaches learners about professional development and life-long learning principles. Academic Medicine just published a great qualitative paper proposing a conceptual model for reflection.

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By Michelle Lin, MD|2019-02-19T18:43:35-08:00Jun 7, 2010|Education Articles, Medical Education|

SAEM 2010 (June 2-6, 2010)

The Society of Academic Emergency Medicine’s (SAEM) annual meeting starts this week. Instead of my regular posts, I thought I’d try using the Twitter widget to post real-time, first-hand accounts and photos from the conference.

SAEM is a very dynamic and productive conference, where academicians in Emergency Medicine meet to pow-wow about the future of our specialty.

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By Michelle Lin, MD|2016-11-11T19:00:44-08:00Jun 1, 2010|Medical Education|

PV Card: Dermatomal and Myotomal Maps

There are some things in life which I just can’t memorize and dermatomal/myotomal maps are one of them. Weird cases of peripheral neurologic symptoms have presented to the ED in the setting of trauma and no trauma. So purely for selfish reasons, I’m making my own map to have on file.

This installment of the Paucis Verbis (In a Few Words) e-card series reviews Sensory and Motor Function Testing by Levels.

PV Card: Dermatomal and Myotomal Maps

Go to ALiEM (PV) Cards for more resources.

By Michelle Lin, MD|2021-10-08T09:42:25-07:00May 28, 2010|ALiEM Cards, Neurology, Orthopedic|

Trick of the trade: Endotracheal tube lubrication

Does your endotracheal tube get caught up on a swollen or floppy epiglottis during insertion?

Trick of the Trade: Endotracheal tube lubrication

Occasionally the endotracheal tube may become “caught up” along the epiglottis. Because it is difficult to predict when this may happen, pre-lubricate the endotracheal tube cuff and tip with a thin layer of water-soluble lubricant, such as K-Y jelly. This lubricant can also minimize the degree of surface trauma to the trachea and tracheal rings as the tube passes the vocal cords.

By Michelle Lin, MD|2016-11-11T19:00:45-08:00May 26, 2010|Tricks of the Trade|

About Michelle Lin, MD

PV Card: Septic Arthritis

PV Card: Dermatomal and Myotomal Maps

Trick of the Trade: Endotracheal tube lubrication