Trick of the Trade: Ambient noise and creative cognition

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For many of us in academia and medical education, we accomplish a tremendous amount of work outside of the workplace. This can be in our home office, on the public transit system, or in the library.

Interestingly, creative cognition occurs best with a moderate amount of ambient noise (not too much and not too little), according to a 2012 article from Journal of Consumer Research.

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By |2019-02-19T18:04:59-08:00Mar 12, 2013|Tricks of the Trade|

Need your input! PV cards becoming an app

It’s all about luck, opportunity, and timing.

I will be releasing the blog’s first ever Paucis Verbis (PV) native app this year. After a few years of brainstorming and lots of reader inquiries about an app, we were approached by two different app-building companies in the same week. I’m incredibly humbled to be approached by organizations, who can see the potential of these pocket cards (which started as actual index cards while I was in residency). It is an incredibly exciting time to be in the world of education and social media!

I need your help with step 1.

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By |2017-03-05T14:14:30-08:00Mar 12, 2013|ALiEM Cards, Social Media & Tech|

PE in pregnancy: which diagnostic tests do you use?

Pulmonary embolism (PE) can be a deadly disease and one of the most challenging diagnosis to make in a pregnant patient. Patients may present with signs and symptoms that might also be present in a normal uncomplicated pregnancy. Even in nonpregnant patients, the diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) such as PE can be quite challenging.

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By |2017-03-05T14:18:48-08:00Mar 6, 2013|Cardiovascular, Ob/Gyn, Pulmonary|

Trick of the Trade: External jugular tourniquet

Paitents can be a challenge when trying to obtain peripheral IV access. The vein may be collapsed from dehydration or scarred because of IV drug use or repeated cannulation. Before thinking about an ultrasound-guided deep vein IV or a central line, take a look at the external jugular (EJ) vein.

There are, however, a few problems that exist when trying to cannulate this site:
  • There is no tourniquet for the neck.
  • To distend the vein, you often need to put the patient in Trendelenburg, which may be uncomfortable or intolerable for some
By |2016-11-11T11:17:20-08:00Mar 5, 2013|Tricks of the Trade|
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