I am Dr. Elise Lovell, EM Program Director: How I Stay Healthy in EM

By |Mar 11, 2018|Categories: Healthy in EM|

Dr. Elise Lovell is an EP and the EM Residency Program Director at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Chicago. She maintains her wellness by staying active, spending time with her supports, and loving her job. When she isn’t working clinically or leading her residency program, you can find her clearing her mind with a quick run. She’s onto something with her philosophy on work-life integration! Here’s how she stays healthy in EM! [+]

MEdIC: Case of the Night Shift Stimulants – Expert Review and Curated Community Commentary

By |Mar 9, 2018|Categories: MEdIC series, Tox & Medications|

Our fifth case of season 5, The Case of the Night Shift Stimulants, presented the scenario of a junior emergency medicine (EM) resident who witnesses her attending physician taking stimulants in order to function during his night shift. The MEdIC team (Drs. Tamara McColl, Teresa Chan, Sarah Luckett-Gatopoulos, Eve Purdy, John Eicken, Alkarim Velji, and Brent Thoma), hosted an online discussion around the case over the last 2 weeks with insights from the ALiEM community. We are proud to present to you the curated commentary and our expert opinions. Thank-you to all participants for contributing to the very rich discussions surrounding [+]

SplintER Series: Complications & Discharge Care Plans With Splints 103

By |Mar 7, 2018|Categories: Expert Peer Reviewed (Clinical), Orthopedic, SplintER|

In this SplintER Series, we review splinting fundamentals, introduce advanced concepts, and highlight ways to implement these into your next shift. In SplintER 102, we reviewed the materials used in splinting and a general approach to applying a splint. Today’s post puts the spotlight on some of the potential complications of splinting, discharge care plans, and pharmacological adjuncts to aid in recovery. [+]

Renal Colic & Pulmonary Embolism CT | Reducing Imaging: ACEP E-QUAL Network Podcast

By |Mar 5, 2018|Categories: Genitourinary, Podcasts, Pulmonary, Radiology|

Computed tomography (CT) is increasingly available across U.S. Emergency Departments and has changed the practice of medicine. However, it is coupled with potential side-effects from radiation and contrast media. Emergency Medicine is beginning to make a concerted effort to identify clinical scenarios in which CT may be unnecessary, producing outcomes research and validated clinical decision rules. Renal colic and pulmonary embolism, in particular, seem amenable to this area of investigation. The ACEP E-QUAL Network podcast, a partnership with ALiEM to promote clinical practice improvements, reviewed this topic with experts Dr. Chris Moore (Emory University) and Dr. Jeffrey Kline (Indiana University). We present highlights [+]

ALiEM AIR Series: Environmental Module

By |Feb 26, 2018|Categories: ALiEMU, Approved Instructional Resources (AIR series), Environmental|

  Welcome to the Environmental Module! After carefully reviewing all relevant posts from the top 50 sites of the Social Media Index, the ALiEM AIR Team is proud to present the highest quality online content related to environmental emergencies. 3 blog posts within the past 12 months (as of December 2017) met our standard of online excellence and were curated and approved for residency training by the AIR Series Board. We identified 0 AIR and 3 Honorable Mentions. We recommend programs give 1 hour (about 20 minutes per article) of III credit for this module. [+]

I am Dr. David Wald, Assistant Dean of Clinical Simulation: How I Stay Healthy in EM

By |Feb 25, 2018|Categories: Healthy in EM|

Dr. David Wald is an EP and Professor of Emergency Medicine at Temple University. When he’s not in the Department, you can find him out on the water, getting in another paddle. His gold medal wins highlight his commitment, skill, and passion for Dragon Boat racing! Not only does he keep physically fit, but he has figured out how to maintain a sense of balance while juggling several roles in and outside the hospital. Here’s how he stays healthy in EM! [+]

MEdIC Series: The Case of the Night Shift Stimulants

By |Feb 23, 2018|Categories: MEdIC series|

Welcome to season 5, episode 5 of the ALiEM Medical Education in Cases (MEdIC) series! Our team (Drs. Tamara McColl, Teresa Chan, John Eicken, Sarah Luckett-Gatopoulos, Eve Purdy, Alkarim Velji, and Brent Thoma) is pleased to welcome you to our online community of practice where we discuss the practice of academic medicine! This month, we present a case of a junior resident who witnesses her attending physician taking stimulants to function during his night shift. Check out the case and join the conversation in the comments section! We’d love to hear your thoughts on this controversial topic! [+]

    Discovering How We Learn: A Conversation with Dr. Geoff Norman

    By |Feb 22, 2018|Categories: Medical Education, Professional Development|

    We’re taking a look back at the first ever Faculty Incubator Talk with Experts. This Google Hangout session with the legendary Dr. Geoff Norman is an incredible treasure that has been unearthed from the Faculty Incubator Vault! You may be asking yourself, “what does a PhD in nuclear physics know about medical education?” The answer is “plenty!” With Dr. Norman’s help, Drs. Teresa Chan and Jonathan Sherbino (both from McMaster University) take a deep dive into how the brain processes information and how this knowledge can be used in our educational practice. [+]

    ACMT Toxicology Visual Pearls: Drug-Induced Rash

    By |Feb 21, 2018|Categories: ACMT Visual Pearls, Tox & Medications|Tags: |

    Two patients with substance-use disorder present to an ED in the United States with a new rash. Which of the following is the most likely exposure? Krokodil (desomorphine) Levamisole-adulterated cocaine Methamphetamine-induced allergic reaction Wound botulism secondary to heroin use [+]

    Jennifer S. Love, MD

    Jennifer S. Love, MD

    Chief Resident
    Department of Emergency Medicine
    University of Pennsylvania

    Intravenous lidocaine for renal colic

    By |Feb 14, 2018|Categories: Tox & Medications|

    Pain management in the ED has become a balancing act. EPs must continually balance adequate pain management with the risks of opioids prescribing. As providers reach into their pain management toolbox it is always nice to have as many options as possible because one size does not fit all. Specifically for the management of acute renal colic, IV preservative-free (cardiac) lidocaine has been gaining popularity as a potential alternative when opioids are unable to get job done or are contraindicated due to co-morbidities or a history of addiction. Is it safe? Does it work? [+]