Emergency Department Management

The opening instalment of a medical leadership series draws on Stephen Covey’s advice to be proactive. It explores focusing effort on what we can influence, responding to difficult situations according to our values and taking responsibility for how we work with patients and colleagues.

A contemporary review of NICE’s January 2014 head-injury guideline, CG176. The post explores what changed for emergency clinicians, including CT decisions in adults and children, anticoagulation, cervical spine imaging and discharge information, while discussing the evidence and uncertainties behind the recommendations.

A December 2013 update on efforts to address emergency medicine recruitment in the UK. The post points readers to a Health Education England document, an EMJ commentary and a podcast with Cliff Mann, then president of the College of Emergency Medicine.

What happens when colleagues, relatives or public figures arrive expecting different treatment in the emergency department? This reflection examines fairness, pressure to prioritise, over-investigation and incomplete assessment, and considers how teams can handle personal connections while keeping care consistent with clinical need.

A short introduction to the College of Emergency Medicine’s 2013 guide to making the most of training. The linked document offers ten tips for trainees, including advice on preparing for the FCEM examination.

What did the 2013 review of the Liverpool Care Pathway mean for emergency care? This reflection argues for individualised end-of-life care, conversations with patients and families, and honest discussion of uncertainty, rather than losing sight of comfort and dignity as the paperwork changes.