How were emergency medicine’s research priorities chosen in 2017? This report and podcast introduction describe the James Lind Alliance and RCEM process, bringing patients, clinicians and researchers together to rank unanswered questions and guide future research beyond individual interests.
Can emergency medicine remain a broad specialty as clinical practice becomes more specialised? Reflecting on his SMACCDub debate with Scott Weingart, Simon Carley examines generalism, critical-care skills and the risk that subspecialisation fragments the team’s ability to care for undifferentiated patients.
Conference ReportsCritical Care
What does an ED handover look like from the other side of the stretcher? Ashley Liebig draws on prehospital experience to discuss respect, a calm reception and uninterrupted communication, then asks teams to agree and practise a shared approach to transferring care.
Which foreskin concerns reflect normal development, and which need further assessment? In this 2017 paediatric surgery primer, Ross Fisher shares his personal approach to common presentations, including inflammation, phimosis, paraphimosis and problems following circumcision, with an accompanying podcast.
Does therapeutic hypothermia improve recovery after status epilepticus? This 2017 appraisal examines a randomised trial’s 90-day functional outcomes, questioning its sample-size assumptions, treatment variation and whether a non-significant result was enough to rule out a clinically important benefit.
Emergency Department Management
How can an ED make its leadership and development roles clearer? Southampton’s collaboratively written leadership portfolio sets out duties, accountability and allocated time, helping consultants and specialty doctors use job planning to agree expectations and review their non-clinical work.
Practical perspectives on trauma care and team leadership.
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