All of the St Emlyn’s Blog and Podcast content that relates to the philosophy of emergency medicine
Emergency care is more pressured than ever—but is compassion being lost in the chaos? This post explores the reality of compassion fatigue, the systemic and cultural barriers to empathy, and practical, evidence-based strategies to reconnect with patients in meaningful ways.
Is there still room for compassion in emergency care? Read More
Emergency departments (EDs) often seem to shift from calm to crisis in an instant. Why? This article explores ED crowding through the lens of complexity science and self-organised criticality, explaining how minor changes—like a few extra patients—can trigger disproportionate chaos. Using the sandpile analogy and concepts like power law distributions, we reveal why traditional linear models and static targets often fail to manage ED flow effectively. Instead, we offer a data-driven, systems-based approach: identifying tipping points, recognising early warning signs, and implementing proactive, anticipatory interventions. From real-time dashboards to weekly cycle planning and distributed decision-making, this article offers a practical guide for building resilience in emergency care. Learn how your ED can thrive in complexity, not just survive it.
Self-Organised Criticality: Why your ED is like a Sand Pile Read More
Artifical Intelligence has been on our radar in emergency medicine for years, promising to streamline workflows, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and help decision-making.
“Time Critical: Information Light” decision-making is vital in emergency medicine, requiring swift actions with minimal data. However, uncertainty decreases over time as more information becomes available.
Optimal Timing for Life-Saving Procedures in Critical Care: Finding the Goldilocks Moment Read More
What you don’t do, determines what you can do Tim Ferris One of the most powerful personal lessons I have learned in recent years is every time I say YES
Choosing with Intention Read More
Our conference report from the 11th Kongress der Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Notfallmedizin in Graz Austria in 2024. r@stemlyns Blog themes on trauma, cardiac arrest and research . #FOAMed
11th Kongress der Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Notfallmedizin Read More
A review of a paper from the EMJ that explores what are that main factors influencing retention, working conditions and opportunties in UK emergency medicine.
Retention, working conditions and opportunities in EM Read More
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