How should emergency care respond when demand exceeds available resources? Drawing on civilian and military experience, Simon Horne explores the tension between capacity and quality, arguing for honest priorities, less low-value activity and reliable delivery of the best care resources allow.
Emergency Department Management
What should emergency care performance measures tell us about patients' experience and safety? Craig Ferguson examines the standards proposed in England in 2021, the strengths and weaknesses of the four-hour target, and why changes to measurement need evidence as well as good intentions.
Joke Van kerkhoven draws on emergency medicine and elite sport to explore leading yourself under pressure. Written during COVID-19, this practical reflection covers mindset, breathing, planning and recovery, with ways to prepare for difficult situations and learn from them afterwards.
Esther Murray and colleagues explore moral injury and the psychological impact of working through COVID-19. This video discussion considers recognition, prevention and support, emphasising honest conversations and the importance of feeling heard when difficult experiences challenge clinicians' values.
Emergency Department Management
How should trainee experience shape emergency medicine research priorities? Rob Hirst describes TERN's 2020 priority-setting project, explains the Delphi consensus process and considers why the questions trainees encounter may differ from those emphasised by other professional groups.
A personal reflection of one Clinical Director of an Emergency Department, discussing the lure of leadership and some of its potential perils
Practical perspectives on trauma care and team leadership.
Explore the series →