Public Health

Could time spent in an emergency department offer an opportunity for sexually transmitted infection screening? This 2014 appraisal examines a trial of brief counselling and testing in young women, questioning its sample size, generalisability and whether measuring immediate uptake captures the wider value of screening.

During the 2014 Ebola outbreak, emergency physician Sarah Payne puts practical questions to an infectious diseases and virology clinician. Their discussion explores UK preparedness, simulation, travel history, protective equipment and staff exposure, recording the concerns and guidance of that outbreak rather than current operational advice.

In this 2014 guest post, Mark Wilson explains the origins of GoodSAM: connecting nearby trained responders with emergencies before an ambulance arrives. He describes the thinking behind the app, its early defibrillator mapping and questions about responder participation, registration and indemnity during the project’s development.

A 2013 response to reports of paramethoxyamphetamine, or PMA, in tablets sold as ecstasy. The post discusses changing patterns of recreational drug use, severe toxicity and hyperthermia, drawing on poisons information and the limited clinical evidence available at the time.

An archived introduction to Developing EM’s September 2013 conference in Cuba. The post highlights the organisers’ aim of sharing emergency and critical care education internationally, connecting visiting clinicians with local colleagues and supporting the systems in which they work.