A personal review of the Essence of Emergency Medicine course in 2013, led by Cliff Reid and colleagues. The account focuses on human factors, learning openly from mistakes, taking responsibility and advocating for patients when systems make good care difficult.
Review: The Essence of Emergency Medicine Read More
How much confidence should we place in age-based estimates of a child’s weight? This 2013 report compares APLS formulae with measured weights in a local study, explores variation hidden by average accuracy and argues for measuring weight whenever circumstances allow.
APLS weight estimation – don’t do it (well almost never). St.Emlyn’s Read More
A 2013 journal club explores an Australian observational study of childhood CT exposure and subsequent cancer diagnoses. It puts relative risk headlines into perspective and considers how clinicians balance the immediate benefits of diagnosis against possible harms that may emerge much later.
JC: Do paediatric CT scans cause cancer? St.Emlyn’s Read More
Could unconscious preferences influence how we assess and treat patients? This reflection explores rapid judgements, evidence of unequal pain treatment and the idea of implicit association, inviting emergency clinicians to examine assumptions that may differ from their conscious commitment to fair care.
Does a missed diagnosis inevitably lead to serious harm? Part six of the Risky Business series explores the steps between diagnostic uncertainty and a poor outcome, including deterioration, return visits and opportunities to reconsider the diagnosis and intervene.
Emergency Medicine: A risky business part 6. How many steps to disaster? Read More
An archived 2013 announcement about an Academy of Medical Educators membership route for graduates of the ALSG Generic Instructor Course. The post considers recognition of teaching work, professional development and the distinction between this arrangement and other instructor-course routes.
Good news – AoME + GIC = Membership. St.Emlyn’s Read More
Could cryoprecipitate and tranexamic acid work together to improve trauma outcomes? This 2013 journal club examines observational data from Camp Bastion, highlighting baseline differences, statistical adjustment and the difficulty of transferring findings from a military setting to civilian practice.
JC Cryo + TXA for trauma apparently it also MATTERS. St.Emlyn’s Read More
What did the 3MG trial add to the evidence for magnesium in acute severe asthma? This 2013 appraisal compares intravenous and nebulised treatment with placebo, focusing on admission and breathlessness while stressing that patients with life-threatening features were excluded.
Does Magnesium work in asthma? St.Emlyn’s Read More
