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
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
How can an emergency department debrief support learning after a difficult event? This 2013 discussion considers purpose, timing, facilitation, hierarchy and staff participation, with an emphasis on recognising good practice, agreeing improvements and identifying colleagues who need further support.
It’s Good to Talk – Debrief in the Emergency Department Read More
A 2013 journal club reviews Louise Cullen and colleagues’ validation of a two-hour strategy using high-sensitivity troponin to assess chest pain. It explores diagnostic performance, the proportion potentially suitable for early discharge and how patient selection and subsequent interventions complicate interpretation.
JC: Cullen on high sensitivity Troponin. St.Emlyn’s Read More
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.
Developing EM – ethical Emergency Medicine in Cuba. St.Emlyn’s Read More
What might emergency physicians learn from Sir Alex Ferguson’s leadership? Written on his retirement in 2013, this reflection explores motivation, proportionate praise, honest feedback, relationships and learning from setbacks, drawing connections between leading a football team and improving an emergency department.
Sir Alex Ferguson and Emergency Medicine Read More
A report from Joe Lex’s visit to St Emlyn’s in April 2013 as its first visiting professor. The evening brought emergency physicians and students together to hear experiences from his career and reflect on the values and principles behind their work.
Joe Lex at St. Emlyn’s Read More
How often are peripheral intravenous cannulas placed in the emergency department actually used? This 2013 journal club reviews a Melbourne study, considers use after admission as well as in the ED, and asks how teams might reconsider routine cannulation and audit local practice.
JC: Is that IV really needed? Read More
