Could medical scribes improve emergency department workflow? In this 2014 journal club, Natalie May and Damian Roland examine a before-and-after study involving electronic ordering and scribes, questioning causality, the practical significance of time savings and the implications for documentation accuracy and UK practice.
JC: Scribes in the ED? Read More
A patient with ongoing chest pain has an ECG that does not fit a familiar STEMI pattern. This educational case from 2014 asks how the clinical history and shape of the ST segments should influence the next decision, before revealing the angiographic findings and outcome.
Cardiology Case 04: An unusual ECG Read More
When a clinician describes a ‘gut feeling’, is it intuition or recognition of a clue they have not yet articulated? This reflection explores tacit knowledge and paediatric examples, asking whether examining the reasoning behind these decisions could reveal skills that can be taught to others.
Feeling in the gut or thinking in the brain..? Read More
Does improving an acid–base measurement demonstrate that a resuscitation fluid is better for patients? This 2014 journal club examines a small trial comparing Plasma-Lyte with saline in major trauma, exploring surrogate outcomes, fluid volumes and why the findings could not establish a benefit in patient-centred outcomes.
JC: Plasma-lyte or Saline in Trauma? St. Emlyn’s Read More
Rick Body introduces the original Manchester Acute Coronary Syndromes decision rule in this 2014 research report. He explains its derivation and external validation, how clinical features and biomarkers contribute to risk assessment, and the questions that still needed answering before routine use.
The MACS Rule: Immediate ‘rule in’ and ‘rule out’ for suspected cardiac chest pain Read More
A report from Retrieval 2014 in Glasgow, with a recorded talk on the first hour of paediatric sepsis aimed at generalists who care for children. Simon Carley also shares conference highlights on retrieval leadership, resilience, simulation and prehospital care.
Paediatric sepsis: The first hour. PLUS St.Emlyn’s at #Retrieval2014 Read More
Why can acute dystonia be mistaken for anaphylaxis, anxiety or neurological disease? This 2014 clinical review explores varied presentations, medication-related causes and diagnostic anchoring, alongside treatment considerations and the importance of reconsidering the diagnosis when the picture does not fit.
Dystonia in the Emergency Department. St Emlyn’s Read More
Natalie May reflects on feeling like an impostor while speaking at SMACC Gold in 2014. Her account explores the pressure of teaching people whose opinions matter deeply, the support of the FOAM community and finding value in a contribution despite persistent self-doubt.
Who’s That Girl? Impostor Syndrome at #SMACCGold Read More
