Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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Multicenter Study
Does interview date affect match list position in the emergency medicine national residency matching program match?
Some residency applicants believe that the date on which they interview with a residency program influences how the program ranks them in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). Therefore, the authors studied whether interview date affects match list position in the emergency medicine (EM) residency match. ⋯ In this study, interview date for EM residency positions in the 1997-98 season did not affect match list position among ranked applicants. Moreover, interview date had nno effect on the decision to leave candidates unranked.
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Bedside ultrasound examination by emergency physicians (EPs) is being integrated into clinical emergency practice, yet minimum training requirements have not been well defined or evaluated. This study evaluated the accuracy of EP ultrasonography following a 16-hour introductory ultrasound course. ⋯ Emergency physicians can be taught focused ultrasonography with a high degree of accuracy, and a 16-hour course serves as a good introductory foundation.
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To determine whether a hypertonic saline bolus improves cardiac conduction or plasma potassium levels more than normal saline infusion within 15 minutes of treatment for severe hyperkalemia. Previously with this model, 8.4% sodium chloride (NaCl) and 8.4% sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO(3)) lowered plasma potassium equally effectively. ⋯ In this model, 8.4% NaCl bolus reversed cardiac conduction abnormalities within the first 15 minutes after treatment, more rapidly than did the 0.9% NaCl infusion or control. This reversal occurred despite similar reductions in potassium levels.