Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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Each year, approximately 40,000 patients with acute asthma are transported by the Fire Department of New York City (NYC) Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Out-of-hospital administration of bronchodilator therapy has, however, been restricted by scope of practice to advanced life support (ALS) providers. Since the rapid availability of ALS units cannot always be assured, some individuals with acute asthma may receive only basic life support (BLS) measures in the field. ⋯ This study demonstrates that EMT-Bs can effectively administer albuterol to acute asthma patients in the out-of-hospital environment.
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Comparative Study
Performance of a population-based cardiac risk stratification tool in Asian patients with chest pain.
Most contemporary cardiac risk stratification tools have been derived and validated in mixed-race populations. Their validity in single-race populations has not been tested. The authors sought to compare the performance of a risk stratification tool between a mixed-race U.S. patient population and an Asian patient population. ⋯ Differences exist in presentation and factors associated with ACS among patients from the United States and Singapore that may affect the performance of risk stratification tools. These findings suggest that cardiac clinical decision rules need international validation.
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Disaster planning is a core curriculum requirement for emergency medicine (EM) residency programs. Few comprehensive training opportunities in disaster planning incorporating the appropriate competencies have been reported. ⋯ Emergency medicine residency programs can benefit from participating in high-quality medical disaster exercises coordinated with local disaster response agencies. Residents report high satisfaction and learning from realistic simulations of disasters, and from collaboration with other community services.
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As the marketplace for academic positions in emergency medicine grows more competitive, it becomes increasingly important for residents who desire academic careers to distinguish themselves during their residency. This report attempts to outline a road map for department and residency program leaders to help their houseofficers become successful candidates for an academic emergency medicine position. Specific ways a resident can enhance his or her "academic marketability" include 1) involvement in research, 2) establishment of a track record of productivity via scholarly writing, 3) awareness of the literature in the specialty, 4) involvement in specialty organizations and hospital committees, 5) competition for national awards, 6) gaining education skills, 7) developing an academic niche, and 8) fellowship training.