Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
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The aim was to use a computer model to estimate the cost-effectiveness of 64-slice multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) of the coronary arteries in the emergency department (ED) compared to an observation unit (OU) stay plus stress electrocardiogram (ECG) or stress echocardiography for the evaluation of low-risk chest pain patients presenting to the ED. ⋯ In this computer-based model analysis, the MDCT risk stratification strategy is less costly and more effective than both OU-based stress echocardiography and stress ECG risk stratification strategies in chest pain patients presenting to the ED with low to moderate prevalence of CAD.
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The Tuscan Emergency Medicine Initiative (TEMI) is a comprehensive emergency medicine (EM) training program designed to build an EM training infrastructure in Tuscany, Italy. The program has successfully trained a team of instructors using a train-the-trainers model, certified 350 physicians who are already practicing in emergency departments (EDs), and established a master's program as a bridge to specialty training at the region's three universities. Using lessons learned from this program, the authors identify eight factors (The Eight Cs) that can serve as a guide to implementing a collaborative EM program in other environments: collaboration, context, culture, credibility, consulting, consistency, critique, and conclusion. Each of these topics is described in detail and may be useful to other international interventions.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Comparison of adverse events during procedural sedation between specially trained pediatric residents and pediatric emergency physicians in Israel.
The aim was to compare the rate of procedural sedation-related adverse events of pediatric residents with specific training in "patient safety during sedation" and pediatric emergency physicians (PEPs) who completed the same course or were teaching faculty for it. ⋯ Unsupervised pediatric residents with training in patient safety during sedation performed procedural sedations with a rate of adverse events similar to that of PEPs.
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Comparative Study
Actual financial comparison of four strategies to evaluate patients with potential acute coronary syndromes.
Small studies have shown that a negative computed tomography coronary angiogram (CTA) in low-risk chest pain patients predicts a low rate of 30-day adverse events. The authors hypothesized that an immediate CTA strategy would be as effective but less costly than alternative strategies for evaluation of patients with potential acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ⋯ Compared to the other strategies, immediate CTA was as safe, identified as many patients with CAD, had the lowest cost, had the shortest LOS, and allowed discharge for the majority of patients. Larger prospective studies should confirm safety before immediate CTA replaces other strategies to rule out possible ACS.
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Oral presentations are a critical element in the communication of medical knowledge between students and faculty, but in most locations, the amount of time spent on teaching the oral presentation is minimal. Furthermore, the standard oral presentation does not work well within the emergency medicine (EM) setting, due to time constraints and the different principles that make EM a unique specialty. This article provides a suggested approach on how to educate students on optimal oral presentations in EM, as well as providing a link to an online guide instructing medical students how to give oral presentations.