Can J Emerg Med
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Health disparities between racial and ethnic groups have been documented in Canada, the United States, and Australia. Despite evidence that differences in emergency department (ED) care based on patient race and ethnicity exist, there are no comprehensive literature reviews in this area. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the literature on the impact of patient ethnicity and race on the processes of ED care. ⋯ Further research on the existence of disparities in care within EDs is warranted to explore the causes behind observed disparities for particular health conditions and population groups in specific contexts.
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Case Reports
Just the facts: Organ donation in the emergency department: When you can't save one, save eight.
A 16-year-old female presents to a community emergency room following a suicide attempt by hanging. Prehospital, on arrival of paramedics, the patient was in a pulseless electrical activity rhythm. Paramedics provided advanced cardiac life support for 20 minutes before they obtained return of spontaneous circulation. ⋯ Her neurological exam shows pupils to be 3 mm and fixed bilaterally, absent cough and gag, and no response to central or peripheral pain. She occasionally triggers 2-3 spontaneous breaths per minute above the set rate on the ventilator. Her CT head scan shows severe anoxic changes and cerebral edema.
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The Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) selection process has come under scrutiny due to the increasing number of unmatched medical graduates. In response, we outline our residency program's selection process including how we have incorporated best practices and novel techniques. ⋯ We describe a rigorous resident selection process for our emergency medicine training program which incorporated simultaneous cloud-based rating, Z-scores, and heat maps. This standardized approach could inform other programs looking to adopt a rigorous selection process while providing applicants guidance and reassurance of a fair assessment.