Articles: emergency-medicine.
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In this article, we propose a methodology to be used by emergency medicine faculty members who are interested in career planning and faculty development on an individual basis. The basic competencies needed by faculty and methods of setting goals are described. Educational courses, workshops, seminars, and self-study strategies that can be used to provide the basic competencies and meet defined goals are described, including the advantages and disadvantages of each method, the time commitment, and needed resources. The advantage of this methodology is the ability to customize a program to meet individual needs and fit into the constraints of available time and monetary resources.
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This article provides brief updates, pearls, and pitfalls on aspects of emergency practice that are dealt with routinely, including the application of diagnostic testing in the emergency department, ruling out subarachnoid hemorrhage, and the use of tympanic temperatures. Physician-patient and physician-physician communication skills are addressed. Finally, medicolegal and administrative topics, such as EMTALA, writing admitting orders, treating minors in the emergency department, and blood product therapy in Jehovah's Witnesses are also discussed.
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Emergency cardiac problems are a frequent and significant occurrence in the daily life of the emergency physician. The first part of this article discusses some of the pearls and pitfalls of caring for the cardiac patient ranging from treating wide-complex tachycardia and troubleshooting pacemaker malfunction to diagnosing acute myocardial infarction in the setting of bundle branch blocks. The second part of this article updates the reader on several of the newer technologies and treatments, such as transesophageal echocardiography and intravenous amiodarone, now in use in the emergency department setting.
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Pearls and pitfalls learned from our practical experiences caring for poisoned patients are presented. Clinical pearls include the following: using diagnostic tests to detect end-organ toxicity, applying physiologic principles to the management of hemodynamically unstable poisoned patients, and dealing with psychologic injuries from hazardous materials incidents. ⋯ Therefore, updates on the evolving role of NAC as an antidote for acetaminophen poisoning, new psychotropic medications, and new antidotes were included in this article. These pearls, pitfalls, and updates are intended to provide practical information that is readily applicable to the clinical practice of emergency medicine.
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Patients present to the emergency department with a number of eye, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) problems. This article updates some very common problems; identifies a few pearls on nasal foreign body removal, ophthalmologic medication, and epistaxis; and reviews a few pitfalls in identifying malignancies and sore throats.