Struggling to decide if your patient requires a RBC transfusion? Read on: we'll review the most recent studies and evidence-based guidelines to aid in your clinical decision-making.
Clinical decision rules (CDR) can improve decision-making in specific situations in the ED, potentially decreasing further testing and improving disposition times. This part of the CDR series will look in detail at a current clinically significant CDR and pathway - The HEART pathway.
Based on the available data, it does not appear that cervical collars have any appreciable positive effect on patient care. However, at this point in time, they are the recommended treatment option. Hopefully this knowledge will help your daily practice by understanding the effects of cervical immobilization.
There are often multiple roadblocks to incorporating a CDR into clinical practice. These can be broken into the 1) individual provider and 2) the institution. 1. Emergency physicians are a rare breed, and many of us do not appreciate suggestions on how to practice. Individual providers vary in ma...
Alcohol use is extremely widespread throughout developed countries. It is estimated that 8 million people in the US are alcohol dependent. Approximately 20% of men and 10% of women will at some point in their lives have an alcohol-use disorder. About half of people with alcohol-use disorders will...
A 59 year-old male presented to the emergency department with a chief complaint of difficulty concentrating and loss of vision. He had presented to the same facility the day prior for chest pain, chills, and a cough. During his prior visit, the patient underwent a chest x-ray which demonstrated a co...
The Institute of Medicine’s 1999 report “To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System” drew attention to medical errors and the need for improving quality and safety in medicine. Since then, a body of literature has emerged suggesting that transparency around adverse events and medical err...
How do you care for the crashing trauma patient? This post takes you through the critical resuscitation step-by-step.
