ACEP Now

MARCH 13, 2024

Emergency departments (EDs) provide the essential service of evaluating patients with unscheduled, acute, undifferentiated, and decompensated conditions. Consequences of this are well documented and include delayed treatment, exposure to error, increased length of stay, and increased mortality. PloS one 13.8

Ethical Issues 52

Ethical Issues Emergency Department Operations Hospitals 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MARCH 14, 2024

It is well known that NOMI usually has a normal ECG or nonspecific ECG. We also studied 7 years of Code STEMI patients requiring emergent reperfusion, and found that 4% presented with an ECG labeled ‘normal’, often confirmed by the final blinded interpretation.

EKG/ECG 122

EKG/ECG Documentation/Coding Patient Safety Outcomes 122

RebelEM

MARCH 27, 2023

Over the past few years, there has been an increase in emergency department (ED) volumes and lengths of stay. The effect of emergency department crowding on lung-protective ventilation utilization for critically ill patients. Unfortunately, its not clear whether the documentation came from RTs or ED providers.

Emergency Department 52

Emergency Department Operations Documentation/Coding Academics 52

Pediatric EM Morsels

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

In one ED study, ALL cases of missed travel-related illness did not have a documented travel history in their ED note , whereas 90% of the identified travel-related illnesses had a provider documented travel history (Greenky 2022) Those who are visiting friends and relatives (VFR) are typically at highest risk. Pediatr Emerg Care.

Infectious Diseases 161

Infectious Diseases Pediatrics Sepsis Documentation/Coding 161

ACEP Now

DECEMBER 6, 2024

This case report documents the first known instance of using NTG during an emergency department resuscitation to treat a patient in cardiac arrest due to severe coronary artery vasospasm. Cardiac arrest secondary to myocardial ischemia from coronary vasospasm is well documented.

Resuscitation 98

Resuscitation EKG/ECG Documentation/Coding COPD 98

AENJ: Current Issue

SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

The overuse of computed tomographic (CT) scans for patients who present to the emergency department (ED) after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has been well-documented. The Canadian Computed Tomography Head Rule (CCHR) is a validated tool to guide ED providers in determining the need for emergent CT of mTBI patients.

Emergency Department 52

Emergency Department Documentation/Coding Outcomes Wellness 52

EMDocs

JULY 25, 2024

The nurse completes the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) and documents that the patient’s recent thoughts of killing himself and his detailed plan makes him “High Risk” for suicide. There is no documented handoff to the on-coming emergency physician (EP) who assumes care. ” (See reference #1 below.)

Documentation/Coding 94

Documentation/Coding Hospitals Patient Safety Emergency Department 94

EMDocs

OCTOBER 3, 2023

Emergency Physician and founder of Orman Physician Coaching Host of the Stimulus Podcast Learn more at roborman.com If you want to hear the coaching session where Brit and Rob deconstructed his shift and came up with this strategy, it’s here. Episode 87: Conquering Mid-Shift Overwhelm Mid-shift in an emergency department is a special beast.

Documentation/Coding 109

Documentation/Coding EMS Operations Emergency Department 109

EM Literature of Note

OCTOBER 1, 2023

” This brief report in Annals describes a retrospective experiment in which 30 written case summaries lifted from the electronic documentation system were fed to either clinician teams or ChatGPT. Each case was tested both solely on the recorded narrative, as well as with laboratory results added.

Documentation/Coding 88

Documentation/Coding Operations Emergency Department Wellness 88

RebelEM

DECEMBER 23, 2024

There has been ongoing study about the clinical significance of these effects, as well as whether and for whom LR might provide meaningfully better clinical outcomes ( Myburgh 2013 , Self 2018 , Semler 2018 , Self 2020 ).

Fluid Resuscitation 121

Fluid Resuscitation Resuscitation Documentation/Coding Outcomes 121

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

OCTOBER 12, 2024

A man in his 90s with a history of HTN, CKD, COPD, and OSA presented to the emergency department after being found unresponsive at home. Vital signs were within normal limits on arrival to the Emergency Department. Written by Bobby Nicholson What do you think of this “STEMI”? Blood glucose was not low at 162 mg/dL.

EKG/ECG 118

EKG/ECG Documentation/Coding Emergency Department COPD 118

Don't Forget the Bubbles

JUNE 19, 2024

Well-designed multicentre large studies in children were warranted; cue Leonard et al. PECARN prediction rule for cervical spine imaging of children presenting to the emergency department with blunt trauma: a multicentre prospective observational study. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2024 Jun 3:S2352-4642(24)00104-4.

CPR 124

CPR Research Outcomes Documentation/Coding 124

RebelEM

JUNE 8, 2023

If pre-made syringes are not financially feasible then the creation of these medications should be done by a dedicated emergency department pharmacist. Clinical Bottom Line: Acute hypotension must be treated emergently in order to decrease morbidity and mortality. J Med Toxicol. Epub 2019 Jul 3. Intensive Care Med.

Administration 97

Administration Emergency Department Outcomes Documentation/Coding 97

ACEP Now

NOVEMBER 7, 2024

About three percent of emergency department (ED) visits are due to skin and soft tissue infections, but data are lacking on the contribution of chronic wounds to this number. Photographic documentation of the wound is helpful to enhance continuity of care.

Burns 97

Burns Documentation/Coding Outcomes Emergency Department 97

EMDocs

FEBRUARY 13, 2024

You can’t control the influx, but you can control how you approach it, how you document, your own internal triage, team communication. What goes well, what could go better, and how can you tweak it? What happens in the emergency department impacts your life outside the emergency department.

Emergency Department 86

Emergency Department Hospitals Documentation/Coding Wellness 86

ACEP Now

OCTOBER 10, 2024

The reason I think orthopedists have done so well because they’ve been involved, they’ve been politically engaged, they’ve used their assets to preserve their assets. There’s no hard line for how many hours you should be measured on in terms of boarding or in terms of how long you’re in the emergency department.

Telemedicine 105

Telemedicine Critical Access Hospitals Administration 105

AENJ: Current Issue

JULY 31, 2024

Stroke-like symptoms are a common complaint in the emergency department; however, signs of an acute cerebrovascular event in a patient under the age of 50 can be both alarming and unexpected. In this case, a 41-year-old male presented to the emergency department with vague symptoms of intermittent weakness and paresthesias for 4 days.

Stroke 42

Stroke Documentation/Coding Emergency Department Wellness 42

Taming the SRU

AUGUST 4, 2024

We discussed some practices to push learners outside of their comfort zone and promote learning, based on their level as well as their goals for the shift.

Dislocations 85

Dislocations Emergency Department Documentation/Coding Burns 85

Mind The Bleep

JANUARY 28, 2025

per 1000 emergency department attendances in the UK (1). First Aid Measures : Document if any initial care has been done, such as cleaning or dressing the wound. Documentation Clearly record findings, including measurements and descriptions of the wound, and consider photographic documentation if appropriate.

Documentation/Coding 52

Documentation/Coding Head Injuries Fractures Emergency Department 52

Taming the SRU

NOVEMBER 14, 2023

Chief complaints involving the ear are a common occurrence in Emergency Departments across the US and include presenting symptoms such as ear pain or fullness, hearing loss, redness, trauma, vertigo, and foreign bodies. A retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (NEDS) from 2009 through 2011 identified 8.6

Emergency Department 93

Emergency Department Pediatrics Wellness Fractures 93

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JANUARY 27, 2024

, tells us that we physicians do not need to even look at this ECG until the patient is placed in a room because the computer says it is normal: Validity of Computer-interpreted “Normal” and “Otherwise Normal” ECG in Emergency Department Triage Patients I reviewed this article for a different journal and recommended rejection and it was rejected.

EKG/ECG 120

EKG/ECG Emergency Department Outcomes Documentation/Coding 120

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 27, 2024

Smith comment: Go here for a comprehensive blog post on syncope and link to the most detailed version of the Canadian Syncope Rule: Emergency Department Syncope Workup. With ongoing transcutaneous pacing, Cardiology emergently took the patient to the cath lab for temporary pacing wire placement via right IJ which she tolerated well.

EKG/ECG 123

EKG/ECG Documentation/Coding Emergency Department Wellness 123

Taming the SRU

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

Shewakramani Sepsis is associated with 20-40% mortality Screening tools for detecting patient at risk for sepsis in the ED SIRS Criteria (more sensitive tool) Temp <36C (96.8F) or >38C (100.4F) HR >90 RR >20 WBC <4k or >12k (or >10% bands) qSOFA Score GCS <15 RR >22 SBP <100mmHg Overall, SIRS Criteria remains (..)

Sepsis 95

Sepsis Fractures Documentation/Coding Administration 95

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

MAY 13, 2024

Written by Destiny Folk, MD, Adam Engberg, MD, and Vitaliy Belyshev MD A man in his early 60s with a past medical history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and hyperlipidemia presented to the emergency department for evaluation of chest pain. The ECG shows sinus rhythm and relatively normal QRS morphology.

EKG/ECG 123

EKG/ECG Emergency Department Ultrasounds Documentation/Coding 123

ALiEM

JANUARY 22, 2024

A 40-year-old male, tailor by occupation, was brought to the Emergency Department with complaints of high-grade fever for the past 11 days. Fever was documented to be 102°F and was not associated with any chills or rigors. The patient during his hospital stay developed ARDS and was on mechanical ventilation for 20 days.

Documentation/Coding 64

Documentation/Coding Academics Emergency Department Hospitals 64

EB Medicine

DECEMBER 1, 2018

Antigen drift refers to small point mutations to the viral genes that code for H and N. When cells are infected by 2 or more strains, a new strain can emerge after genetic reassortment. Jeff: Of note, EMS providers should use face masks themselves and place them on patients as well. Nachi: Amazing.

Emergency Department 40

Emergency Department CDC Infectious Diseases EMS 40

RebelEM

JULY 3, 2023

Currently, the infusion of IV calcium before diltiazem is not well understood, and more studies have focused on administering IV calcium prior to verapamil than diltiazem. Impact of intravenous calcium with diltiazem for atrial fibrillation/flutter in the emergency department. Am J Emerg Med. Article: Rossi N et al.

Administration 88

Administration Outcomes Documentation/Coding Emergency Department 88

The Skeptics' Guide to EM

OCTOBER 1, 2022

Disparities in the emergency department management of pediatric migraine by race, ethnicity, and language preference. Guest Skeptic: Dr. Lauren Westafer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School – Baystate. AEM September 2022. AEM September 2022.

Pediatrics 52

Pediatrics Emergency Department Documentation/Coding Research 52

Don't Forget the Bubbles

OCTOBER 10, 2024

Adopting this approach would reduce time in surgery for the child as well as the financial cost of nail bed repair. Exploring communication preferences and risk thresholds of clinicians and parents of febrile infants under 90 days presenting to the emergency department: a qualitative study. Arch Dis Child. Epub ahead of print.

Emergency Department 75

Emergency Department Outcomes Research Operations 75

Northwestern EM Blog

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

Written by: Diana Halloran (NUEM ‘24) & Andrew Long (NUEM ‘25) Edited by: Nick Wleklinski (NUEM ‘22) Expert Commentary by : John Bailitz, MD Introduction The Emergency Department is a challenging work environment for a variety of reasons.

Resuscitation 52

Resuscitation Emergency Department Academics Wellness 52

EMDocs

SEPTEMBER 23, 2023

Physical exam reveals a well-appearing female in no acute distress. A 23-year-old man with no significant medical history presents to the emergency department for evaluation of a syncopal episode. The patient states that this has never happened before. Neurological exam is also unremarkable. Mayo Clin Proc 2000;2013:845.

EMS 96

EMS EKG/ECG Documentation/Coding Emergency Department 96

ACEP Now

SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

Creation of an accurate database of emergency physicians living and working within a state, as well as a network of each states’ EM groups and ED medical directors would help chapter leaders disseminate relevant information, strengthen advocacy efforts, and plan regional solutions summits to focus on unique challenges.

Leadership 98

Leadership PPE EMS Wellness 98

All Ohio EM

JULY 15, 2019

By Christy Rukamp DO and Zachary Hampton DO At times, documentation feels like the bane of existence. In residency, we practice resuscitations, rehearse critical procedures, and review in-service test questions; however, we rarely learn key components of documentation. CT scan was performed, as well as urinalysis and lab work.

Documentation/Coding 52

Documentation/Coding Wellness Emergency Department Resuscitation 52

Dr. Smith's ECG Blog

JUNE 11, 2024

Queen of Hearts is available and performs well. Emergency department Code STEMI patients with initial electrocardiogram labeled ‘normal’ by computer interpretation: a 7-year retrospective review. Learning Points: You cannot trust conventional algorithms even to find STEMI(+) OMI, even when they say "normal ECG."

EKG/ECG 116

EKG/ECG Documentation/Coding Emergency Department Wellness 116

Taming the SRU

OCTOBER 30, 2024

Case #2: Facial Swelling CT imaging has seen a significant increase in the last 20 years. ​ Although there has been an increase in imaging, diagnostic yield has remained relatively stable​ Factors the impact imaging decision includes reliability of the physical exam as well as extrinsic factors such as consultants and admitting services.​

Hospitals 52

Hospitals Emergency Department EKG/ECG Documentation/Coding 52

RebelEM

MARCH 13, 2024

This was not a Code 3 respiratory distress, fentanyl overdose with minimal response to Narcan or even an unconscious stroke patient with the blood pressure of a giraffe. Would they ever be well enough to be extubated? The patient came in working hard to breath, had minimal improvement after meds and treatments and was clearly tiring.

Documentation/Coding 58

Documentation/Coding Outcomes EMS Stroke 58

ALiEM

JANUARY 10, 2025

A 3-month-old male with no past medical history was brought to the emergency department for evaluation of newly asymmetric pupils. Constitutional : No distress, well appearing. Other documented pharmacological causes of anisocoria include nebulized ipratropium bromide and scopolamine (14-19). EOM intact bilaterally.

Pediatrics 64

Pediatrics Documentation/Coding Academics Administration 64