Practical Tips: When and How to Use a Femoral Nerve Block
An 82-year-old female shows up in your ED with severe hip pain after a fall at home. You already know what the x-ray is before you see it
12 Ways to Prosper in Emergency Medicine
After 35 years in emergency medicine, you gain a little more than just medical knowledge. The day in and day out, grueling aspects of our chosen field can som
Understanding Alcoholic Ketoacidosis
A 49-year-old male with a history of alcohol abuse presents to the ED with complaints of generalized abdominal pain and vomiting for the last 36 hours. The patien
A Different Perspective
Ian and I found out we were pregnant on the Sunday after Thanksgiving – one month along; everything seemed to be going right in life, and this just felt like it was meant to b
What EMS Teaches Us
“I'm scared.” The young woman was tearful. These were the words of a patient from our first call of the day, a woman from the local jail with a possible miscarriage. She had had
Outside the ED: How EMS can Improve Your Emergency Medicine Residency
Pre-hospital medicine offers unique opportunities to an EM physician, and EMS training complements the emergency medicine curric
A Reflection on Mental Health and Emergency Medicine
After a knock on the door, I entered the hospital room to find Lisa, a 12-year-old patient who was seated on the exam table, eyes fixed on her sho
Backboards: Do They Really Have Your Back?
Spinal immobilization has long been considered standard practice for pre-hospital trauma patients. Placing patients on long spinal boards is one of the most
Management of Hypothermia from Wilderness to the ED
Wilderness medicine entails the treatment of exposure-related maladies in the middle of nowhere. Well, not always. While this blossoming field of e
A Guide to International Emergency Medicine Fellowships
Finding Your Niche in the World There are over 30 International Emergency Medicine (IEM) fellowship programs, with more being added every year.