A Profile of Orthopedic Education in Emergency Medicine Residency Programs in the United States.

Introduction Emergency medicine (EM) residents throughout the United States are required to become skilled at performing a robust list of select orthopedic procedures, as well as learn how to diagnose and manage patients with musculoskeletal complaints. However, EM residency programs vary significantly in how they teach orthopedics and the content they cover. The purpose of this study was to profile the orthopedic education received by emergency medicine residents in United States residency programs.

A national assessment of residency wellness initiatives in emergency medicine.

Background: Wellness is increasingly recognized as an important component of graduate medical education. However, there are limited data regarding how wellness initiatives are enacted in practice. This study aimed to survey emergency medicine (EM) residency programs to identify current, previous, and planned wellness initiatives as well as barriers to implementation and resources utilized.

Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia.

Supraventricular tachycardia is a common emergency department (ED) pathology that frequently leads to hospital admission, but this may not be necessary in all cases. Here, we present a supraventricular tachycardia patient who was discharged from the ED after vagal maneuvers. This case demonstrates evidence that judicious emergency physicians can discharge supraventricular tachycardia patients home safely and gives impetus for a data-driven protocol for discharging these patients.

Loperamide Overdose.

In light of the opioid epidemic, cardiac complications following a loperamide overdose are a growing concern for patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). Here, we present the case of a 35-year-old male with long QT syndrome who presented following a loperamide overdose and was receiving multiple shocks because of the resulting arrhythmias and electrolyte disturbances. It is necessary for emergency physicians to be aware of loperamide overdoses because cases have been increasing over the past several years and the cardiac complications can be life-threatening.

Aortic Bifurcation Saddle Thrombus.

Acute aortic pathology demands a high index of suspicion and frequent reevaluations during emergency department (ED) stay for proper diagnosis. This high index of suspicion is crucial to avoid missing the potentially devastating aortic diagnosis. Here, we present a 59-year-old male who presented with chest pain and was ultimately diagnosed with a rare aortic bifurcation saddle thrombus causing acute aortic occlusion.

Cognitive Errors and Risks Associated with Provider Handoffs.

The emergency department is a challenging environment to practice medicine, primarily due to the pace and logistics of practicing emergency medicine. Cognitive errors and provider handoffs can lead to poor patient outcomes. By acknowledging and addressing cognitive errors, including premature closure, anchoring, and diagnosis momentum, we can potentially improve patient care.