Acute coronary syndrome and cardiac arrest: using simulation to assess resident performance and program outcomes.

Background: Simulation training has emerged as an effective method of educating residents in cardiac emergencies. Few studies have used emergency simulation scenarios as an outcome measure to identify training deficiencies within residency programs.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate postgraduate year-1 (PGY-1) residents on their ability to manage an acute coronary syndrome and cardiac arrest scenario before and after internship in order to provide outcome data to improve program performance.

Assessing intern core competencies with an objective structured clinical examination.

Background: Residents are evaluated using Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies. An Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a potential evaluation tool to measure these competencies and provide outcome data.

Objective: Create an OSCE to evaluate and demonstrate improvement in intern core competencies of patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice before and after internship.

Imaging modalities in wounds and superficial skin infections.

Open wounds and lacerations are the most commonly encountered problems in emergency medicine. Detection and removal of a foreign body is essential to avoid the many complications of a retained foreign body, which may include infection, inflammation, allergic reaction, and disability. Currently, there are several imaging modalities that the emergency medicine provider may use to aid in foreign body detection and wound management.

Local anesthetics and peripheral nerve blocks in the emergency department.

The emergency physician has a variety of options for providing effective pain relief. A solid understanding of the local anesthetic agents and regional anesthetic techniques is an essential component of every emergency physician's analgesia armamentarium.