Today’s episode of the podcast is a myth busting on all the media reports about first responders overdosing by being exposed to fentanyl in the field by incidental contact. This is physically impossible and the misinformation out there has scared a lot of people, cost us lots of money in the form of hazmat responses and shutting down hospitals, and prevented overdose patients from getting the timely care they need in an emergency. This episode will systematically go through every argument why fentanyl is NOT harmful via incidental exposure and debunk these myths to give first responders one le ..read more

EM Basic is finally back with a new episode. Today’s episode will discuss neonatal resuscitation with Dr. Azif Safarulla, a neonatologist at Augusta University. Dr. Dan McCollum and Dr. Jessica Gancar interview Dr. Safarulla on the nuts and bolts of running a successful neonatal resuscitation in the ED. These can be one of the scariest populations we have in the ED so it’s important to have a rational and logical approach to quickly assess and intervene on our smallest and youngest patient population. Neonatal Resuscitation (Show notes coming soon) Neonatal Resuscitation Show Notes (Word Form ..read more

Hello everyone, EM Basic will be back soon with new episodes but I am writing this post to bring your attention to the new 2018 Surviving Sepsis guidelines…and why I (and many others) think that they have to go. Here’s the bottom line and the real sticking point: the 2018 Surviving Sepsis guidelines mandate antibiotics and 30 ml/kg fluid bolus now be given within 60 minutes of emergency department TRIAGE!?!?  This has zero evidence behind it and will only cause patient harm by rushing to implement antibiotics and fluids that most patients will not need.  Does anyone remember the “ant ..read more

Just a few days after the new EM interns start, today’s episode will talk about my advice to new EM interns.  Think of this as the “big picture advice” or a 30,000 foot view of how to approach EM residency.  I’ll talk about 4 major big picture points to keep in mind as you start your residency.  This will go way beyond “arrive early, stay late, and always keep learning” and expand on some big picture ideas of how to function well as a new intern. Big Picture Advice to New Interns Podcast Below is a blog post version of the podcast in case you want to read it (edited for clarity ..read more

Today’s episode is on the evaluation and management of sickle cell anemia in the Emergency Department. Dr Jared Walker, a third year EM resident at the University of Florida Jacksonville, has written and recorded this excellent review of sickle cell disease. This episode will discuss how to properly assess patients with sickle cell, how to order the right labs and imaging, what red flags to look out for, how to control sickle cell pain, how to catch the various complications of sickle cell, and proper patient disposition. Sickle Cell Anemia Podcast Sickle Cell Disease Show Notes (Word Format ..read more

Today’s episode of the podcast is a myth busting on all the media reports about first responders overdosing by being exposed to fentanyl in the field by incidental contact. This is physically impossible and the misinformation out there has scared a lot of people, cost us lots of money in the form of hazmat responses and shutting down hospitals, and prevented overdose patients from getting the timely care they need in an emergency. This episode will systematically go through every argument why fentanyl is NOT harmful via incidental exposure and debunk these myths to give first responders one le ..read more

EM Basic is finally back with a new episode. Today’s episode will discuss neonatal resuscitation with Dr. Azif Safarulla, a neonatologist at Augusta University. Dr. Dan McCollum and Dr. Jessica Gancar interview Dr. Safarulla on the nuts and bolts of running a successful neonatal resuscitation in the ED. These can be one of the scariest populations we have in the ED so it’s important to have a rational and logical approach to quickly assess and intervene on our smallest and youngest patient population. Neonatal Resuscitation (Show notes coming soon) Neonatal Resuscitation Show Notes (Word Form ..read more

Hello everyone, EM Basic will be back soon with new episodes but I am writing this post to bring your attention to the new 2018 Surviving Sepsis guidelines…and why I (and many others) think that they have to go. Here’s the bottom line and the real sticking point: the 2018 Surviving Sepsis guidelines mandate antibiotics and 30 ml/kg fluid bolus now be given within 60 minutes of emergency department TRIAGE!?!?  This has zero evidence behind it and will only cause patient harm by rushing to implement antibiotics and fluids that most patients will not need.  Does anyone remember the “ant ..read more

Just a few days after the new EM interns start, today’s episode will talk about my advice to new EM interns.  Think of this as the “big picture advice” or a 30,000 foot view of how to approach EM residency.  I’ll talk about 4 major big picture points to keep in mind as you start your residency.  This will go way beyond “arrive early, stay late, and always keep learning” and expand on some big picture ideas of how to function well as a new intern. Big Picture Advice to New Interns Podcast Below is a blog post version of the podcast in case you want to read it (edited for clarity ..read more

Today’s episode is on the evaluation and management of sickle cell anemia in the Emergency Department. Dr Jared Walker, a third year EM resident at the University of Florida Jacksonville, has written and recorded this excellent review of sickle cell disease. This episode will discuss how to properly assess patients with sickle cell, how to order the right labs and imaging, what red flags to look out for, how to control sickle cell pain, how to catch the various complications of sickle cell, and proper patient disposition. Sickle Cell Anemia Podcast Sickle Cell Disease Show Notes (Word Format ..read more