General

Definition of an Emergency Physician

Thu, 02/16/2012 - 20:31 — traine

From the ACEP Blog The Central Line:

An emergency physician can be defined like this.

He or she is one who:

- takes care of patients in emergency situations

- teaches, supervises and councils residents, medical students, midlevels, nurses, paramedics, EMT’s and others

- typically sees more ordinary, general practice cases than critical patients. (Many days are not typical)

- listens to and tries to minimize patients’ fears and concerns

- handles even the most acute and critical cases with confidence and aplomb

- acts as part-time:

obstetrician/gynecologist
radiologist
ophthalmologist
anesthesiologist
internist
surgeon
pediatrician
neurologist
orthopedist
urologist
cardiologist
otolaryngologist
psychiatrist
and family doctor

- reassures patients and their loved ones

- skillfully intubates, sutures, drains abscesses, runs codes, reduces fractures and dislocations, does bedside ultrasound and LP’s; inserts chest tubes, intraosseus lines, central lines, catheters, etc.

- looks after people from the prenatal stage to the end of life

- coordinates patient care with other departments and specialists

- always advocates for the patient, even, if necessary, in the face of formidable resistance and opposition from others

- stabilizes all patients until proper specialist referral can be accomplished

- gets scrutinized and criticized a bit more often than praised

- sometimes has to suffer the unrealistic, naive and arrogant opinions of others

- keeps coming back to work, because taking care of sick people really matters

Is there anything an emergency physician doesn’t do?

Any other questions?

Marlene Buckler, MD, FACEP

Official Blogger for the Certification and Workforce Section, ACEP

1 comment

Canadian Champion!

Mon, 10/10/2011 - 21:35 — traine

Xterra Logo

Our own Dr Simon Pulfrey recently was recently crowned Canadian National Champion (40-44 Age Group) at the 2011 XTERRA Canadian Open Trail Running Triathalon Championships in Whistler, BC. He placed 8th overall, one of only 2 amateurs in the Top 10 (the other, 10th overall, placed 2nd behind Simon in the 40-44 Age Group). He travels to Maui later this month to compete in the World Championships.

Click on the pictures to Enlarge!

2 comments

Hand Hygiene Peer Review

Mon, 10/03/2011 - 16:16 — traine

As part of the Emergency Department’s ongoing commitment to improving Hand Hygiene practices, the ED has agreed to support this pilot project for Hand Hygiene Peer Review. In the last quarter, the ED Hand Hygiene Compliance rate increased from 44% to 58%. Congratulations!

Goal of this project:

To increase staff awareness and understanding of the why when and how of hand hygiene and to decrease hospital acquired infections (VRE, MRSA, CDI etc) as a result.

How do I participate in this project?

Using the pilot PHC – Hand Hygiene Peer Review Tool, you observe a colleague while they practice hand hygiene and provide them with feedback. Ideally each staff member will have the opportunity to observe and be observed.

There will be 4 binders of blank peer review tool forms for use. There will be staff lists in the binders located in the Acute and Fast Track areas. Please check off your name when you have been observed and each time you have been the observer. Once the forms are completed, please slide them under the CNL’s office door (room 134) or place them in Kirsten Fuller’s mailbox.

What is the benefit to me?

Each time you observe a colleague, your name will be entered into a monthly draw for an iTouch – once you have been observed try to observe more than one colleague per shift.

Allows you to be professionally supported and learn from others to improve your practice.

Obtaining peer feedback during this project will help you meet your professional practice standards.

Where can I learn more?

You can also contact Kirsten Fuller or IPAC for details (IPAC 69357).