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Clinical Posts and Updates

Welcome to our Clinical Section.

Here you will find Papers, Guidelines, Cases and other sources of Clinical Information.

If you have content you would like added, or you find out of date information, please let us know at:

Admin@sphemerg.ca.

Ecstasy Alert

Fri, 01/06/2012 - 22:38 — traine

Ecstasy Alert (January 3, 2012) from Dr C Dewitt and Poison Control

We have had at least 8 serious cases of ecstasy toxicity in B.C. in the last 2 months, 3 of whom have died and 2 who are currently in critical condition. Hyperthermia (high body temperature) is the most serious symptom associated with ecstasy and can lead to seizures, brain damage, or death in some cases.

A review of the recent cases shows the following:

 

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).

Province Wide Department of Emergency Medicine Rounds

Sat, 08/27/2011 - 16:45 — traine

In October the UBC Dept of Emergency Medicine will kick off our monthly Provincial Department of Emergency Medicine Grand  Rounds. This is an exciting step in the amalgamation of the Department across the province and will be an important component of our Knowledge Translation initiative.
 
During the first year we will be highlighting certain aspects of our strategic initiatives. Since we  have very accomplished leaders of those initiatives, I hope that these rounds will be of great  interest to you from an academic department perspective but also from a clinical or  departmental management perspective. Many of you may not know that we have over 250  faculty in the Department, scattered across the province.

The rounds will be scheduled on the first Wednesday of each month (excluding July and August).   They will be videoOlinked to all medical school sites and any other sites where there is  significant interest. The capacity to link in via a personal computer is growing and we hope to  add that capacity in the not too distant future.

 

Doing Well in Your ED Rotation Pt 2

Tue, 07/05/2011 - 18:56 — traine

Michelle Lin (of Academic Life in the Emergency Department) adds her thoughts to "An Intern's Perspective".  This is sage advise that we recommend you follow here at St Paul's.

A Faculty's Perspective

  • Take ownership of your patients. 
  • Have a learning plan on shift.
  • Don't be late to your shift.
  • In addition to trauma shears, carry a very bright pen light. 
  • Befriend the nurses.
  • Clean up your sharps and equipment after procedures.
  • Start learning about bedside ultrasonography.

Doing well in your ED Rotation

Mon, 07/04/2011 - 22:15 — traine

This article comes from Michelle Lin's excellent Academic Life in the Emergency Department blog:

An Intern's Perspective

Factors Affecting Regional Emergency Department Selection

Sun, 04/17/2011 - 06:49 — traine

 

Danielle Wilson MHA explores the reasons behind patients' choice of which Emergency Department to attend. Click Here for the paper.

2007-2008 Infection Prevention and Control Annual Report

Thu, 09/18/2008 - 19:18 — Anonymous

The Annual Report gives up-to-date details and rates for antibiotic resistant organisms at PHC such as MRSA, VRE and C. difficile, as well as tuberculosis and influenza immunization coverage.

With the implementation of a variety of infection prevention and control strategies, we have been successful in reducing the risk of health care associated infections at PHC, including a 35 % decrease in MRSA and VRE rates at PHC acute care sites.

Fever and White Blood Cell Count (WBC) in the diagnosis of Appendicitis

Mon, 09/15/2008 - 23:14 — Anonymous

Neither WBC or Fever are Sensitive nor Specific indicators of Appendicitis.  We should be wary of relying on these findings when assessing for Appendicitis.

Acad Emerg Med 2004; 11:1021–1027. (Link)

 

Femoral Nerve Block for Analgesia in Neck of Femur Fractures

Mon, 09/15/2008 - 23:03 — Anonymous

Describing an RCT of the effectiveness of a 3-in-1 Femoral Nerve Block performed in the ED in the setting of Femoral Neck Fractures.  The authors conclude that it is effective and a readily acquirable skill.

Ann Emerg Med. 2003;41:227-233.  (Link)