The SimKit Podcast

Severe oropharyngeal angioedema forces clinicians into uncomfortable territory: a dynamic airway with few good options and little margin for error. In this episode, Dr. Brett Johnson joins the SimKit Podcast to debrief a case of profound tongue angioedema managed with awake nasal fiberoptic intubation. The discussion focuses less on the mechanics of bronchoscopy and more on the cognitive framework...

Navigating various healthcare environments as an Emergency Medicine physician can be challenging. Each setting demands unique skills, adaptability, and preparedness. This post explores how physicians can effectively prepare for shifts across different healthcare facilities. We'll delve into 'way before,' 'day before,' and 'bay before' strategies, drawing insights from our host, Dr. Jason Hine and...

In this episode, we're joined by Will Barry and Ross Orpit, co-hosts of the Loud and Clear Podcast, an EMS-focused continuing education platform built to bridge the gap between paramedic school and the realities of practice in the field. Will is a flight paramedic with 16 years of experience in EMS, and Ross is a board-certified emergency physician and EMS medical director with a background as a D...

In the hustle and bustle of our professional lives, especially in high-stakes fields like emergency medicine, we often find ourselves juggling a multitude of demands. Amidst these pressures, we inevitably seek ways to unwind, reward ourselves, and regain our sense of balance. This brings us to an intriguing discussion: the concept of "good vices." What qualifies as a good vice, and how can these i...

Navigating through the nuances of atraumatic knee pain can be challenging for healthcare providers, especially in the fast-paced ED. The latest episode of the SimKit podcast offers valuable perspectives from Dr. Robert Parisien, a seasoned orthopedic specialist, and host Dr. Jason Hine, who explore comprehensive approaches to diagnosing and managing atraumatic knee pain both in the ED and thereaft...

In the fast-paced environment of medical practice, teaching procedures is a crucial skill that extends beyond simple knowledge transfer. In this podcast we delve into the intricacies of educating medical professionals on procedural skills, emphasizing the importance of structured methodologies for effective learning.   Click HERE for our detailed shownotes! ( https://simkit.co/podcast/ )

Today's post focuses on a significant study comparing peri capsular nerve group (PENG) block and fascia iliac block for managing acute pain in hip fracture patients. Conducted by D Pietro et al., this research, published in Anesthesia in December 2025, offers insights into pain relief techniques within a single-center academic site in Italy. The primary focus was on immediate pain relief achieved...

In our latest episode of the SimKit podcast, we dive into a riveting discussion with physician assistant (PA) extraordinaire, Shawn Stepp, to delve into a complicated case of necrotizing fasciitis. This post breaks down the conversation into five key sections, each shedding light on different aspects of this challenging medical condition.     Click HERE for our detailed shownotes! ( https://simkit...

Understanding the learning curves in medical procedures is crucial, especially when it comes to such a critical skill as intubation. In this post, we delve into an Annals study of learning curves in intubation mastery. It sparks conversation about learning curves, forgetting curves, number vs competency-based medical education and, most importantly for us all, the maintenance of procedural skill....

Addressing substance use disorder (SUD) remains a pressing issue, not just for healthcare providers but society as a whole. A recent article published in JAMA Network Open, titled "The Decline in Drug Overdose Deaths by Region, Substance, and Demographics," provides critical insights into the changing landscape of drug overdose deaths. We delve into this study for a clearer understanding, breaking...

Emergency Medicine requires a preparedness for the worst case scenarios, the most critically ill patients, the most complex care, and the most rare procedures that could potentially save a life. That is what we are trying to do at SimKit, by providing education on High Acuity, Low Occurrence (HALO) procedures that delivers to your door.  We were fortunate enough to sit down with Dr. Irvine, a rura...

In this podcast we review structures for efficient charting and patient care, leading to improved flow and less end-of-shift catch up work. To view the video form of this podcast, check it out on our site .    Click HERE for our detailed shownotes! ( https://simkit.co/podcast/ )

This episode features the presentation of a complex case involving a patient with altered mental status, facial swelling, and dental pain. The discussion highlights key elements of diagnostic reasoning and the importance of maintaining a broad differential when evaluating high-risk patients. The case ultimately underscores the need for vigilance in recognizing rare but life-threatening conditions...

In this episode, we dive into the case of a patient who presents with facial swelling—a common complaint with a wide differential. We walk through the clinical reasoning process, exploring key questions, potential red flags, and common diagnostic traps. As the case unfolds, we highlight the importance of thinking beyond the obvious before ultimately revealing the true diagnosis. Tune in for a thou...

In this episode, we discuss a procedure so impactful that it can influence the direction of care and the patient’s subsequent hospital course. This procedure is the act of having a serious illness conversation. We talked to Dr. Neena Kashyap, an emergency medicine trained and now palliative care fellow at Cooper University Hospital. After today’s discussion, we hope that you will be better prepare...

In this episode, Jason Hine speaks with Rob Orman, a renowned emergency physician and coach, about his career transition from emergency medicine to physician coaching. The conversation covers preventive measures for burnout, effective communication with hospital administrators, strategies for self-care before, during, and after shifts, and the importance of task management. Orman emphasizes the ne...

The American Diabetes Association released a consensus report in 2024 on the management of the hyperglycemic crises: DKA and HHS.  Our goal is to give you some insight into the latest recommendations on the management of these critical presentations using this report and Dr. George Willis as our guide!   In Part II, we continue our deep dive into with a focus on diagnostic criteria updates and new...

The American Diabetes Association released a consensus report in 2024 on the management of the hyperglycemic crises: DKA and HHS.  Our goal is to give you some insight into the latest recommendations on the management of these critical presentations using this report and Dr. George Willis as our guide!   In Part I, we discuss epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation of DKA/HHS. In...

Boarding plagues Emergency Departments the country (world?) over. It negatively impacts patient satisfaction, staff wellbeing, patient safety, among others. But what does it cost the hospital/healthcare system?   A recent article in Annals tries to answer that question. We sat down with first author and our friendly neighborhood Operations specialist to look at this article and the true cost of bo...

Are you dangerous when it comes to preforming rare procedures like cric, transvenous pacing, and Blakemore tube placement? Do you have a means to keep the rust away? In this podcast we review an article on mental practice and how we all should be practicing to keep ourselves sharp.   Click HERE for our detailed shownotes! ( https://simkit.co/podcast/ )

The classic teaching is that calcium's role in hyperkalemia is that of membrane stabilization. However, what if what we were taught was wrong all along? In this quick-hit, we will discuss the role of calcium in hyperkalemia and a new hypothesis that suggests it may all be about cardiac conduction velocity. Click HERE for our detailed shownotes! ( https://simkit.co/podcast/ )

Managing strokes in the modern era is challenging (lytics, EVT, timestamps!). Doing so in a community hospital- far from the ivory tower endovascular suite and neurology ICU- can be even harder. We sat down with the very smart Dr. Evie Marcolini to talk managing these complex patients in these community settings.   Click HERE for our detailed shownotes! ( https://simkit.co/podcast/ )

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) is a clinical condition that we occasionally encounter in the emergency department–and should always have on our differential for patients presenting with neurological complaints. In this episode, we break down the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of PRES, using a clinical case to anchor our discussion. Click HERE for our detailed shown...

Fever in the infant, particularly those less that 60 days old, presents a diagnostic challenge. Many biomarkers and clinical decision aids have been developed to help the practicing clinician decide who is at risk for a serious or invasive bacterial infection. But what if the fever has only been present a short while? How do these biomarkers and decision aids work very early in the disease process...

Raise a glass to the GRACE-4 guidelines. These are Guidelines for Reasonable and Appropriate Care in the Emergency Department (GRACE). The goal of GRACE is to focus on conditions for which there is wide variation in treatment, for which ED-focused clinical practice guidelines do not already exist, and for which patients have frequent ED revisits.    Click HERE for our detailed shownotes! ( https:/...