The EM Clerkship Podcast

You are working a shift at Clerkship General when the charge nurse comes and grabs you to see a 24yo male who appears to be in respiratory distress. Critical Actions: Diagnose DKA Replete potassium Start insulin AFTER potassium repletion EITHER place central line for faster K repletion OR initiate bipap to allow time for potassium […]

Before interview day, do your research on programs and interviews and reflect on the way in which you want to portray yourself. On interview day, have a cheat sheet with notes about your conversations, questions, and pro-cons. Remember to stay calm, take a pause if you need to, and above all be authentic to who […]

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Understand the timeline – research programs to find out when they extend invites and when they host interviews Prepare for invitations – set up email and text notifications, get a calendar Accept invitations – respond promptly and keep your calendar updated Optimize invitations – any interview date you get is a good one, but planning […]

Summary of Key Points 1. You should consider ectopic pregnancy in every patient who is capable of bearing children 2. If a patient of child bearing age presents with severe abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding and is either hemodynamically unstable or very ill appearing, this is a ruptured  ectopic pregnancy until proven otherwise and I […]

You are working at Clerkship General when the next chart gets handed to you – a 31 year old female presenting with abdominal pain. Initial Vitals: BP: 109/65 HR: 96 RR: 21 O2: 99% Temp: 99.1F Critical Actions: Obtain pregnancy test Confirm IUP Administer Rhogam Treat UTI Counsel the patient and discharge them Further Reading: […]

Things to consider when selecting residency programs to apply to:  1.  What type of program (County, Community, Academic) 2.  What length of program (3 year vs. 4 year) 3.  Location 4.  Culture and Lifestyle 5.  Niches in EM Further Resources: EMRA Residency MapDoximity NavigatorSAEM Residency FairEMRA Residency Fair

3 Steps to assessing your competitiveness for matching in an EM residency:  1.  Get a good advisor. 2.  Look at the data. 3.  Maximize your potential. Further Reading: EMRA – Apply smarter not harderEMRA HangoutsEMRA Student-Resident Mentorship ProgramNRMP Charting the OutcomesNRMP Residency DataALiEM – Match AdviceUTSW Texas STAR

The future of emergency medicine seems bleak. Listen to Zack’s perspective on the future of our beloved specialty in part TWO of this two-part series.

You are working your FIRST SHIFT EVER at Clerkship General hospital when a 60 year old female presents with shortness of breath. Initial Vitals: HR: 92 RR: 28 BP: 120/80 O2%: 89% Temp: 101.2F Critical Actions: Obtain full set of vital signs Diagnose PNA and COPD exacerbation Administer appropriate antibiotics Treat symptoms with steroids and […]

The future of emergency medicine seems bleak. Listen to Zack’s perspective on the future of our beloved specialty in part one of this two-part series.

You are working at *rural* Clerkship General when you receive a radio call from EMS – 7yo male from a severe bus accident with a large scalp laceration, unable to control the hemorrhage. Initial Vitals HR: 136 RR: 22 BP: 80/35 O2%: 100% Temp: 98F Critical Actions: Perform ATLS Algorithm Control Hemorrhage Transfuse pRBCs Replete […]

Asymptomatic Bradycardia – usually don’t treat Symptomatic Stable Bradycardia – atropine, further workup Symptomatic Unstable Bradycardia – SIMULTANEOUS treatment with medications and electricity Meds: Trial of atropine, then either epinephrine, dopeamine, or isoproterenol Electricity: Transcutaneous Pace –> TVP DDX of Bradycardia – BRADIE Blocks (av blocks) Reduced vital signs (hypoxemia, hypo...

What is most important to programs from ERAS? SLOEs, clinical grades on EM rotations and residency interviews. How do you look good on interviews? Have a thorough ERAS application that gives interviewers lots to ask about! On ERAS, there are four sections in the curriculum vitae portion: Education – honorary societies, medical school awards, other […]

ERAS Pt 1: The 8 Parts of the ApplicationThere are 8 parts to the application: Personal and Biographic Information – mostly self-explanatory Curriculum Vitae (Resume) – keep an updated CV throughout medical school to makethis easy to fill out, be concise but specific Personal Statement – start early Letters of Recommendation – should ideally have […]

You are working at Clerkship General when you are called to see a 70 yo male who is presenting with shortness of breath. Initial Vitals Temp 98.0 HR 36 RR 28 BP 80/35 O2 82% Critical Actions Interpret ECG Correctly (3rd degree AV block) Order a troponin Perform and Describe transcutaneous pacing Perform and Describe […]

DOPES D-Displacement – endotracheal tube dislodges from trachea, or falls into right mainstem bronchus O-Obstruction – Mucous plugging, bronchospasm, patient biting tube P –Pneumothorax – Look out for pneumothorax, it can be subtle E – Equipment – Disconnected/unpowered equipment, ensure everything is powered on and connected appropriately S – Stacking – common in asthma/COPD due […]

Brainstorming ideas – how to make it personal What makes me unique? 2. What are some specific experiences I’ve had in my life that have either made me want to do EM or given me the skills that will prepare me well for training in EM? 3. If a family member or a friend were […]

Welcome to EM Clerkship Maddie Watts! The personal statement should be *personal* and should *make a statement*. Start early Use solid organizational structure Address the big three questions – who? what? why? Check for grammar mistakes Explain any red flags Further Reading: EMRA / CORD Advising Guide NRMP Program Director Survey ALiEM Match Advice Series

You are working at Clerkship General when you are called to the resuscitation bay for a 55yo M presenting in respiratory distress. Initial Vitals Temp 99.9 HR 110 RR 22 BP 122/82 O2 82% on BiPAP 10/5 100%FiO2 Critical Actions Correctly interpret CXR #1 (multifocal PNA) Correctly interpret CXR #2 (bilateral PNTX) Treat with Oseltamivir […]

Cardiac Glycoside containing plants : Foxglove, Lilly of the Valley, Oleander, Squill Contain cardiac glycosides, which act as a negative chronotrope as well as a positive inotrope. Patients present with nausea, vomiting, visual changes, bradycardia/arrhythmia, and may develop hyperkalemia – a poor prognostic factor Treatment is Digibind/DigiFAB – look out for the side effects of […]

You are working at Clerkship General when you see your next patient : a 3 year old male accompanied by his father with chief complaint of vomiting.  Initial Vitals Temp 98.6 HR 50 RR 20 BP 95/55 O2 100% Critical Actions Identify the history of ingestion Check a blood glucose Call Poison Control Treat with […]

Opioid overdose is the number one leading cause of death in adults under the age of 50. Many ED Physicians fail to recognize that offering MAT (medication assisted therapy) to victims of opiate overdose is one of the most effective interventions we can offer in medicine. 1 in 2 using high-dose buprenorphine (≥ 16 mg) […]

Critical Actions: Administer Naloxone Minimize Unnecessary Testing Discuss options for Rehab Offer opioid replacement therapy Provide Social Support Further Reading: Buprenorphine – EMDocs Naloxone – EMDocs Initiating Opioid Treatment in the ED – ACEP