Emergency Medicine

Clinical Presentations

During the emergency medicine rotation, students should become comfortable with an approach to:

chest pain palpitations headache vertigo abdominal pain acute pelvic pain altered level of consciousness syncope seizure query fracture low back pain sore throat cough rash arthritis shock airway obstruction burns shortness of breath GI bleeding anaphylaxis/allergic reaction neutropenia

red eye acute vision loss ophthalmic foreign body/abrasion acute urinary retention nephrolithiasis and colic dental abscess dental fracture vaginal bleeding acute psychosis trauma head, neck, and spinal cord chest abdominal pelvic soft tissue envenomation

Conditions and Diseases

Students should become familiar with the acute diagnosis and management of:

asthma COPD exacerbations pharyngitis pneumonia pneumothorax pulmonary embolism respiratory failure arrhythmia acute coronary syndrome cardiac arrest hypertensive emergency abdominal aortic aneurysm cellulitis gallstone disease GI bleeding appendicitis bowel obstruction diabetic ketoacidosis hyperglycemic hyperosmotic nonketotic state (HONK)

hyperkalemia hyponatremia dehydration kidney stones deep vein thrombosis shock sepsis stroke meningitis migraine subarachnoid hemorrhage fractures heat exhaustion/heat stroke hypothermia toxidromes suicide attempt acute psychosis sexual assault

 

Skills and Procedures

 

Clinical skills

• history and physical exam (thorough but focused and concise)
• differential diagnosis of serious conditions and diseases
• case presentation (SBAR)
• management of serial patients

Skill in the following procedures is necessary for emergency medicine:

• basic life support
• advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS)
• advanced trauma life support (ATLS)

 

• ECG analysis
• chest X-ray
• sutures and other wound care
• acute pain management
• local anesthetics
• IV access
• fluid resuscitation
• phlebotomy
• NG tube
• Foley catheter
• procedural sedation
• ultrasound

 

Questions and Scenarios

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8286239.stm

Additional Resources

Hobgood C et al. 2009. International Federation for Emergency Medicine model curriculum for medical student education in emergency medicine. CJEM 11(4):349-354.

 

Manthey D et al. 2006. Report of the Task Force on National Fourth Year Medical Student Emergency Medicine Curriculum Guide. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 47(3):e1-7.