Tag: acep
Seizures in Adults, Part 2
March 23rd, 2017by: USACS
Seizures in Adults – Status Epilepticus In Seizures in Adults, Part 1, we discussed the workup, treatment, and disposition of ED patients with unprovoked seizures, as well as the route of medication administration for ED patients with known seizures. Although we frequently encounter patients with seizures in the emergency department, it is less common to […]
read articlePosted in Life in the ER
How to Communicate with Patients in the ER: First Seek to Understand
September 25th, 2012by: Dr. David Klein
A new patient is placed in room 18. I read the chief complaint as I sign up to see the patient: 32-year-old male seeking detox from narcotics. Let’s be honest: most of us in emergency medicine are not thrilled to see this patient. First of all, in most cases, there is not much that we […]
read articlePosted in Leadership, Life in the ER
Thoughts on Choosing Wisely and Overuse
August 2nd, 2012by: Dr. Vipul Kella
About five months ago nine physician specialty groups got together and decided to examine specific tests and procedures that are commonly used but not necessary in their respective fields. They named their organization “Choosing Wisely”, and compiled a list of over 45 specific recommendations on practices that should be curtailed. Examples included “lumbar series in […]
read articlePosted in Quality Efficiency Utilization
Advance Directive: Allow Natural Death
May 18th, 2012by: Dr. Angelo Falcone
The more I practice emergency medicine, the more I think about end of life care and the futility of much of what we do as patients try to complete their time on this earth. Many emergency physicians have been faced with the reality of “coding” an elderly nursing home patient because the family insists that […]
read articlePosted in Future of Healthcare
Madness, Death, and the Real Solution to Over-Prescribing Prescription Narcotics
October 21st, 2011by: Dr. Angelo Falcone
Last month, the LA Times chronicled the stunning rise of deaths attributed to prescription drug overdose, particularly narcotics meant to manage pain. The push to control or manage all pain regardless of the legitimacy of the pain has made overdose from prescription drugs a bigger killer than heroin and cocaine combined, the story reported. Incidentally, […]
read articlePosted in Life in the ER, Quality Efficiency Utilization
Emergency Medicine – Where Do We Go From Here?
May 30th, 2011by: Dr. Angelo Falcone
We cost too much. We take care of URIs and ankle sprains. We don’t coordinate care well. We use too many resources. We’ve all heard it in the media, even our President taking passing shots at the usefulness and cost effectiveness of emergency care. Of course the reality is federal law requires us to see […]
read articlePosted in Future of Healthcare, Quality Efficiency Utilization
Prescription Monitoring Programs Changes Opioid Prescribing Behavior – AKA Sometimes a Little Big Brother is a Good Thing
October 6th, 2010by: Dr. Angelo Falcone
A recent article in Annals of Emergency Medicine involves the change in prescribing patterns when a prescription monitoring program is put in place. After reviewing past prescriptions, emergency physicians changed opioid prescribing plans for 41% of patients. Many states have instituted prescription monitoring programs to limit potential fraud and abuse of controlled substances. In 2006, Ohio instituted a […]
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The Perils of Preventive Medicine
September 24th, 2010by: Dr. Angelo Falcone
I recently came across a great post by Amy Tuteur on the perils of preventive medicine. I found Dr. Tuteur’s comments insightful and illustrative of many things we do in medicine. We think there is always hope in doing the right thing: eating right, exercising, not smoking and limiting our alcohol intake. All prudent suggestions, which I […]
read articlePosted in Life in the ER