As you begin envisioning virtual care in your hospital, you begin to wonder about the details of your program. How do you funnel patients to where they need to be, and how do you ensure that patients receive the care they need? Furthermore, how do you ensure that these processes are cohesive and well structured? Welcome to the second part of the HiQuiPs introduction to virtual care series! In this post, we will …
HiQuiPs: Introduction to Virtual Care – General Principles
In late 2020 and early 2021, several hospitals implemented “virtual ED” programs as COVID-19 cases increasingly strained and threatened to overwhelm the healthcare system. You may be wondering what virtual care really is, and why it is becoming so prevalent in Canada. You may also wonder if this is a program that can be of benefit in your practice. In this month’s HiQuiPs post, we will introduce virtual care, its perceived need, and …
First Seizure Discharge Instructions: Serving Up The Pizza SLICES!
It’s a busy night in your emergency department when a 24-year-old confused female is brought in via EMS for a possible first seizure accompanied by her friend. Her friend reports calling 911 after witnessing the patient fall to the ground stiff and then convulsing for 30 seconds. The patient is confused and has difficulty answering questions. From your collateral history, you gather that this confusion has been ongoing since the event. The patient’s …
CJEM Visual Abstract: Observation time in the ED following anaphylaxis
View PostCannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome: Quarantine Tom’s Twist
Your next patient is Tom, an otherwise healthy 22-year-old male. He has returned for the fourth time within the last 3 months for intermittent generalized abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. A review of his previous visits reveals that he has been extensively worked up with a normal abdominal ultrasound, x-ray, and even a CT scan. He was also referred for endoscopy, which showed gastritis with a Mallory-Weiss tear and was started on pantoprazole …
Tiny Tip: WOBBLER as an approach to ECGs for syncope
Syncope makes up approximately 1% of acute care visits in Canadian emergency departments and is a common symptom for a wide range of underlying etiologies.1 Identifying any serious underlying condition for syncope and disposition planning is the main area of focus in the emergency department. In addition to a comprehensive history and physical, the 12-lead ECG is a part of the initial evaluation in any patient presenting with syncope. The mnemonic, WOBBLER can …