For a video that summarizes this post, check out this link! Points to Focus upon The emergency department (ED) is a safe haven for many. In the COVID-19 pandemic, many of those who might fall victim to violence at home are currently being asked to stay there in isolation with their potential abusers. During this time, it is imperative that we all be on high alert for signs of violence at home. The …

Points to Focus upon in Discussions Verbal discharge instructions are important to provide to your patient, but especially during the time of COVID-19, they may be especially challenging. Patients may be distracted, they may not have collateral visitors who can help them to remember things. Patients who are hard of hearing often use visual cues to help them understand speech; with our PPE on, they may not be able to read your lips. …

Points to Focus upon Handover is when you transfer professional accountability and responsibility of at least one patient to another person, often within the same profession and within the same function. When there is a difference in skill set or practice (e.g. a community nurse practitioner asking an emergency physician to work-up a chest pain patient in the emergency department), this is often referred to as a consultation or referral. (Please see “ED …

Points to Focus upon Consulting others in the outpatient or non-emergency setting may be quite different than the procedures we might use in the emergency department​1​. The following mnemonics can help you to scaffold your consultation requests so that you can quickly communicate with your consulting colleagues. As someone who has been redeployed in the ED, you’re already starting at a bit of a disadvantage. Previous literature has shown that familiarity is a …

How to use this section? This is a quick refresher on ECGs commonly seen in the ED. We have provided one-liner introductions to each, and the answers are below the ECG. For those looking for a challenge, cover up the answer and quiz yourself. 1. ECG – Tachyarrhythmias ECG Cases Questions – What is the ECG and your next step? [bg_faq_start] Case 1 25-year-old male. Feels very anxious watching the news. Very worried …

ECG Illustrations adapted with permission from the LIFTL.com site Attaching Monitor Leads It’s probably been a while since you attached cardiac monitor leads. Here is a quick rhyme to help you remember! White on right (Put the white lead on your patient’s right arm [RA].) Smoke over fire (On left side of the patient’s body, black lead goes to left arm [LA], red lead goes below on left leg {LL].) Poop comes from …