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Lessons from NASA – How to Become an Expert Clinician

In Editorial, Featured, Opinion by Shahbaz SyedLeave a Comment

In medicine, we often draw some of our lessons on safety from the aviation industry (i.e.: preoperative checklists), here we will explore a host of pearls that medicine can learn from the brilliant minds at NASA to help augment one’s practice as an expert clinician.  Commander Chris Hadfield has previously discussed a riveting tale regarding his first ever space walk1. During his mission, he was tasked with helping to assemble the Canada 2 …

“Allergies” – Sometimes they’re real, but usually they’re not

In Editorial, Featured, Opinion by Shahbaz Syed5 Comments

How often have you seen a patient with more documented allergies than medications they’re taking? Commonly; patient’s will often suggest that they are allergic to medications like sulfa, penicillin, codeine and morphine in the Emergency Department. We often think for a moment, and prescribe something different – but I’d like to argue that this line of thinking is far more harmful than we think, and is doing our patients and the healthcare system …

Proposed Canadian Tax Changes: A Primer

In Editorial, Featured, Opinion by Shahbaz Syed1 Comment

There has been a lot of recent buzz and media attention around some proposed tax changes from the Canadian government. We’ve noticed that there is a lot of misconception and confusion regarding some of these changes, so we hope to provide some clarity into some of the issues as they affect small business and in particular, incorporated physicians. For the purposes of this article, the CanadiEM Editorial team has joined forces with Mrs. …

Shared decision making

In Editorial, Featured, Opinion by Shahbaz Syed3 Comments

Resource utilization in medicine is becoming an increasingly critical issue (as also noted by the number of discussions we’ve had on it here at CanadiEM), and this acknowledgement is important. However, once we’ve accepted the harms (to the patient and system) with excessive over-utilization, we can begin to look at ways to address and optimize physician behaviour. There are many ways to approach the subject, and one that is often cited is Shared Decision Making …

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Want to be a (simulation) Olympian?

In Editorial, Education & Quality Improvement, Featured by Erin BrennanLeave a Comment

A five year-old boy is brought into your resuscitation bay by EMS after falling out of a motor-boat in the frigid waters of the St Lawrence river.  CPR was started at the scene and when he arrives he has regained a pulse but is hypotensive with a decreased level of consciousness.  Your heart races as you assemble your team and divide up responsibilities – “we need an airway assessment, vascular access, get him …