HiQuiPs is back with another installment of Expert’s Corner! For this post, we had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Aikta Verma about quality improvement (QI) and quality culture in the Emergency Department (ED). Dr. Verma is the Chief of the Department of Emergency Services at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. She completed a Masters of Health Sciences in Health Administration with a specific interest in QI. She is also an Assistant Professor at …
Outlander Case Report: Penetrating Penile Trauma
Case Presentation The year is 1743, and a complicated love story involving two passionate relationships with one woman, Claire, unravels. Her two lovers, Frank Randall and Jamie, find themselves in sword combat, fighting over their one true love. Unfortunately, despite putting up a good fight, Randall finds himself struck in his genitals during the duel. After rushing to the hospital via horse-drawn carriage, Randall presents with a penetrating penile injury to the ED. …
HiQuiPs: Introduction to Virtual Care – Virtual Processes
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 …