Ep 111 - April 2018 Round Up

The St.Emlyn’s Podcast - A podcast by St Emlyn’s Blog and Podcast - Wednesdays

Categories:

St Emlyn's Podcast: April Review and Key Insights Welcome to the St. Emlyn’s podcast, your monthly source for insightful discussions and reviews from the world of emergency medicine. I’m Iain Beardsell, and alongside me is Simon Carley. In this edition, we're diving into the posts we’ve covered on our blog in April. After a grueling winter, we are finally catching up. We’re recording this in May, and it's a significant achievement for us. Let’s delve into the highlights and key takeaways from April. Catching Up with St. Emlyn’s Firstly, Simon and I are thrilled to be back on track. The sun is shining, signaling the end of winter here in the UK, and we’re embracing the spring warmth. Before we dive into the specifics, Simon, you’ve been traveling quite a bit recently. Can you share some of your experiences? Travels and Learnings from Graz, Austria Simon: Indeed, Iain. Recently, I had the privilege of visiting Graz, Austria, a beautiful city where I was invited by the NordDoc and the Austrian Society of Emergency Medicine. We attended the ninth Congress, or as they say in German, "Abit's Goermanneshaft for Notfallmedizin." It was an enlightening experience, despite my initial challenges with the language. The hospitality in Graz was exceptional, and the city itself is stunning. Emergency medicine in Austria is still in its nascent stages, but the enthusiasm and energy among the young physicians were palpable. The simultaneous translation during presentations was a unique experience. I also conducted sessions on feedback and ultrasound teaching, which were well-received. Iain: That sounds incredible, Simon. It’s always inspiring to see how different countries are integrating emergency medicine into their healthcare systems. Let’s move on to the main topics we covered in April. Key Highlights from April's Blog Posts Feedback and Coaching in Emergency Medicine Iain: One of the key discussions in April was about feedback and coaching, a topic Simon presented in Austria. Feedback is crucial for continuous improvement in emergency medicine. Simon, can you elaborate on your main messages from the talk? Simon: Absolutely, Iain. Feedback is essential for growth, and there are three main types: appreciation, coaching, and evaluation. One common issue is when these types are confused. For instance, after a challenging night shift, if a consultant gives a detailed coaching session instead of simple appreciation, it can be demoralizing. It’s crucial to match the feedback to the context and needs of the receiver. This ensures the feedback is purposeful and effective. Understanding Diagnostic Tests: Beyond Black and White Rick's post from April 10th delved into the nuances of diagnostic tests, emphasizing that results are not merely positive or negative but often fall into a gray area. Simon, can you shed more light on this? Simon: Diagnostic tests in emergency medicine are indeed complex. Take troponin levels, for instance. A troponin of 2000 is vastly different from a troponin of 15, although both might be labeled positive. Understanding the probabilistic nature of diagnostics is crucial. Rick's post does a fantastic job explaining this with examples, especially around acute coronary syndrome. We use a T-max calculator in Manchester to determine the likelihood of ACS based on various factors, including troponin levels. This probabilistic approach is vital for accurate diagnostics. Lessons from the War: Insights from Ashley Liebig and Noah Galway Another powerful post in April was Ashley Liebig's discussion with Noah Galway about their experiences during the Iraq war. Their insights provide a stark contrast to typical emergency department scenarios. Iain, what stood out to you in this post? Iain: The personal bond formed between Ashley and Noah through shared traumatic experiences is profound. Unlike the typical patient-doctor dynamic in emergency departments, battlefield medicine creates a deep, enduring connection. This post rem

Visit the podcast's native language site