Summer 2024
Emergency Department Resuscitative Thoracotomy: A Comprehensive Literature Review on the Current Methods of Instruction for this Complex, Life-Saving Procedure
Authors: Alexandra Taylor, Anatalia J. Kerstan, Ethan Kromberg, and Harrison Steins Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine Read the Article [...]
Spring 2024
Patient Attitudes Toward Remote Trauma Follow-up via Telehealth in Relation to Distance from Initial Trauma Center
Authors: Gordon Calhoun, OMS-III; John Bumgarner, OMS-III; Zaid Khan, OMS-III Principal Investigator: Dr. Parker Fillmore, MD St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Trauma Department Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine Read the Article [...]
Fall 2023
Ultrasound Diagnosis of De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis in the Emergency Department
Authors: Emily Thompson, DO and Michael Galuska, MD ABSTRACT A 44-year-old male construction worker presented to the ED with right radial wrist pain. Physical exam findings were consistent with De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis (DQT) and bedside ultrasound of the first extensor compartment of the wrist [...]
Spring 2023
Mass Casualty Incident Simulations Should Be Strongly Encouraged and Widely Available for Medical Students
Authors: Rachel Steffes OMS-II, Megan Unrath OMS-II, Andres Toledo OMS-II, Alissa Leyman OMS-II Location/School Affiliation: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine - Kansas City Campus Keywords (3): Emergency Preparedness, Mass Casualty Training Simulation, Medical Education Short Au [...]
Damage Control Resuscitation – Pathophysiology and Practices for Emergency Medicine Physicians
Author: Thomas Mathis MS-3, AEMT, USAR MC Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine Introduction Damage Control Resuscitation (DCR) is a methodology for stabilizing severely injured trauma patients with massive hemorrhage by aggressively pursuing hemostasis and proactively addressing the le [...]
Emergency Department Management of Vascular Trauma Resulting from a Dog Bite to Upper Extremity
Authors: CM Emerson MS41, MN Greco MS41, TJ O’Neil MS41, CE White MS41; SM O’Neil, MD, FACS2,3 1Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2Martinsville Surgical Associates, 3SOVAH Health ABSTRACT: Introduction Dog bite injuries are a common presenting complaint to emergency departments acr [...]
Flecainide Fakeout
Flecainide Induced Atrial Flutter Causing Monomorphic Wide Complex Tachycardia Authors: Dr. Graham Clifford, DO; Dr. Justin Sauter, DO; and Dr. Ben Arnold, MD Introduction: A 65-year-old male with a past medical history of atrial flutter on metoprolol, flecainide and eliquis reported to the Emergenc [...]
Fall 2022
Lingering COVID-19 Symptoms Among Young Adults
Matthew J. Gold, OMS-III; Marshall Johnson, OMS-III; Alexandra Mathis, OMS-II; Shaheen Mehrara, OMS-III; Daniel Ruiz, OMS-IV; Caroline Houston, OMS-III; Jonathan Kalenik, OMS-III; Mayra Rodriguez, PhD, MPH Author Affiliations · Mayra Rodriguez, PhD, MPH, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine [...]
Symptomatic Ocular Toxoplasmosis: A Case Report
Anthony Tran, OMS IV and Anastasia Alpizar, OMS IV William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine Abstract Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite with the potential to infect humans, especially those who are immunocompromised. If the parasite reaches the retina of the eye, it can cause ocular t [...]
A Review of Prehospital Blood Product Transfusion for Trauma: Past Advances, Current Trends, and Future Potential
Thomas Mathis MS-3, AEMT, USAR MC Abdul-Rahman Saleh MS-3, MLS Kevin Le MS-3, EMT-B Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine Introduction Blood products are an essential component of trauma resuscitation. In the experience of both the Afghan and Iraq Wars as well as that of operating r [...]
Unexpected Methemoglobinemia: A Case Report
Coral Byrns, OMS-IV VCOM-Auburn Abstract This case is to serve as a refresher on methemoglobinemia and the different pathologies, both well understood and newly discovered, that surround it. Patient X, a 66-year-old African American female, was seen in the emergency department with complaints of d [...]
Summer 2022
Altitude Induced Angioedema of the Lips
Grace Bunemann MS41, Madison Greco MS41 1Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine Abstract Introduction High-Altitude Illness and its related disorders (Acute Mountain Sickness, High-Altitude Cerebral Edema, and High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema) have often been documented to occur at altit [...]
Enterococcus Faecalis Endocarditis Disguised as Back Pain and Fever of Unknown Origin
Blake, A. OMS-III Abstract: Bacterial endocarditis is a life-threatening, deadly infection that impacts the lives of several people each year in both developed and developing countries. Although the recognition, diagnosis, and treatments have improved, the mortality rate remains concerning. It is vit [...]
Preparing a Better Obstetrics Consult in the Emergency Department
Braden Zoller, OMS-III1; K. Daniel Miller, D.O.2 Affiliations: 1Kansas City University, Kansas City, MO. 2Chief of Obstetrics, William Newton Hospital, Winfield, KS. In 2018, visits to the emergency department (ED) related to pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium were the fifth most common prese [...]
Trash Talk: Decreasing our Carbon Footprint in the ED
Austin Bennett, OMS IV West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, West Virginia Prior to medical school, I worked as an ED Tech. Some of my duties included unpacking the boxes of supplies from the manufacturers and stocking the patient care rooms. I also often helped my friend Edgar in [...]
Impact of Resource Allocation on Opioid Related Fatalities in Vermont as Measured Using Geographic Information Systems
Shanes, A, OMS II*, Shecter, I, OMS II*, Bograkos, W, M.A., D.O. University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, Maine *co-authors Introduction: The opioid epidemic poses a huge public health concern nationwide. The State of Vermont is invested in curbing opioid-related fatalit [...]
Fall 2021
COVID Induced Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report
Kara Hatlevoll DO, MS, FAWM*, Harshit Singh*, Jaime Weber MS*, Natalie Griego MD *These authors contributed equally to this work. Abstract Case Presentation: An 82-year old patient with preexisting COVID-19 pneumonia and significant cardiac risk factors presented via EMS to the emergency department [...]
Soiled Airways: Suction Catheters and Decontamination Techniques
Parham Salehi Saee1, MS4; Dhimitri A Nikolla, DO2 Affiliations: 1Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA. 2Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Vincent Hospital, Allegheny Health Network, Erie, PA. Introduction Usually, blood or vomit in the oropharynx, a soiled airway can obscur [...]
Spring 2021
COVID Induced Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report
Kara Hatlevoll DO, MS, FAWM*, Harshit Singh*, Jaime Weber MS*, Natalie Griego MD *These authors contributed equally to this work. Abstract Case Presentation: An 82-year old patient with preexisting COVID-19 pneumonia and significant cardiac risk factors presented via EMS to the emergency department [...]
Soiled Airways: Suction Catheters and Decontamination Techniques
Parham Salehi Saee1, MS4; Dhimitri A Nikolla, DO2 Affiliations: 1Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA. 2Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Vincent Hospital, Allegheny Health Network, Erie, PA. Introduction Usually, blood or vomit in the oropharynx, a soiled airway can obscur [...]
Knee Injury After a Skateboarding Accident
Parham Salehi Saee, MS3; Nathan C Ellis, MD; Dhimitri A Nikolla, DO; Melody Milliron, DO Affiliations: 1Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA. 2Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Vincent Hospital, Allegheny Health Network, Erie, PA. Corresponding Author: Dhimitri A. Nikol [...]
Acute Renal Infarction Leading to Sudden Perirenal Hemorrhage
Jesse Dalton, DOAshley Lauria, DO Kent Hospital Emergency Medicine Residency Abstract Introduction Renal infarction is a rare, but clinically important diagnosis due to its significant morbidity and mortality. Atrial fibrillation is a major risk factor for thromboembolic disease that can lead to re [...]
Fall 2020
The Approach to Orthopedic Complaints in the Emergency Department
Varsha Aravindabose, OMS-IV at Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine Acute orthopedic complaints comprise a significant number of Emergency Department (ED) visits every year. Yet, studies show that many Emergency Medicine physicians are not confident in their diagnosis and managemen [...]
Why Talk Flu During a Pandemic?
Taylor A. Klein, MS, OMS-IV Nicholas S. Bowman, OMS-IV If conversations in your household are anything like ours, we are rapidly approaching our regularly scheduled influenza debate. The arguments are numerous: “That vaccine never works anyway.” “Any time I get that vaccine, I get the flu from it.” [...]
Summer 2020
Investigating Inversions To A Tee
Jeff Thekkekara, OMS-IV, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences The discovery of the electrocardiogram (ECG) by the Dutch physiologist, Dr. Wilhelm Einthoven, would eventually win him the Nobel Prize in 1924, but he could not have done so without the knowledge that came before him. For e [...]
A Thing Not Looked for Is Seldom Found
Alyka Glor Fernandez, OMS-IV Mitchell Dean Maulfair, DO A previously healthy 16-year-old male presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. He woke up with abdominal pain that steadily worsened and was unrelieved by a dose of over the counter simethicone. This pro [...]
Applying Emergency Medicine During a Pandemic – Advice for Orphan Program Medical Students
Authors: Andrew Langille DO1, Christina Hornack DO2, Dhimitri Nikolla DO3 Positions/Affiliations: 1ACOEP-RSO Secretary, EM Resident, UT Nashville, Nashville, TN 2ACOEP-RSO President, EM Resident, Adena Regional Medical Center, Chillicothe, OH 3ACOEP RSAC Chair, EM Attending, AHN Saint Vincent, Erie, [...]
Welcome Emergency Medicine Interns!
Greetings and welcome to our new class of Emergency Medicine Interns! You have joined our specialty during an exciting and uncertain time. But excitement and uncertainty are not new to our specialty, nor do I believe they are unique to it. We are often called to react to situations without enough in [...]
Volunteering as a Medical Student During COVID-19: A Personal Account
Kaley Canova-Gaitros, OMS-IV, Kansas City University I am sure that years from now, my classmates and I will all remember what rotation we were pulled from on March 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; I was in my final week of an ENT Surgery rotation. The next couple of weeks were full of specul [...]
Interview With Stephanie Davis, DO
In May 2020, Sean Creegan, OMS III, sat down (virtually) with Dr. Stephanie Davis, DO, and asked about her work on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a transcript of some of the interview. Be sure to listen to the audio version for the complete interview, including our discussion on w [...]
Spring 2020
What Can I Do?
Taylor Klein, NRAEMT, MSc, OMS-III On Sunday, March 15th, 2020, I was on my OB-GYN rotation and was present for three deliveries. The residents and attendings were pimping me on various OB emergency facts as I had just come off of my ED elective and had shared with them my plans to apply to EM. By [...]
Awake Proning for COVID-19 Pneumonia
Dhimitri A Nikolla, DO Emergency Physician AHN Saint Vincent, Erie PA Introduction Proning is a method of positioning hypoxemic patients to improve oxygenation. It reduces mortality in mechanically ventilated patients with severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS),1 and has been recommended [...]
Making a Cost-effective Suction-Assisted Laryngoscopy Assisted Decontamination (SALAD) Simulation System
Authors: Paige Reinfeld, MS, OMS-II Shriman Balasubramanian, MS, OMS-II Michael Polito, OMS-II Nicole Kiess, OMS-II Adithya Nagaraja, OMS-II School: TouroCOM – Middletown,NY Social Media: @simclubtouro Introduction Airway management remains an essential skill for various healthcare disciplines, with [...]
Winter 2020
An Acute Case of Phenytoin Toxicity in the Emergency Department
Akstinas, J. OMS-IV, Miguel, E. DO Mesa View Regional Hospital, NV Rocky Vista University Abstract Case Presentation: A 38-year-old woman with a past medical history of depression, vertigo, and a seizure disorder presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with complaints of dizziness for four days. [...]
Medical Schools Should Turn to Virtual Reality in the Wake of COVID-19
Harshit Singh1*, Jaime Weber, MS1*, Angela Pierce, PhD2 1OMS-III, Kansas City University, College of Osteopathic Medicine 2Phase II Director, Kansas City University, College of Osteopathic Medicine *These authors contributed equally to this work. The global spread of a novel coronavirus in 2019 and [...]
The Seemingly Impossible Task of Mourning During Medical Education
Andrew Griffin, OMS-III Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences A couple of weeks into my surgery rotation, I came home from an extended shift when I checked my phone to read dozens of condolences on one of my friend’s Facebook walls alluding to that something severe had happened. Not wan [...]
The Medical Student’s Brief Guide to the 3-Minute Emergency Medicine Presentation
Alyka Glor Fernandez The Emergency Department (ED) is busy. Resident and attending physicians are occupied every minute of their shifts with patient care, procedures, orders, and charting. In addition, they are responsible for teaching and supervising medical students who rotate in the ED. While our [...]
The EM Algorithm: A Simplified Approach For Early Success In Emergency Medicine
Samuel James Nobilucci, DO, MSM-HCA, EMT-P Emergency medicine (EM) is a complex and adaptive specialty that blends the knowledge base of a general practitioner with aspects from nearly every other specialty. Be it pediatrics, geriatrics, infectious disease, surgery, or any number of organ-based focu [...]
Medical Paintball
Anastasia Ambrosio, OMS III ACOEP RSO Student Conference Chair Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences The nurses, the PAs, and even a stray patient in the hallway stared at me, all alarmed. I was excited to get a pimping question right. Muffled heart sounds, hypotension and JVD: the tria [...]
When to Consider Plasmapheresis in the Emergency Department
Samuel Nobilluci DO Jordan Miller DO Ari Leib MD Adena Regional Medical Center Case presentation A 88-year-old Caucasian female walks into the emergency department after her primary care physician told her she had an abnormal lab. She reports that she otherwise feels fine and denies visual changes, [...]
Winter 2019
“Just Get the Flu Shot!”: Update of Influenza Prevention and Treatment
Andrew Leubitz, DO, MBA Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center Influenza in the Emergency Department: It happens at least once per shift, sometimes it seems like every other patient presents this way… a new patient pops up on the board, a 20 or 30-something year old whose chief compliant is “everyth [...]
Calling Consults, Part 1: A Resident’s Perspective
Christopher Swyers, DO, PGY-3 One of the most important jobs of an emergency physician is realizing when he or she needs help. Whether it’s simply ensuring good follow up, getting a patient to surgery, or getting a sub-specialist’s expertise, calling a consult is a critical skill. Experience is ofte [...]
Mass Casualty Shootings and the Implications of the Impact if Left Unchecked
Lindsey Roden, MPH ACOEP Staff August 3, 2010, eight people killed in Manchester, CT. June 17, 2015, nine people killed in Charleston, SC. December 2, 2015, 14 people killed in San Bernardino, CA. June 12, 2016, 49 people killed in Orlando, FL. October 1, 2017, 58 people killed in Las Vegas, NV. Feb [...]
The Winter Student Symposium – I Didn’t Know What to Expect
Zach Mauro OMS-III, EMT-P ACOEP-RSO Conference Co-Chair The Winter Student Symposium - I didn't know what to expect "ABCDE and a secondary survey will never fail you!" "If you don't already, you're going to love ultrasound at the end of today!" "We [as residency programs] want to know why you want t [...]
DEATH AS A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
Taylor Klein, OMS-II, NRAEMT AZCOM I’d be surprised to encounter someone working in healthcare who doesn’t remember their first experience with death. We are taught that it’s inevitable; we can’t save everyone. We know that we will eventually encounter patients who are beyond the help of medical in [...]
Ischemic Stroke in Pregnancy: Thinking Outside the Womb?
Hailey Bossio, MD Kent Hospital, Warwick, RI INTRODUCTION The incidence of stroke is common – someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. In the management of stroke, expediency is key. Like the majority of hospitals, Kent Hospital has a stroke protocol in place, but this does not in [...]
Bupropion: The “Poor Man’s Cocaine”? A Case Report
Ryan A. Anderson, D.O. Chief Resident, Lehigh Valley Health Network CASE A 33-year-old male is brought to the emergency department after being found down in his bathroom. He is slightly confused but has normal vital signs. A white powder was found at the scene, and the patient claims he was snorting [...]
A Case and Discussion of Accidental Hypothermia in the Setting of Trauma
Dhimitri Nikolla, DO, PGY-4 AHN Saint Vincent Hospital Erie, PA CASE A 22-year-old male presented as a trauma alert completely unresponsive. He was found down by a bystander, unresponsive with significant facial trauma presumed to be from assault. Upon arrival, the patient had apneic respirations be [...]
How Can YOU Save a Life? – PulsePoint: Empowering Superheroes
Anthony Unger, OMS-3, BS Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine My uncle believed he was a healthy man. Surviving cancer at a young age caused him to live a very positive and compassionate life. It was no surprise he signed up for a 100-mile bike ride supporting our veterans. He completed the two [...]
Fall 2019
5 Tips for Maintaining Wellness During Dedicated Board Prep
Melinda Kizziah, OMS-III West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine Summer is over and if you’re a second-year medical student, you are gearing up for another busy but exciting year of medical school. With first year under your belt, you’re probably feeling more confident and prepared to move one [...]
Summer 2019
The ACOEP-RSO Is Working for You
The ACOEP-RSO (American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians - Resident-Student Organization) provides emergency medicine (EM) residents and student members a wealth of opportunities and benefits. From RSO events at Scientific Assembly and Student Symposiums, to the Resident Education Package [...]
ACOEP-RSO Advocating for Better Emergency Care and Training
The ACOEP-RSO has been proudly representing its members at the biannual All Emergency Medicine Residents Organization and Students (AEROS) group meetings, where we have collaborated on several projects to advocate for emergency medicine (EM) residents and students regarding many issues such as maint [...]
An Unusual Case of Septic Shock from a Urinary Tract Infection
Peter Nesbitt, OMS-IV @LECOM, Erie, PA Dhimitri Nikolla, DO @AHN Saint Vincent Hospital, Erie, PA CASE 60 year-old male with quadriplegia due to spinal cord injury and chronic Foley catheter presented to the emergency department (ED) with hematuria and confusion. The catheter was exchanged one day p [...]
Interviewing The Interviewers
Christina Powell, DO Past Director of Student Affairs, ACOEP-RSO University of Maryland Medical Center, Class of 2022 As we transition to yet another cycle of daunting applications, painfully edited personal statements, and hours waiting anxiously by the phone for interview offers to enter the email [...]
Tricks of the Trade: The ED 3-minute Walk Test
Christopher Hart, OMS-II @LECOM-Erie Dhimitri A Nikolla, DO, PGY-4 @AHN Saint Vincent Hospital INTRODUCTION Emergency physicians often have difficulty dispositioning patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute dyspnea caused by exacerbations in either chronic obstructive pulmonar [...]
Spring 2019
Substance-Induced Psychosis in the Emergency Department
Kara Smith, CUSOM MSIII Case Presentation: A 32-year-old Caucasian man is brought to the Emergency Department by EMS after being found hiding naked in a tunnel of a nearby playground. EMS reports he would not let anyone touch him en route. During your interview, the man stops tells you he shed his c [...]
What is the Etiology of this Electrocardiogram Finding?
Dhimitri A Nikolla, DO, PGY-4 LECOM-Erie CASE An elderly male with a past medical history of dementia, on warfarin for a remote history of pulmonary embolism, presented via ambulance from a skilled nursing facility due to the facility’s reports of altered mental status and decreased oral intake. On [...]
Acute Lower Extremity Paralysis: A Sign of Decompensated Hyperthyroidism
John Oh, MD Ashley Lauria, DO Kent Hospital Emergency Medicine Residency Introduction This case describes a young male who presented to the Emergency Room (ER) with a chief complaint of sudden onset bilateral lower extremity paralysis. He was found to have thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP), which [...]
Winter 2019
Improving Psychiatric Care in the Emergency Room Setting
Authora: Rebecca J. Rychener, MHA Leah Snodgrass, MD; Dr. Debra Zevallos, DBH, MHA, FACHE Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine University of Cincinnati Read the Article [...]
Puff of Smoke: Moyamoya Disease Mimicking Acute Stroke
Author: Joseph Haviland, OMS-III University of New England COM Read the Article [...]
Emergency Department Resuscitative Thoracotomy: A Comprehensive Literature Review on the Current Methods of Instruction for this Complex, Life-Saving Procedure
Authors: Alexandra Taylor, Anatalia J. Kerstan, Ethan Kromberg, and Harrison Steins Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine Read the Article [...]
Patient Attitudes Toward Remote Trauma Follow-up via Telehealth in Relation to Distance from Initial Trauma Center
Authors: Gordon Calhoun, OMS-III; John Bumgarner, OMS-III; Zaid Khan, OMS-III Principal Investigator: Dr. Parker Fillmore, MD St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Trauma Department Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine Read the Article [...]
Ultrasound Diagnosis of De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis in the Emergency Department
Authors: Emily Thompson, DO and Michael Galuska, MD ABSTRACT A 44-year-old male construction worker presented to the ED with right radial wrist pain. Physical exam findings were consistent with De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis (DQT) and bedside ultrasound of the first extensor compartment of the wrist [...]
Mass Casualty Incident Simulations Should Be Strongly Encouraged and Widely Available for Medical Students
Authors: Rachel Steffes OMS-II, Megan Unrath OMS-II, Andres Toledo OMS-II, Alissa Leyman OMS-II Location/School Affiliation: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine - Kansas City Campus Keywords (3): Emergency Preparedness, Mass Casualty Training Simulation, Medical Education Short Au [...]
Damage Control Resuscitation – Pathophysiology and Practices for Emergency Medicine Physicians
Author: Thomas Mathis MS-3, AEMT, USAR MC Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine Introduction Damage Control Resuscitation (DCR) is a methodology for stabilizing severely injured trauma patients with massive hemorrhage by aggressively pursuing hemostasis and proactively addressing the le [...]
Emergency Department Management of Vascular Trauma Resulting from a Dog Bite to Upper Extremity
Authors: CM Emerson MS41, MN Greco MS41, TJ O’Neil MS41, CE White MS41; SM O’Neil, MD, FACS2,3 1Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2Martinsville Surgical Associates, 3SOVAH Health ABSTRACT: Introduction Dog bite injuries are a common presenting complaint to emergency departments acr [...]
Flecainide Fakeout
Flecainide Induced Atrial Flutter Causing Monomorphic Wide Complex Tachycardia Authors: Dr. Graham Clifford, DO; Dr. Justin Sauter, DO; and Dr. Ben Arnold, MD Introduction: A 65-year-old male with a past medical history of atrial flutter on metoprolol, flecainide and eliquis reported to the Emergenc [...]
Lingering COVID-19 Symptoms Among Young Adults
Matthew J. Gold, OMS-III; Marshall Johnson, OMS-III; Alexandra Mathis, OMS-II; Shaheen Mehrara, OMS-III; Daniel Ruiz, OMS-IV; Caroline Houston, OMS-III; Jonathan Kalenik, OMS-III; Mayra Rodriguez, PhD, MPH Author Affiliations · Mayra Rodriguez, PhD, MPH, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine [...]
Fall 2018
Image Challenge
Dhimitri Nikolla, DO, PGY-4 AHN Saint Vincent Hospital Erie, PA Case A 70-year-old female with a past medical history of severe COPD presents complaining of dyspnea and right-sided chest pain for 4 days. Triage vital signs include a blood pressure of 201/95 mmHg, heart rate of 87 beats/minute, tempe [...]
Don’t Miss This Fracture!
Brittany McShane, PGY-2 Norman Regional Health System, Norman, OK 13-year-old male fell on an outstretched hand skateboarding. He has tenderness at the base of his right thumb in the anatomic snuffbox. What fracture would you be concerned about with the above history? You should be worried about a p [...]
How to Approach the Residency Fair: Advice From Your GME Chair
Clairisse Hafey, OMS III LECOM- Bradenton What to Wear: Business casual is recommended. What to Expect: This year the ACOEP Residency Fair will be expecting 25-30 ACGME residency programs from various parts of the country that are traditionally “DO-friendly”. Each program will send a combination of [...]
Get to know Reading Hospital’s Emergency Medicine Program
Hospital Location: Reading, PA Program size: 8 residents per year, with planned expansion Program length: 3 years Emergency department beds: Approximately 120 beds in the ER ED visits per year: 136,000 Trauma center: Level 1 trauma center Q&A with Program Director Dr. Kristen Sandel Q: Any avail [...]
Summer 2018
EM Board Review
1. Which patient is LEAST at risk of experiencing a heat related emergency? A. 80-year-old male with a past medical history of congestive heart failure on sertraline and tramadol B. 3-year-old female accidentally left in a vehicle on a hot summer day C. 40-year-old male with a past medical history [...]
AEROS Meeting Recap
Dhimitri Nikolla, DO RSO President AHN Saint Vincent Hospital, Erie, PA. On April 22, 2018, Kaitlin Bowers, DO (RSO Past-President), Kristen Kennedy, M.Ed. (ACOEP Director of Education Services), and myself attended and participated in the inaugural All EM Resident Organizations and Students (AEROS) [...]
Spring Seminar Pearls Matching Game
Dhimitri Nikolla, DO RSO President AHN Saint Vincent Hospital, Erie, PA. Did you attend our RSO events at Spring Seminar 2018? See if you can recall some pearls from our RSO events and the general lectures by matching each number with the correct letter! Patients leaving AMA are often… Sodium chann [...]
ACOEP-RSO President and Director of Student Affairs’ Report
Welcome to the Summer edition of The Fast Track! The RSO has had a busy spring! First, Spring Seminar was a huge success! On April 6th, we held our student symposium and received tons of positive feedback. The day began with rapid fire lectures featuring pearls on ventilator management, common toxic [...]
Letter From The Editor- Summer 2018
The summer edition of The Fast Track is here! From meditation to board review to Spring Seminar knowledge pearls, this edition has a ton of great content! You can head on over to The Fast Track current edition page on our website weekly to read new articles or follow our Twitter and Facebook pages t [...]
Spring 2018
How Can You Prepare For A Successful EM Match?
Jacob Schwab, OMS-II WVSOM Timothy Bikman, OMS-IV WVSOM I recently interviewed National Student Past-President, Tim Bikman. Emergency medicine has become a highly competitive specialty, but there are things you can do each year to set yourself up for success on Match Day. Tim’s answers to the follow [...]
Go To A Conference
Richard Newman, OMS-III WVSOM How are you sure Emergency Medicine (EM) is the field for you? This was a daunting question for me as a first-year medical student with little exposure to any other specialty than family medicine. How do you go from what you think you enjoy to finding your calling? EM h [...]
Board Review Questions-Test Your Skills
1. A 2-year-old male presents with parents after a prolonged seizure of 5 minutes. The parents state that he has been lethargic over the past day with poor oral intake. Finger stick glucose is 452. The patient is poorly responsive and begins seizing again. The best initial therapy is: A. Intravenous [...]
Time for Change
Aaron Markwith, OMS-II Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine For years, I counseled patients on the importance of taking care of themselves. Obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and high cholesterol seemed to dominate every patient chart I encountered. I knew the risks as [...]
Is There A Doctor On Board?
Jordan Johnson, OMS III LECOM-Bradenton The familiar feeling of descent woke me as I emerged from a much needed nap on my flight from Miami to Denver for the 2017 ACOEP Scientific Assembly. I had fallen asleep to the soothing sound of Pathoma, a common occurrence for medical students. However, not e [...]
Residency Spotlight: Allegheny Health Network – Saint Vincent Hospital
Size: 6 residents per year Program length: 3 years Institution bed size: 425 ED Visits per year: 69,000 ACGME accreditation status: Initial Accreditation Away rotations: One month of pediatric emergency medicine at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Two months of Level 1 Trauma at UPMC Pre [...]
Getting Flash! The Blind “Fem” Line
Dhimitri Nikolla, DO, PGY-3 ACOEP-RSO President AHN Saint Vincent Hospital, Erie, PA INTRODUCTION With the widespread availability of intraosseous (IO) needles and ultrasound, emergent central lines placed with landmark-guidance (LG) are becoming a thing of the past. While IO access is faster and ul [...]
Street Medicine: How It Can Have a Positive Impact and Curtail the Misuse of the Emergency Department
Jillian Blalock OMS-III WVSOM When I made the decision to return to my hometown of Wheeling, West Virginia to complete my clinical requirements for medical school, I did so because I already knew the area; I would not have the “transition period” or feel the need to “get settled” like many of my cla [...]
The Power Of Empathy
Aishwarya Sharma, OMS II OUHCOM The room is bright white, clear and aseptic. White walls, white bed, white curtains. And in the middle of it all is a sobbing woman. I watch her tear-streaked face as she assesses her surroundings, fear in her eyes. I am supposed to be getting the history and physical [...]
ACOEP-RSO President and Director of Student Affairs Report
Welcome to the spring edition of The Fast Track! The ACOEP Resident-Student Organization (RSO) has had a busy winter planning for a busy spring! First, Spring Seminar is right around the corner April 3-7, 2018 in San Diego, CA! The majority of RSO events will be Friday, April 6th. We will have Rapid [...]
Winter 2018
The DIY Ultrasound-Guided IV Access Phantom
Developed and created by Campbell University’s Emergency Medicine Club Andrew Langille, Kansas City University, OMS-III Contributors: Zachary Mauro, CUSOM OMS-III; Jeffrey Davis CUSOM OMS-III; Brian Conner, CUSOM OMS-III Intravenous (IV) access is an essential procedure that can be difficult under c [...]
Ultrasound in The Emergency Department: Stones and Abdominal Groans
Scott M. Goodwin, OMS-4, ENS, MC, USNR West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine Case A 26-year-old female, G1P1, presents to the ED with right flank pain of three hours duration. The pain radiates to the right lower quadrant and is intermittent and sharp in nature. The pain is associated with n [...]
How to Be That Person Without Being THAT Person…Tips and Tricks for a Successful Emergency Medicine Rotation
Emily Howell, OMS-IV LECOM-Bradenton As emergency medicine becomes more competitive, audition rotations have become increasingly important. These rotations offer the opportunity for programs to assess a candidate’s potential for residency while allowing the candidate to experience potential training [...]
Emergency Medicine Organizations
Nevertheless, it is easy to get stuck in the microcosm of the doctor-patient relationship and forget that there is a breadth of bureaucracy that allows us to do the job we love doing. There are many organizations fighting for our ability to practice emergency medicine with reliable evidence, a neces [...]
USMLE: Yes or No?
Dominic Williams, OMS-IV LECOM-Bradenton In my term as the ACOEP-RSO Student President, I had the privilege of meeting many osteopathic students from across the country: students with a passion for emergency medicine, students taking the initiative to attend events relevant to their future, students [...]
Residency Spotlight: Sunrise Health
Size: 8 residents per year Program length: 3 years Institution bed size: 1,100 ED Visits per year: 240,000 ACGME accreditation status: Initial Accreditation Trauma Center? Level 2, Pending Level 1 Hospital Locations? Las Vegas, Nevada Available Fellowships? None What is unique about your program? [...]
2017 ACOEP Scientific Assembly: A Recap
Rochelle Rennie, OMS-IV OUHCOM This year’s ACOEP Scientific Assembly was definitely one to be remembered! In order to accommodate the busy schedule of medical students, the student events took place during the weekend from November 4th to 6th in the beautiful city of Denver, Colorado. Saturday start [...]
Creating A Winning Poster
Olivia Reed, DO RSO Vice President Norman Regional- Oklahoma Are you thinking about entering your first FOEM competition? Not sure how to take that first step? I understand. I remember scrolling through the FOEM website feeling a little intimidated by the idea of entering a national competition. How [...]
New Physicians Learn The Ropes In Denver
Chris Swyers, DO, PGY-2 St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital Despite the skills and knowledge we acquire in residency, starting a career in emergency medicine can be daunting. Luckily, the ACOEP is committed to making this transition easier by helping us lay the groundwork for a successful and rewarding [...]
#FOAMed Movement
Christina Powell, OMS-III LECOM-Bradenton What is FOAMed? FOAMed stands for Free Open Access Medical (FOAM) Education. If you spend any time on social media stalking the emergency medicine community, you’ll see a plethora of physicians sharing great ideas, clinical skills, and novel pearls for the [...]
Fall 2017
What’s New In EM
Aadil Vora, OMS-IV NSUCOM The Pediatric Sedation State Scale to assess pediatric procedural sedation (July 2017) Scales that seek to describe the level of sedation achieved during procedural sedation focus largely on physiologic depth, primarily airway and cardiovascular impairment. But a new tool c [...]
Fatigue and Poor Appetite In An Elderly Female
Dhimitri Nikolla, DO AHN Saint Vincent Hospital, Erie, PA CASE An 86 year-old female with a past medical history of chronic congestive heart failure with a dual-chamber pacemaker, hypertension, severe mitral regurgitation, and dementia was sent to the emergency department (ED) by family via ambulanc [...]
The Business Of Healthcare: How Patient Satisfaction Plays A Role
Alexander Torres, DO Comanche County Memorial Hospital, Lawton, OK Patient satisfaction and its impact on healthcare and health outcomes dates back to the 1950s, where relationships between patients and healthcare providers were examined.1 These relationships have become extremely complex as the hea [...]
An Ode to Osler: A Physician Profile
Dominic Williams OMS-IV LECOM - Bradenton “Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability.” Have you ever wondered why, as a third-year medical student, you’re cast out into the hospital to fend for yourself among patients? Have you ever stopped to think about which creative genius c [...]
Wellens Syndrome: The Forgotten Diagnosis
Frank Wheeler, OMS-IV LECOM-Bradenton Introduction A middle-aged male complaining of resolved chest pain presents to the emergency department (ED). His physical examination is normal. His electrocardiogram (EKG) is seen in Figure 1 and cardiac enzymes were normal as well. The patient is determined t [...]
Lead From The Front
Christina Powell, OMS-III LECOM-Bradenton In the past, a sentiment existed among some emergency physicians that arriving on time and covering the shift with 100% effort was sufficient for success. However, in the face of increasing competition in the field, changing insurance models, and expanding e [...]
Happiness In Residency And Beyond
James Chapman, DO Kent Hospital, Warwick, RI Residency is full of tasks that make life busy. Working shifts, studying at home, preparing for weekly lectures, and attending journal club are all part of residency life. On top of this, you are encouraged to do research, travel and present at conference [...]
Letter From The Editor- Fall 2017
Welcome back! The fall edition is here with an exciting line up of articles. From acute myocardial infarction to physician burnout to violence in the emergency department, The Fast Track covers a gamut of topics you want to be familiar with as a resident or student in emergency medicine. Hopefully, [...]
A Letter From The ACOEP-RSO Presidents
Welcome to The Fast Track! This year has been a time of major shift here at ACOEP. As your resident and student leadership, we have been working to provide you with the most exciting and educational emergency medicine experience we can offer. Many of you will be reading this letter from the comfort [...]
Summer 2017
Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.
Alexander Torres, DO, PGY-4 Comanche County Memorial Hospital Transitional career phases are, without a doubt, an emotional rollercoaster filled with anxiety, nervousness, and fear, to name just a few. As an emergency medicine physician, you will be continuously challenged throughout your career, no [...]
Spring Seminar Recap
This year, ACOEP hosted the annual Spring Seminar at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Hotel in Bonita Springs, Florida, from April 18-22, 2017. Dedicated student events took place on Thursday, April 20th, and included first through fourth year medical students, with 15 different schools in attendance.
How To Survive The First Two Years Of Medical School
Countless tests, endless hours of studying, and bottomless pots of coffee - the first two years of medical school are unlike anything most people will ever experience. As the pressure mounts, so does your stress level. We have compiled 10 tips to not only help you survive the grueling didactic portion of medical school, but to ensure you thrive as you embark on your career in emergency medicine.
A Sticky Case of “Splenomegaly”
A 6-year-old female presented with a two-day history of abdominal pain after being referred by her pediatrician for evaluation of "splenomegaly." The patient had been complaining of constipation for the past six days along with a few episodes of nausea and vomiting. On physical examination, a firm, non-tender mass was palpated extending at least 10 cm below the left costal margin.