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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.
Isolated Bandemia: What Should We Do with It?
Almost immediately, emergency physicians know what to do with most abnormal lab results. If a patient’s hemoglobin is 4.5 g/dL, they need a transfusion. If their troponin is 12.3 ng/ml, they are having cardiac infarction. If their lactic acid is 7.5 mmol/L, something terrible is going on. What if the only abnormality they have on their blood work is bandemia? Does it matter if their bands are 6%, 15%, or 32%? Or, are they all treated equally?
Improving the Quality of Pediatric CPR
Pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest (PCA) is a rare event; it occurs out-of-hospital in about 8.04 per 100,000 person-years compared to 126.52 per 100,000 person-years in adults [1]. As expected, the mortality is high; one study found one month survival of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) to be 10.5%, while another study found survival to discharge of pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) to be 31.3% [2,3]. Achieving higher rates of survival is dependent on many factors in the chain of survival, but the performance of good quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has been shown to be directly associated with survival. In this article, we will define quality CPR in the pediatric patient, review some studies linking certain aspects of CPR with survival in PCA, and review some adjuncts to improve CPR performance.
Are You Paying More than 6% on Your Student Loans?
Megan Koenig, DO, MBA, MS New Physicians in Practice Committee Chair We are pleased to welcome guest blogger Megan Koenig, Chair of ACOEP's New Physicians in Practice Committee, as she demystifies the student loan refinancing process. In the spirit of Spring, it is always a good time to do some “s [...]
You’re Finally Making Money. Now What?
NPIP’s Bradley Chappell, DO shares his own experiences an insight to help physicians save and spend wisely at the beginning of their careers. Investment and Savings Advice from ACOEP's New Physicians in Practice Most of my friends might generously call me a frugal spender. I consider myself fisca [...]
Improving Your Credit Score
Megan Koenig, DO, MBA, MS New Physicians in Practice Committee Chair We are pleased to welcome guest blogger Megan Koenig, Chair of ACOEP’s New Physicians in Practice Committee, as she provides tips on maintaining and improving your credit score. Once a year it is smart to request your credit repo [...]
Embracing Change with the New Physicians in Practice
By Bradley Chappell, DO, MHA, FACOEP, FACEP It is that time of the year again. July is the month we bid adieu to our experienced seniors, welcome the new juniors, and spend a little time enjoying the warm summer fun in the sun. As you transition to a new stage in your career, there are many things [...]