Keeping Up: New Updates for Hippo Emergency Medicine Board Review

As emergency clinicians, the fast-evolving medical landscape challenges us to stay current with the latest knowledge and practices. We're excited to share the latest updates to our Hippo Emergency Medicine (EM) Board Review video course. These enhancements are designed to equip you with the advanced skills and knowledge necessary for excelling in your Board Examinations and daily clinical scenarios. These videos were created with the...

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Is Prescribing for Friends and Family Worth It?

I’ve always appreciated having a friend with some strings they could pull. For years, we had a family friend who ran one of the most popular restaurants in town. I never fully appreciated their willingness to let me skip the line and a never-ending stream of free apps until they moved and a new owner took over.  

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Close a Forehead Laceration Like a Plastic Surgeon

The importance of multilayer closure in a laceration repair cannot be overstated, with techniques like buried dermal closure and strategic skin closure options enhancing both functional and aesthetic outcomes. Dr. Justin Cohen made a guest appearance on ERcast, where he joined Dr. Christina Shenvi to discuss his techniques for repairing facial lacerations as a plastic surgeon. He went into great detail about repairing deep forehead...

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Skin Deep: Selecting Suture Material for the Skin Surface

The choice between absorbable and non-absorbable suture materials for skin closure hinges on various factors, including patient comfort, follow-up availability, and ease of removal. During a recent appearance on ERcast, Dr. Justin Cohen discussed his plastic surgery approach to repairing facial lacerations with Dr. Christina Shenvi. Here are some key takeaways from Dr. Cohen for selecting suture material for closing the skin surface:

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Mastering the ABEM Oral Board Exam: Tips for Success and Pitfalls to Avoid

After residency training, the ABEM Oral Board Exam is the second major hurdle in becoming a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician. While the pass rate is high (~91% in 2023), examinees must be ready to play the game by ensuring they know the format, standards, and rules. ABEM offers the virtual exam twice yearly; the 2024 dates are April 16-19, 2024, and September 10-13, 2024.

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Breaking the Silence: Addressing Physician Addiction in Emergency Medicine

In the fast-paced world of emergency medicine, healthcare professionals are often viewed as unsung heroes, tirelessly working to save lives in high-stress situations. However, behind the scenes, a silent struggle persists—one that is often overlooked and stigmatized. Physician addiction is a complex issue that demands our attention and understanding.

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The Road to ABEM ITE Mastery: How Practice Questions Can Elevate Your Prep

As an emergency medicine resident, preparing for the ABEM In-Training Exam (ITE) is a pivotal phase in your medical journey. This high-stakes exam not only assesses your knowledge and readiness for the next steps in your career but also lays the groundwork for your lifelong practice in emergency medicine. While there is no “passing” score for the ITE, studies and empirical data have shown a strong correlation between test results and...

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A New-Years Resolution: Caring for Clinicians in 2024

As we usher in a new year, we find ourselves at the forefront of healthcare, continuously providing vital services and compassionate care to those in need. Amidst the challenges of the ever-evolving healthcare landscape, we must remember that we, too, deserve care and attention – not just for the sake of our well-being but also for the benefit of those we serve. According to an article published by the Journal of General Internal Medicine,...

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SNOT this Season RSV

If you’re on the frontlines of the emergency department, you’ve probably noticed the uptick in respiratory infections and viruses in the early kick-off to 2023’s respiratory season.

As we brace for fall and winter, it looks like we’ll have additional tools in our arsenal to decrease complications and hospitalizations from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): adult vaccines and a monoclonal antibody for all infants.

Three different vaccines...

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Fentanyl Test Strips: Coming to an ED Near You

We are all learning how to be good stewards of prescription opioids which has resulted in a significant downward trend in dispensing rates over the past decade. However, the number of fatal overdoses due to fentanyl continues to rise. ​​

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The Fentanyl Crisis: What Clinicians Can Do

By Ashley Greer PA-C and Vicky Pittman PA-C

As clinicians, many of us have been touched personally as well as professionally by the opioid crisis and overdose deaths. According to the CDC, over 107,000 people in the U.S. died of drug overdoses from January 2021-January 2022, and 67% of those deaths involved synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Fentanyl is especially terrifying because many people who overdose on it may have had no...

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Drowning Myths, Missteps, and Pro-Tips: The Truth about Submersion Events

By Jen Swisher, PA-C and Geoff Comp, DO

Summer is here - and we know all too well that drowning and water-related medical emergencies rise during this time of year. As emergency medicine providers, we all have one degree of separation from a tragic story of a submersion event. While we’re well-versed in the in-hospital care of a drowning victim, it’s possible that we may also have to play the part of first responder at home, the pool,...

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