Clinician's Roundtable

EMS care has advanced since the first ambulances scooped a patient up and ran to the hospital. But is it time to go back to BLS? Dr Marianne Gauche-Hill, Director of EMS at UCLA Harbor and Professor of Medicine at UCLA, discusses research from Canada and the US showing that for certain diagnosis, EMS should not continue ACLS at the scene. Join Dr Shira Johnson as she discusses this controversal topic which may impact the EMS budget at your facility.

When should your emergency medical services unit be transporting instead of treating? Dr. Marianne Gauche-Hill, professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and director of EMS at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, reveals recent studies in the literature showing that less treatment may be more efficacious. Join Dr. Shira Johnson as she interviews Dr. Gauche-Hill to discuss scenerios when the diagnosis in the field may have a better outcome if ACLS care is delivered at the receiving facility.

Innovation. It's important to change healthcare. But is there an innovator in everyone? Philip Newbold, president and chief executive of Memorial Hospital and Health System in South Bend, Indiana, tells host Bruce Japsen how we can find the innovator in each of us and how this could lead to improvements in medicine and the patient's healthcare experience.

Anita Glicken, professor of pediatrics and section head of the Child Health Associate/Physician Assistant program at University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center, discusses the scope and admission requirements of this unique physician assistant program. Ms. Glicken explains how the program was started over 30 years ago, long before most physician assistant programs, and prepares its graduates through innovative curriculum to provide comprehensive medical care for people of all ages, emphasizing the care of infants, children, and adolescents. The program is different than most physician assistant programs in that it is a three-year master's level education program and graduates receive specialized training in pediatrics and psychology. Tune in to hear how this unique program is attempting to address the shortages of health care professionals in rural areas and primary care/pediatric practices.

The emergency department is at the interface between the community and the healthcare system. What impacts the emergency department impacts us all. Dr. Art Kellerman, professor of emergency medicine at Emory University, discusses the challenges facing American healthcare and the groundwork for changing the practice of emergency medicine. As associate dean for health policy at Emory, he is on the forefront of such issues as access to care and healthcare reform. Dr. Shira Johnson is the host.

In a chaotic and uncontrolled environment, the emergency department is taking the lead in clinical research. Dr. Art Kellerman, professor of emergency medicine at Emory University, discusses how clinical trials performed in this challenging environment are shaping the future of the ED and of medicine. Dr. Shira Johnson hosts as Dr. Kellerman discusses his experiences at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta's only public hospital and Level 1 trauma center, as one of the nation's leading emergency care researchers.

Sjogren's syndrome is a commonly overlooked autoimmune disorder. Dry eyes and whole-body dryness are just two of the symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome that can suggest other conditions as well. How does Sjogren's present itself beyond dry eyes, and how severe is the condition? Dr. Frederick Vivino, clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, describes some of the tests and therapies available for Sjogren's syndrome to host Dr. Lee Freedman.

Captain James Jones, program manager of the Army's Interservice Physician Assistant Program, discusses with host Lisa D'Andrea Lenell the role of the physician assistant on the battlefield. Captain Jones describes the specialized training provided to physician assistants and the team approach employed by the military which utilizes medics, physician assistants, and physician. Tune in to hear how physician assistants have been and continue to be a vital force in the provision of healthcare to military personnel.

The Army offers well qualified officers, enlisted soldiers, and cadets an incredible educational opportunity to become a physician assistant (PA) through the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP), located at the AMEDD Center & School, Fort Sam in Houston, Texas. Cpt. James J. Jones, program manager of the IPAP program, explains to host Lisa D'Andrea Lenell how 150 soldiers a year are trained as physician assistants in a consolidated tri-service program for the Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, National Guard, and U.S. Public Health Service. Tune in to hear how physician assistants serve as the primary medical provider to soldiers in combat, division level units and to the soldiers' family members.

The Institute of Medicine recently revised its work schedule recommendations for medical residents, in the wake of increasing concern about errors made related to medical resident fatigue. What are the new recommendations, and will these help enhance the learning environment for residents? Two of the Institute of Medicine's panel members who studied the residency process, Dr. Kenneth Ludmerer, professor of medicine and history at Washington University in St. Louis, and Dr. Daniel Munoz, fellow at Johns Hopkins University, discuss the goals of the new recommendations. Dr. Lee Freedman hosts.