IS-EMERCAST

Medicine has seen the proliferation of guidelines/pathways/clinical decision rules in a dizzying white noise of advisories. They have been developed on the charitable side to minimise variance and provide some certainty of benefit for patients and ease for clinicians. But "do they do what it says on the packet"? This is a perspective and caution on the use of guidelines and pathways and a plea to remember critical thinking and clinical acumen.

Transfer conversations are often a source of a lot of angst, frustration and irritation for clinicians in Emergency Departments on both ends of those conversations. This is a compilation of interviews with clinicians from both sides providing their insights, perspectives and wisdom on what makes them work and how to approach them.

Working in Emergency Departments can place us in high pressure situations. How we handle that pressure in performing our roles is a learned process as much as any other. Emergency Physician Dr Karen Coss provides us with her insights and knowledge on how to approach these situations.

A quick review of the history of pneumothorax and of intercostal catheters before a reflection on NEJM article January 2020 - Conservative versus Interventional Treatment for Spontaneous Pneumothorax.

In this episode Dr Simon Tucker provides insights into how he manages what can be very stressful interactions in the daily life of a doctor in the Emergency Department - the difficult consult.

The view of life as a female Emergency Physician across cultures and countries.

A discussion with Dr Peter Smith around some of the issues that face EDs without a range of on site support services. Peter provides the benefits of his insights based on experience as a clinician and a department DIrector.

This is a unique opportunity to get insights into the indigenous patient experience in ED from one of only 3 Indigenous Emergency Physicians in the country and not only a local clinician but also of indigenous heritage from the south of our district - Dr Ryan Dashwood, a proud Budawang man.

Wellbeing in the ED. What is it all about? An interesting interview with Bishan Rajapakse a local champion of the Wellbeing focus in Emergency Departments and health generally.

Managing the critically ill patient with multiple co-morbidities is a complex and difficult problem. Patient, family, carers and staff all need care in a busy environment with multiple competing priorities. Here is a way to consider it.