PEM GEMS

Contrary to what F. Scott Fitzgerald may have written, i think there are second acts in American life.  While PEM education has been my passion for the last 7 years, I have made the hard decision to transition away from Academic Emergency medicine.  So enjoy this short and sweet goodbye as I express my gratitude for all the people who made this podcast go over the last 3 years.

Stealing a bit from Bill Shakespeare, this is a daily and possibly the most important question we grapple with on a daily basis. But unlike, the Melancholy Dane the question we struggle with is the incredible diagnostic power or a CT vs. the possible downsides.  This podcast aims to look at the CT question through the old standard- the lens of risks and benefits and hopefully will give you a framework for how to think about this famous question.

Y'all asked, I answered! Thanks to an email from across the boarder in Quebec.- I've tried to put together my thoughts on those pesky dots- i.e. what to do the next time you see a kid with petechia. 

The dog days of summer are winding down, but there is still plenty of time to soak up some sun and spend some time in the water.  But even a day at the beach can quickly turn tragic, as drowning (aka submersions injuries) can happen suddenly.  Hopefully this review will give you some pointers about how to monitor, resuscitate and prognosticate the next time you get a pediatric submersion injury. 

If you like the PEM content and lame dad jokes then here is your chance to see it in person!  I have entered ACEPs drop the mic new speaker competition.  Voting is open to all ACEP members and can be accessed here: https://ecme.acep.org/diweb/gateway/init/1/f/catalog*2Fitem*2Feid*2F900028

So if you like what you hear and see (in this case) take some time and vote Joe.  Hope to see y'all in Philly in October.

There have been several reports over the last few years of increasing pediatric Group A Strep (Strep Pyogenes) infections. While most these are localized infections the mortality of invasive Strep will keep even the most seasoned doctor up at night. Hope you enjoy this quick primer on Strep its presentations and treatment. 

How many times in pediatrics do we say "it's just a virus" and "testing wont change our management".    For the most part this is true, but how do we navigate this in a post covid world and are there scenarios where knowing what virus it is may actually help?

We have all had the anxious feeling of a lump in the throat. But what if our anxious lump comes from seeing a pediatric patient with an actual lump. Hopefully this podcast will help demystify those pesky three letter neck infections and give you a framework to get to the right diagnosis and treatment. 

PECARN head trauma guidelines are as close as it comes to dogma in pediatric emergency medicine.  We all know and love them, but what about certain populations where the rules don't apply.  Tune in, and we review some of the latest and greatest literature for those situations that PECARN doesn't cover.

At first, Lyme disease can seem daunting- there are myriad clinical syndromes and patients can even be minimally symptomatic or asymptomatic.  In areas with high prevalence of the causative agent, Borrelia Burgdorferi, which is found in deer ticks, providers are typically accustomed to recognizing the symptoms particularly in the warmer months. However, with climate change, a more interconnected world, and long incubation periods- Lyme may be coming to an area near you! As such, providers in all areas should be familiar with some of the more common syndromes, which diagnostic tests are available, and how to appropriately treat and disposition patients from the emergency department. The aim of this podcast is not to make you Lyme expert but give you key points for diagnostic dilemmas.