Ep 121 - October 2018 Round Up

Welcome to the St Emlyn's Podcast: October 2018 Highlights

Hello and welcome to this St Emlyn’s podcast. My name is Simon Carley, and today I'm thrilled to take you through all the exciting events and updates we've been involved in this October 2018. This month has been bustling with activities, learning opportunities, and insightful experiences that we are eager to share with you.

The Inaugural St Emlyn's Live Conference

We kicked off October with a bang by hosting the first-ever St Emlyn’s live conference in Manchester. This landmark event brought together a diverse group of delegates and speakers, creating a vibrant atmosphere of learning and collaboration. The focus was on the four pillars of emergency medicine as we see it at St Emlyn’s:

1. Emergency and Spades Medicine
2. Excellence in Critical Care
3. Wellbeing
4. The Philosophy of Emergency Medicine

We had an incredible day filled with discussions on why we do what we do and how we can continue to improve our practices. The energy and enthusiasm from the participants were palpable, and we are excited to share all the presentations and insights from this event over the coming months. Stay tuned to our blog and media channels for updates.

Five Ways to Improve Your Resuscitation Skills

One of the highlights from the conference was my presentation on "Five Things You Can Do to Improve Your Resuscitation." Although the video is not yet released, the blog post is available, and I want to give you a sneak peek into some practical tips that can make a significant difference in your practice.

1. The Zero Point Survey

The zero-point survey is a concept introduced by Cliff Reid, emphasizing the importance of preparation before patient contact. Your resuscitation process should begin the moment you hear about the patient, not when you meet them. This preparatory phase includes ensuring your physical readiness, team coordination, and environment setup.

Key Steps:

• Self-preparation: Ensure you are physically and mentally ready.
• Team readiness: Identify team roles and confirm competency.
• Environmental setup: Check equipment, ensure visibility, and prepare necessary tools.

2. 10 in 10

The 10 in 10 concept involves taking 10 seconds every 10 minutes during a resuscitation to reassess and communicate with your team. This regular pause helps in reappraising the situation and updating your mental models, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

3. Fly the Patient and Then Think

In emergency medicine, drawing from aviation, one person should focus on maintaining the basics (aviate) while another makes higher-level decisions (navigate and communicate). In a resuscitation scenario, one team member should follow the algorithm and manage immediate life support, while another considers broader strategies and decisions.

4. Peer Review

Peer review is essential for growth and self-awareness. Having someone observe your practice and provide feedback can uncover blind spots and improve your performance. This process benefits both the observer and the observed, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

5. Hot Debriefs

Adopted from the Edinburgh emergency departments, hot debriefs are quick, five-minute sessions immediately after an event. This practice allows teams to reflect on their performance, discuss what went well, and identify areas for improvement. Implementing hot debriefs can enhance team dynamics and overall performance.

Enhancing Education in Busy Environments

In another educational blog this month, I discussed how to teach and learn effectively in a stretched environment, drawing from a talk at the Royal Society of Medicine in London. Contrary to popular belief, being busy does not preclude learning opportunities. Data from the GMC survey indicates that exposure to relevant cases and support in learning significantly impact trainee satisfaction, rather than workload alone.

Effective Teaching Strategies:

1. Post-it Polls: Write down interesting cases or learning points throughout the day and display them on a board for everyone to see and discuss.
2. FOAMed Prescriptions: Share relevant online resources with trainees to reinforce learning through spaced repetition.
3. Social Media Utilization: Use platforms like WhatsApp and message boards to discuss cases and share insights while maintaining confidentiality.

Cricoid Pressure and RSI: Ongoing Debates

We revisited the controversial topic of cricoid pressure in rapid sequence intubation (RSI) with a journal club post. Despite longstanding debates, recent evidence, including a study published in JAMA, suggests that cricoid pressure may not significantly impact laryngoscopy success rates. However, it might still be beneficial in specific high-risk scenarios. The key takeaway is to make informed decisions based on the latest evidence rather than following traditional practices blindly.

FemInEm Conference Highlights

Natalie May attended the FemInEm conference in New York and shared her insights in a detailed blog post. The FemInEm group focuses on promoting gender equity in emergency medicine but offers valuable resources for all practitioners. Natalie’s presentation on avoiding the use of the word "sexy" in emergency medicine was particularly thought-provoking. Stay tuned for more from this inspiring conference.

Pursuit of Excellence in Emergency Medicine

Natalie May also delivered a keynote presentation at St Emlyn’s Live on the pursuit of excellence. Drawing from her experiences in the UK and Australia, she emphasized the importance of continuous learning and collaboration with colleagues. Her talk highlighted that achieving self-actualization in emergency medicine requires support from a dedicated team, reflection, and a commitment to improvement.

Addressing PTSD in Emergency Medicine

Rusty Carroll continued his series on PTSD, exploring novel therapies such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), now approved by NICE. This installment provides valuable insights for those dealing with PTSD, offering hope and practical solutions.

Looking Ahead

As we wrap up October, we have an array of exciting content lined up for November and beyond. We will be releasing more materials from St Emlyn’s Live and sharing insights from our Teaching Co-Op course. The course was a fantastic experience, and we are considering hosting it again due to popular demand.

In the meantime, we encourage you to engage with our blogs, videos, and social media channels. Join us in our journey to improve emergency medicine practices and enhance patient care. Stay connected, stay curious, and enjoy your adventures here at St Emlyn’s.

Thank you for being a part of the St Emlyn’s community!

By following these tips and strategies, you can optimize your practice, foster a culture of continuous learning, and improve patient outcomes. Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog and podcast for the latest updates and insights from the world of emergency medicine.