Patient perceptions of emergency physicians: the gender gap still exists.

This study examines whether female emergency physicians are less likely than male emergency physicians to be recognized by patients as physicians. A convenience sample of adult patients seen while a trained observer was on duty in an academic Emergency Department constituted the study population. After the first physician contact, the observer asked the patient if a physician had seen the patient yet. The observer recorded the physician's sex, the patient's response, sex, age, and race. The frequencies that male and female physicians were recognized as physicians were compared. For the 184 physician-patient contacts evaluated, 98/105 (93.3%) of males were recognized as physicians and 62/79 (78.5%) of females were recognized as physicians. Females were significantly less likely than males to be recognized as physicians (chi-square, p = 0.003). Female emergency physicians are less likely than male emergency physicians to be recognized by patients as physicians.

Falls from rooftops after heavy snowfalls: the risks of snow clearing activities.

Many patients present to emergency departments as a result of falling from a roof while shoveling snow. This study was undertaken to determine whether the frequency of such falls increases after large snowfalls, and to describe associated injuries. We reviewed the records of all patients presenting with cause of injury codes (E-codes) related to a fall: (E882, E881, and E884.9). We compared the frequency with which snow-shoveling related falls from roofs occurred on days with and without snowfalls greater than 12 inches. Fifty-nine patients met inclusion criteria. Patients were more likely to fall from a roof while shoveling snow on days with greater than 12 inches of snow accumulation than on days with less than 12 inches of snow accumulation (12/14 v 2/45, P <.001). Injuries included spinal fractures, extremity fractures, and head injury. These results suggest a need for public service campaigns emphasizing the risks of roof shoveling.

The value of EMS experience when applying to medical school?

INTRODUCTION: This study explores the value of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) experience for students applying to medical school. METHODS: Surveys were sent to 67 medical schools in the eastern United States and Canada. Using a five-point Likert scale, the survey asked the respondent to rate the amount of consideration given to Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or paramedic experience when making admissions decisions (1 = very little to 5 = strong), and to describe the influence of that experience (1 = very negative to 5 = very positive). RESULTS: Usable responses were received from 21 schools. The median rating for the consideration given to EMS experience was "some consideration" for both EMT and paramedic experience, with 85.7% of respondents assigning that rating or higher. The median rating for the influence of that experience was "somewhat positive" for both EMT and paramedic experience. Only 14.3% of the returned surveys rated EMS experience as "neutral", and no respondent reported EMS experience as a "negative". CONCLUSION: EMS experience receives at least some consideration during the admissions process at most of the responding institutions in the United States and Canada. Experiences at either the EMT or Paramedic level are viewed similarly. None of the responding institutions viewed EMS experience negatively.

The emergency medicine rotation: a unique experience for medical students.

The objective of this study was to determine if an Emergency Medicine (EM) rotation for medical students offers a unique educational opportunity, and to document those experiences. Thirty-three medical students at one teaching hospital recorded in a computer database information about their patient encounters during EM and Internal Medicine (IM) rotations. Data collected included the types of patients seen, the level of participation in patient care and decision making, and procedures performed. A total of 2740 patient encounters were recorded, 1564 EM and 1176 IM. Students on EM rotations were more likely than students on IM rotations to be involved in the initial evaluation (93.1% vs. 47.0%, respectively), diagnosis (93.5% vs. 44.7%, respectively), and decision making (93.3% vs. 43.5%, respectively); they were also more likely to perform procedures (31.7% vs. 8.5%, respectively). There were significant differences in the patient populations and disease processes encountered on the two rotations as well.