EM Research Wish List

[zeitgeber]

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Here's my short wish list of EM research I wish I had time to do...
If you respond to this thread, please state those couple of studies you wish you had time to perform, and hence would love to see some eager PGY2 start.

My personal favorites:

1. Affecting CT Utilization amongst physicians by reporting to them the number of CT Brains (for example) performed over the number of patients they've seen over a year. Show them the numbers; where they stand in comparison to their peers. Some will argue that this is not a fair way of judging, as we cannot determine individual needs for a CT brain based on simply looking at utilization rates, but i believe that over a large number of patients all things equalize. Then, perform an intervention, say a presentation of the evidence behind head injury rules and CT use for headaches. Measure again to see if the educational intervention worked.

2. measure RVU's generated per chart by resident. Offer an intervention (i.e. teach them how to document for billing) and offer an incentive (increased CME). Measure if documentation for billing improves.

3. We all give discharge instructions. How about admission instructions? Gotta give kudos to my colleague Dr. Carrozza who came up with this... but how about going a step further... an admission "video"? A short video explaining what a patients hospitalization for CP rule out or Pneumonia will be like, why they're being admitted and a little bit of the pathophys shown as graphic videos? (this will be in conjunction of speaking to the patient of course... but more like once you're done explaining the dispo/dx you would have the patient watch the video, and return to answer any further questions. Compare this to patients satisfaction scores who are admitted without the video.

 

[aggiedoc2010]

I may only be a meager MS 1 but I was just wishing the other day that a thread like this existed.

My school is very proactive in getting students involved in EM research at an early time in their medical education. Currently, the research group is taking rudimentary proposals for future EM research projects. Right now the proposals are as simple as a one line question that could be answered through a research project. Every member is allowed to submit something, and then potentially have it elaborated and refined and then have a hand in the carrying out of the project.

Assuming those who post don't mind, I would be interested in giving one of the wish list items my incredibly small and limited chance at allowing it to actually come to fruition.

Here were my rudimentary thoughts on potential topics based on my brief years in EMS.

1. Does emergency transport of full arrest patients by EMS influence patient survival outcomes?
2. Evaluate effectiveness and utility of manual c-spine immobilization by EMS
3. Does an emergency physician vs. trauma surgery functioning as trauma team leader make a difference in level 1 trauma patient outcomes?
4. Does a decreased door to troponins result improve treatment and outcomes of MI patients?


Feel free to knock me gently back into my place, but as someone aspiring to go into EM I would love any opportunity to benefit the EM specialty. I would also take a personal interest in this list being expanded to EMS related research also.