Episodes

In this special episode, we celebrate the incredible 19-year tenure of Dr. Nate Kuppermann as Chair of the UC Davis Emergency Department. As he transitions to his new role as Executive Vice President, Chief Academic Officer, and Chair of Pediatrics at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., Dr. Kuppermann reflects on the growth and evolution of the department since he started in 2006. He shares insights on the challenges and accomplishments throughout his career, offers advice for aspi...

Many of our ED patients come in because they were told to. Whether it’s by an advice nurse, primary care provider, urgent care, call center, specialty coordinator, etc., it often feels to us like the default is “go to the ED”. But, of course, that’s not the case. There are myriad reasons why patients may be sent to the ED. In this episode, we talk with two of our favorite outpatient physicians – a Pediatrician and an Internist – about when and why they refer patients to the ED, as well as what t...

Oncologic Emergencies: Part 2 In this two-part series, we dive into the world of oncological emergencies with guest expert, Dr. Monica Wattana. In part 1, we covered everything from making new cancer diagnoses in the ED, to hypercalcemia, febrile neutropenia, and tumor lysis syndrome. We also discussed some of the tricky complications that often accompany cancer treatments, like mucositis, vomiting and diarrhea, anemia, and neuropathic pain. In part 2, we tackle pain management, palliative care...

In this two-part series, we dive into the world of oncological emergencies. Our guest expert, Dr. Monica Watana, an emergency physician specializing in this area. In part 1, we cover everything from making new cancer diagnoses in the ED, to hypercalcemia, febrile neutropenia, and tumor lysis syndrome. We also talk about some of the tricky complications that often accompany cancer treatments, like mucositis, vomiting and diarrhea, anemia, and neuropathic pain. The goal is to make sure we’re all e...

In this episode of Push Dose Pearls, we delve into the use of push dose pressors in emergency medicine. Dr. Chris Adams talks about their use, potential side effects, and the importance of a clear plan for the administration of push dose pressors. Did this episode change your practice? Let us know on social media @empulsepodcast or at ucdavisem.com Hosts: Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Dr. Julia Magaña, Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UC ...

Managing pregnant patients in the ED can be stressful – especially because you have (at least) two patients to think about! Emergency physicians are generally comfortable managing first trimester emergencies but are less familiar with complications in the later stages of pregnancy. It is these complications that contribute in part to the maternal health crisis in the US. In this episode, we delve into the realm of obstetric emergencies in the ED with Dr. Jenna White, an EM physician with a speci...

In this episode we talk with Dr. Julie Leonard about the PECARN C-spine Rule that was just officially published! Dr. Leonard is the senior author of the study and walks us through the findings, why its important, and how she uses the rule in her own clinical practice. Host: Dr. Julia Magaña, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Guest: Dr. Julie Leonard, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Ohio State University College of Medicine. Resour...

In this episode of our ongoing miniseries “Push Dose Pearls,” we discuss the use of intranasal medications in the emergency department with Chris Adams, an ED clinical pharmacist at UC Davis. We talk about the benefits of intranasal administration, intranasal medications, and advantages for pediatric patients. Did this episode change your practice? Let us know on social media @empulsepodcast or at ucdavisem.com Hosts: Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Dr...

Navigating breastfeeding as an EM physician In the previous two episodes, we explored some of the challenges related to fertility and pregnancy for EM physicians. In the final episode of our three part series, we take it one step further to discuss yet another challenge: breastfeeding. Of course, fed is always best, and there are many reasons to formula feed, but providing breastmilk is very important to many families. For EM physicians, choosing to breastfeed usually means figuring out how to p...

In this episode, we delve into a pivotal multi-center study validating the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) prediction rules for using CT imaging in children with blunt abdominal and minor head trauma. We discuss with the authors the study’s impact, how these validated rules can optimize pediatric trauma care, minimize radiation risks, and what this means for emergency practices worldwide. This conversation not only sheds light on the study’s intricate processes and out...

Pregnancy is common during medical training and in the early years as an attending physician, as these stages often align with individuals’ reproductive potential. The experience can vary widely depending on factors such as workplace dynamics, scheduling, and the physical demands of the job. But let’s be real – running around a busy ED while carrying extra weight, feeling nauseated (maybe vomiting), and managing all of the physical and emotional changes that come with pregnancy is a real challen...

This the first episode in our three part series on infertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding as an Emergency Physician. In this installment, we shine a light on the often unspoken struggles of infertility among physicians, specifically focusing on the emergency medicine community. Join us and expert, Dr. Melissa Parsons, as we delve into the personal experiences, professional challenges, and nuanced perspectives of emergency physicians navigating the complex journey of infertility. In part two, ...

If you practice in emergency medicine you probably live on the look out for sepsis. You likely follow the 2016 Sepsis-3 guidelines for adults which really was a paradigm shift from an infection-associated SIRS, to infection-associated organ dysfunction with the SOFA score or sequential organ failure assessment score of at least 2 points in patients with suspected infection. However, the definition of sepsis in kids was not updated at that time in part because SOFA was not studied in children. Th...

People living with sickle cell disease can experience severe “pain crises”, or vaso-occlusive episodes (VOE), and are at increased risk for infections, strokes, heart failure, and other serious disease processes. When patients are out sickle cell present to the ED, it is crucial to initiate their evaluation and treatment as soon as possible. So what does this mean practically for us as clinicians? Hematologist and Sickle Cell expert, Dr. Bimpe Adesina, and Emergency Physician and researcher, Dr....

People living with sickle cell disease can experience severe “pain crises”, or vaso-occlusive episodes (VOE), and are at increased risk for infections, strokes, heart failure, and other serious disease processes. In this 3 part series, we’re talking with experts to learn more about sickle cell disease and its complications and how we can best advocate for and treat these patients in the ED. In part 1, we delved into assessment and management of patients presenting with VOE. In this episode, we ...

People living with sickle cell disease can experience severe “pain crises”, or vaso-occlusive episodes (VOE), and are at increased risk for infections, strokes, heart failure, and other serious disease processes. When patients are out sickle cell present to the ED, it is crucial to initiate their evaluation and treatment as soon as possible. So what does this mean practically for us as clinicians? Hematologist and Sickle Cell expert, Dr. Bimpe Adesina, and Emergency Physician and researcher, Dr....

This is the next episode of our Push Dose Pearls miniseries with ED Clinical Pharmacist, Chris Adams. In this ongoing series we’ll dig into some of the questions we all have about medications we commonly see and use in the ED. This episode focuses on RSI (rapid sequence intubation) meds – stuff every ED doc needs to know! What has changed and what are the latest recommendations? We’ll answer these questions and more! Did this episode change your practice? Let us know on social media @empulsepodc...

If you work in an ED, you’ve probably heard of EMTALA, or the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act. But how much do you really know about this law? When does it apply and when does it not? EMTALA expert, Dr. Sophie Terp, helps us understand the history of EMTALA and what we need to know to ensure we provide the best care for our ED patients. Do you have more questions about EMTALA? Have you ever witnessed a violation? Share your thoughts with us on social media @empulsepodcast or at ...

We first explored the world of Telehealth back in February of 2021 in parts 1 and 2 of our telemedicine series. Telehealth has exploded since then, even after hospitals and clinics opened fully again when COVID restrictions loosened. Drs. Jenny McCormick and Kelly Owen join us to give an update on our very successful telehealth program at UC Davis, Express Care. How is it working for patients? How do physicians like it? Listen to find out! Do you have Telehealth programs where you work? Who staf...

This is the next episode of our Push Dose Pearls miniseries with ED Pharmacist, Chris Adams. In this ongoing series we’ll dig into some of the questions we all have about medications we commonly see and use in the ED. This episode again focuses on common antibiotics we use in the ED. What has changed and what are the latest recommendations? We’ll answer these questions and more! Did this episode change your practice? Let us know on social media @empulsepodcast or at ucdavisem.com Hosts: Dr. Sara...

In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. This decision, known as the Dobbs decision, Overturned Roe v. Wade and ended the right to abortion that had been upheld for decades. In the wake of this decision, many states have passed laws banning or severely restricting abortion. So how does this affect our patients and the care we provide in the ED? How is it different in protected estates compared to restricted states? Join us for a deep dive ...

***Trigger warning: this episode includes discussion of child abuse*** In our last episode, Identifying abuse: the LCAST app, we talked about recognizing subtle signs concerning for child abuse and how to use the new LCAST app to determine the risk of non-accidental trauma. But identifying potential abuse is just the first step in a long and often emotionally taxing process. How do you approach parents or caregivers with your concerns? What do you do if a caregiver doesn’t want to cooperate wit...

In March of this year, we published a Rebeat of one of our most powerful episodes, It Could Have Been Different. We took a deep dive into one of the most difficult aspects of our jobs as emergency physicians – recognizing and managing child abuse, or non-accidental trauma (NAT). Signs of abuse can often be subtle, but there are some very specific findings that should make us consider NAT. Our guest expert, Dr. Mary Clyde Pierce, helped us learn to identify NAT using the TEN-4 FACESp clinical pre...

It’s been a while since we talked about social media in emergency medicine and a LOT has changed! We first explored this topic in 2019 with Dr. Meghan Ranney in our episode With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility. The following year, the pandemic hit and digital platforms exploded while many people isolated themselves or worked from home. Add in complications including the spread of disinformation, the rise of hate speech, Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, and the emergence of new platforms, ...