Emergency Medicine CME Review Course

Summer Hazards:  Part I  Susan M. Swetter, M.D. and Timothy B. Erickson, M.D.    Describe which types of solar radiation are responsible for photodamage to skin and promotion of skin cancers.   Identify clinical warning signs of melanoma.  Discuss specific sun protection methods.  Recognize symptomatology of common venomous spider bites.  Choose appropriate treatment for black widow and brown recluse spider bites.

Summer Hazards:  Part II  Timothy B. Erickson, M.D., Raymond Lucas, M.D. and Ashley E. Booth, M.D.  Select the appropriate treatment for tarantula bites and scorpion and bee stings.  Describe the causes and characteristics of heat exhaustion, classic heat stroke (CHS), and exertional heat stroke (EHS), and their recommended course of treatment.  Discuss the methods of rapid cooling and pharmacologic adjuncts that have been used in the management of classic and exertional heat stroke.  Explain the  effects of fresh water vs salt water aspiration.  Accurately assess and effectively treat the patient who is brought in after near drowning.

Toxicology  Aaron Schneir, M.D. and Aaron Schneir, M.D.  Explain the pathophysiology of ethylene glycol and methanol toxicity.   Describe the challenges and pitfalls in managing the patient with an acute verapamil overdose.  Discuss the properties of TCAs, their effects, and appropriate treatment of overdoses.  Differentiate tick paralysis from Guillain-Barré syndrome when evaluating a patient with toxic ascending paralysis.  Recognize the presentation of chronic salicylate poisoning.

ENT Emergencies Matthew A. Waxman, M.D. and  Kevin C. Reed, M.D.  Diagnose adult and pediatric epiglottitis.  Effectively manage tracheoinnominate fistula.  Discuss the association between poor dentition and development of Ludwig’s angina.  Utilize Centor criteria in the management of streptococcal pharyngitis.  Consider the role of steroids in the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis.

Literature Review  Lainie Yarris, M.D., M.C.R.  Utilize deliberate practice to achieve professional expertise in the practice of emergency medicine.  Follow the current recommendation of giving tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) within 4.5 hr of acute isch emic stroke.  Employ pain management intervention to improve patient satisfaction.  Recognize when to perform computed tomography of the head in the patient with a seizure.  Review and implement updated guidelines in the management of myocardial infarction.

Eye Examination and Protection  Mary O'Hara, M.D. and Howard J. Donner, M.D.  Apply the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations for vision screening and referral.   Employ useful techniques for examination of the eyes in children.  Review the contents of a wilderness emergency kit for the eyes.  Discuss the effects of environment on the eyes.  Advise patients on how to evaluate sunglasses, based on various criteria. 

Drug Review 2009 Joseph R. Lex Jr, M.D.  Compare the efficacy of lacosamide to placebo in the treatment of partial complex seizures and diabetic neuro pathic pain.   Review the indications for use of romiplostim and eltrombopag in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.  Explain use of methylnaltrexone injection in the ED for opioid-induced constipation in patients receiving palli ative care.  Utilize clevidipine as an alternative to other agents (eg, esmolol, nicardipine) in the management of hyperten sive emergencies in the ED.  Discuss the use of the nonopioid pain treatment, tapentadol, and compare it to other pain relievers.

Chest Pain Jay L. Falk, M.D. and Steven M. Selbst, M.D.  Recognize situations in which the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome may be missed.  Discuss the advantages and limitations of electrocardiography, enzyme levels, and provocative testing in the diagnosis of chest pain.  Describe the role of computed tomographic coronary angiography in evaluating patients with chest pain.  Review conditions that can cause chest pain in children.  Determine when to refer a child with chest pain to a specialist.

Poison Management  Kirk Hughes, R.N. and Stephen W. Borron, M.D.  Recognize the signs and symptoms of poisoning due to commonly used products.   Discuss the signs, symptoms, and management of toxicity from ingestion by children of oral hypoglycemic agents and cardiovascular medications.  List possible sources of CN toxicity.  Review the mechanism of action and clinical presentation of CN toxicity.  Differentiate between the available antidotes to CN toxicity and describe the advantages and disadvantages of each. 

Possible Additional Courses Available

If you have taken the current course listed here or if you need additional Emergency Medicine credits, please call 800-446-5599 and ask about new courses in stock that are not listed on the website.