ERcast: Clinical Perspectives Podcast Preview
The summary below is from an episode of ERcast: Clinical Perspectives
Early bedside contact, standardized consultant handoffs, and repeat ECGs with delta troponins are small emergency medicine habits that materially affect disposition, communication, and chest pain safety. Clinical excellence in the ED often comes from doing the reliable basics every shift, especially when the department is busy.
Emergency Medicine Practice Habits
- Early bedside introduction: Seeing each handoff patient early to introduce yourself, make a quick assessment, and update the family can accelerate disposition by establishing the connection before tasks stack up.
- Visible attending reassessment: A brief first-pass attending evaluation catches immediate issues sooner and reinforces to residents that early physician contact is part of disciplined ED workflow.
- Structured consultant calls: Keeping consultant conversations formal and uniform, even with familiar colleagues, reduces omissions and models a reproducible standard learners can copy.
- Communication beyond the note: Consult calls still add value when the chart seems sufficient because closed-loop verbal communication clarifies the ask, the urgency, and the shared plan. We get into the practical phrasing on the show.
- Delta ECG with troponin: A repeat ECG should accompany a delta troponin in chest pain workups, because safe discharge depends on following the evidence-supported protocol rather than just trending biomarkers.
- Protocol fidelity under pressure: Busy shifts are exactly when key steps get skipped, but those omissions erode the reliability of modern chest pain pathways and other high-volume ED decisions.
Subscribe to ERcast: Clinical Perspectives to listen to the episode.
Faculty
- Matthew DeLaney, MD, FACEP, FAAEM
Dr. Matthew DeLaney is an emergency medicine physician and educator based in Birmingham, Alabama. A native of Mobile, he earned his medical degree from the University of South Alabama and completed his emergency medicine residency at Maine Medical Center.Dr. DeLaney has experience in both community and academic emergency medicine and is known for his commitment to teaching and medical education. He lives in Birmingham with his wife, Erin, who is also a physician, and their two daughters.
- Andy Little, DO
Dr. Andy Little is an emergency medicine physician and educator. He earned his medical degree from the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his emergency medicine residency at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital Emergency Medicine Residency, where he served as Chief Resident. He has received multiple national awards, including recognition from the American Osteopathic Association, American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, and Emergency Medicine Residents' Association.
- Drew Kalnow, DO
Dr. Drew Kalnow is an emergency medicine physician and educator based in Columbus, Ohio. He completed his emergency medicine training at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital Emergency Medicine Residency. Dr. Kalnow is passionate about advancing emergency medicine through high-quality education, with a particular focus on simulation, learning theory, and innovative teaching.
