L&D in the ED

ERcast: Clinical Perspectives Podcast Preview

May 26, 2026
1 Chapter
55 min

The maternal mortality crisis in the United States is real, and 84% of the deaths are preventable. Despite being somewhat rare, cases of eclampsia account for a shocking percentage of maternal deaths worldwide. This week, we’ll discuss a clear evidence-based approach to catching and treating this hidden killer. Join Dr. Tiffany Proffitt and Dr. Jenna White, Obstetric Emergencies in Nonobstetric Settings Initiative Chair, Associate Professor of Emergency and EMS Medicine at the University of New Mexico, as they review the ACOG algorithms for OB emergencies developed specifically for the management of pregnant and postpartum patients presenting to the emergency department. Let’s take a listen!

Chapters

Emergency medicine lives on pattern recognition, escalation points, and high-stakes bedside decisions. This chapter pairs two distinct threads: acute clinical management and broader emergency care judgment, with practical takeaways anchored in frontline experience. Clinical Emergency Medicine Pearls Bedside pattern recognition: High-acuity emergency care starts with identifying the dangerous pattern early, then acting on the physiology before the diagnosis is fully settled. Time-critical interventions: Early first-line treatment matters most when deterioration is rapid, and the rationale for sequence and escalation is where the useful nuance usually lives. Physiology-first framing: The strongest bedside decisions come from matching therapy to the underlying physiology rather than reflexively treating by chief complaint alone. Escalation inflection points: Critical care in the ED often turns on recognizing the moment standard measures are failing and moving decisively to the next tier. We get into those triggers in the episode. Emergency Care Decision-Making Operational clinical judgment: ED practice depends on balancing diagnostic uncertainty, treatment urgency, and resource limits without losing sight of the sickest patient in the room. Risk-benefit bedside calls: Good emergency decisions weigh immediate harms against downstream consequences, especially when the safest move is not the most intuitive one. Team-based execution: Resuscitation quality improves when physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and consultants share a common mental model and move from recognition to action quickly. Real-world practical nuance: The hardest emergency medicine questions are rarely about memorized facts alone; the bedside tradeoffs and exceptions are worth hearing in the chapter.

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.
Brit Long, MD
Dr. Brit Long is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Virginia and an emergency medicine physician with experience in both a community ED and at a military academic center ED. He is the Clinical Editor-in-Chief of emDOCs.His professional interests include medical education, evidence-based medicine, and the FOAMed movement. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters
Tiffany Proffitt, DO
Dr. Proffitt is a board-certified Emergency Medicine physician practicing in Scottsdale, Arizona. She completed her medical training at Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and found her passion for medical education during her residency at Spectrum Health Lakeland. Tiffany is the co-founder and co-chairwoman of the HonorHealth Women Physicians Leadership Council, where she works to enhance professional development for 550 women clinicians. When she isn’t in the ED or podcasting, she’s chasing twins, dancing with toddlers, and enthusiastically singing the wrong lyrics to every song.
Anne Steckowych, APRN
Emergency medicine is in Anne’s blood; her father has been an Emergency Medicine physician for the last 30 years. After earning her nursing degree from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) in 2018, Anne worked as an EMT at her local fire department, gaining practical experience that prepared her for five years as a nurse in the emergency department. She eventually returned to UNH to become an NP and has spent the last 8 years in the same ED, building relationships with a clinical team dedicated to providing the best possible patient care. Outside of the hospital, she’s usually skiing, hiking, or running in the New Hampshire hills. ERcast is her first podcast, and she’s thrilled to be part of the Hippo team.
Brett Murray, MD
Dr. Murray is an Emergency Medicine physician practicing at a busy community trauma center. After attending Boston University School of Medicine, he completed his residency training at Brown University / Rhode Island Hospital, where he also served as Chief Resident from 2020 – 2021. His clinical interests center on medical education, performance science, and Emergency Medical Services.
Jenna White, MD