Emergency Medicine - Syllabus

**Course Syllabus: Emergency Medicine (EMED 601)**

**COURSE INFORMATION**

* Course Title: Emergency Medicine
* Course Code: EMED 601
* Credit Hours: 12 hours
* Prerequisites: None
* Instructor Information:
+ Name: Dr. Jane Smith, MD
+ Title: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
+ Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2-4 PM

**COURSE DESCRIPTION**

The Emergency Medicine course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of emergency medicine. The course will cover the diagnosis, treatment, and management of a wide range of acute and chronic conditions encountered in emergency settings. Students will learn to apply critical thinking skills, make sound decisions, and manage complex patient care scenarios.

This course is targeted at medical students who have completed their basic sciences courses and are seeking to expand their knowledge and skills in emergency medicine. The course content will be relevant to the practice of emergency medicine and will prepare students for the STEP2CK exam.

**LEARNING OBJECTIVES**

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

* Analyze patient data and apply critical thinking skills to diagnose and manage acute conditions (Bloom's taxonomy: analyze)
* Develop effective treatment plans and manage complex patient care scenarios (Bloom's taxonomy: apply)
* Evaluate the effectiveness of treatment interventions and make informed decisions (Bloom's taxonomy: evaluate)
* Communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare teams (Bloom's taxonomy: communicate)
* Demonstrate an understanding of emergency medicine principles and practices (Bloom's taxonomy: understand)

Specific learning objectives:

1. Identify and diagnose common acute conditions encountered in emergency settings.
2. Develop effective treatment plans for a range of acute conditions.
3. Apply critical thinking skills to manage complex patient care scenarios.
4. Evaluate the effectiveness of treatment interventions using evidence-based guidelines.
5. Communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare teams.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of emergency medicine principles and practices.
7. Identify and manage chronic conditions encountered in emergency settings.
8. Develop effective strategies for managing pain and discomfort in acute care scenarios.
9. Apply emergency medicine principles to patient populations with special needs (e.g., pediatrics, geriatrics).
10. Evaluate the effectiveness of emergency medical services and develop strategies for improvement.

**COURSE CONTENT OUTLINE**

Week 1: Introduction to Emergency Medicine

* Overview of emergency medicine principles and practices
* Scope and responsibilities of emergency medicine physicians
* Estimated hours: 2 hours

Week 2-3: Acute Trauma Care

* Pathophysiology and management of traumatic injuries
* Advanced airway management and ventilatory support
* Estimated hours: 4 hours

Week 4-5: Medical Emergencies

* Cardiac arrest management and CPR
* Stroke diagnosis and treatment
* Seizure management and treatment
* Estimated hours: 4 hours

Week 6-7: Pediatric Emergency Medicine

* Pediatric trauma care and management
* Pediatric seizure management and treatment
* Pediatric cardiac arrest management and CPR
* Estimated hours: 4 hours

Week 8-9: Geriatric Emergency Medicine

* Geriatric trauma care and management
* Geriatric seizure management and treatment
* Geriatric cardiac arrest management and CPR
* Estimated hours: 4 hours

Week 10-11: Chronic Conditions in Emergency Settings

* Management of chronic conditions encountered in emergency settings (e.g., diabetes, hypertension)
* Development of effective strategies for managing chronic pain and discomfort
* Estimated hours: 4 hours

Week 12: Review and Practice

* Review of key concepts and practice exams
* Estimated hours: 2 hours

**REQUIRED READINGS & RESOURCES**

* Textbooks:
+ "Emergency Medicine: The Art and Science of Immediate Patient Care" by Peter A. Kaufmann and Michael S. Runyon
+ "Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Consult" by Peter A. Kaufmann and Michael S. Runyon
* Journal articles:
+ "The New England Journal of Medicine"
+ "Journal of the American Medical Association"
+ "Academic Emergency Medicine"
* Online resources:
+ American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)
+ American Heart Association (AHA)
+ American Academy of Emergency Physicians (AAEM)
* Reference materials:
+ Emergency medicine guidelines and protocols
+ Evidence-based practice guides

**ASSESSMENT & GRADING**

* Grading breakdown:
+ Exams: 60%
+ Assignments: 20%
+ Participation: 10%
+ Quizzes and in-class exams: 10%
* Specific percentages:
+ Exams: 40% of final grade
+ Assignments: 16.7% of final grade
+ Participation: 5.6% of final grade
+ Quizzes and in-class exams: 5.6% of final grade
* Grading scale:
+ A: 90-100%
+ B: 80-89%
+ C: 70-79%
+ D: 60-69%
+ F: below 60%

**COURSE SCHEDULE**

Week 1: Introduction to Emergency Medicine (Jan 3 - Jan 7)

* Week 2-3: Acute Trauma Care (Jan 10 - Jan 21)
* Week 4-5: Medical Emergencies (Jan 24 - Feb 4)
* Week 6-7: Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Feb 7 - Feb 18)
* Week 8-9: Geriatric Emergency Medicine (Feb 21 - Mar 3)
* Week 10-11: Chronic Conditions in Emergency Settings (Mar 6 - Mar 17)
* Review and Practice (Mar 20 - Mar 24)

**IMPORTANT DATES**

* Course start date: Jan 3
* Midterm exam: Feb 7
* Final exam: Mar 24

**COURSE POLICIES**

* Attendance policy:
+ Regular attendance is expected. More than two unexcused absences will negatively impact participation grades.
* Academic integrity:
+ Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. Any instances of academic dishonesty will result in a zero on the assignment and may lead to further disciplinary action.
* Late submission policy:
+ Assignments and exams that are submitted late will incur a penalty of 10% per day.
* Accommodations:
+ Students with disabilities or special needs should contact the instructor by the end of week 1 to discuss accommodations.