

Always On EM - Mayo Clinic Emergency Medicine
Alex Finch; Venk Bellamkonda
Hosts, Alex Finch, MD and Venk Bellamkonda, MD explore topics relevant to the practice, education or research of emergency medicine. Enjoy interviews with people on the front lines, thought leaders from around the world, and the comedy and drama of life when it intersects with emergency care.
Follow us on X: @AlwaysOnEM
Email: AlwaysOnEM@gmail.com
Follow us on X: @AlwaysOnEM
Email: AlwaysOnEM@gmail.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 14, 2023 • 59min
Grand Rounds - Dr. Heather Murray - Diagnostic error in the ED - Lets talk about it
In this episode, Dr. Heather Murray, from Queen's University Department of Emergency Medicine presents the landscape of diagnostic errors in emergency medicine from the perspective of why they might occur, what can be done when they happen, and how we might minimize them in the future.
CONTACTS
X - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda
YouTube - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda
Instagram – @AlwaysOnEM; @Venk_like_vancomycin; @ASFinch
Email - AlwaysOnEM@gmail.com
REFERENCES
ARHQ report and responses:
December 2022, AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) released a systematic review on diagnostic error in the ED. https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/related_files/cer-258-diagnostic-errors.pdf
Letter from many ED organizations: Multi-Organizational Letter Regarding AHRQ Report on Diagnostic Errors in the Emergency Department December 14, 2022
Published critical appraisal of report: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10121120/pdf/ms120_p0114.pdf
JAMA commentary Feb 2023 “Misdiagnosis in the ED: Time for a System Solution” Misdiagnosis in the Emergency Department: Time for a System Solution | Health Care Safety | JAMA
Recovering from error:
ARHQ summary on recovery after error Second Victims: Support for Clinicians Involved in Errors and Adverse Events | PSNet
ARHQ Commentary – after error:How Do Providers Recover From Errors? | PSNet
Clinician Peer Support Program after adverse events – implementation Supporting Clinicians after Adverse Events: Development of a Clinician Peer Support Program - PMC
Scott SD, Hirschinger LE, Cox KR, McCoig M, Hahn-Cover K, Epperly KM, Phillips EC, Hall LW. Caring for our own: deploying a systemwide second victim rapid response team. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2010 May;36(5):233-40. Caring for our own: deploying a systemwide second victim rapid response team
General resources on Diagnostic Error:
Schiff JAMA Network Open 2021Characteristics of Disease-Specific and Generic Diagnostic Pitfalls: A Qualitative Study | Health Policy | JAMA Network Open
Monteiro et al. 2020 Review “The enduring myth of generalisable skills.” https://asmepublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/medu.13872
Book – Improving Diagnosis in Health Care (chapter 9) The Path to Improve Diagnosis and Reduce Diagnostic Error
Cognitive biases:
MDs were asked to reflect on a serious error and given some education on cognitive biases: Watari, T.; Tokuda, Y.; Amano, Y.; Onigata, K.; Kanda, H. Cognitive Bias and Diagnostic Errors among Physicians in Japan: A Self Reflection Survey. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 4645. Cognitive Bias and Diagnostic Errors among Physicians in Japan: A Self-Reflection Survey
Anchoring Bias and strategies for overcoming: Anchoring Bias With Critical Implications | PSNet
"Give me a break!" A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of micro-breaks for increasing well-being and performance: Albulescu P, Macsinga I, Rusu A, Sulea C, Bodnaru A, et al. (2022) "Give me a break!" A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of micro-breaks for increasing well-being and performance. PLOS ONE 17(8): e0272460. "Give me a break!" A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of micro-breaks for increasing well-being and performance | PLOS ONE
Better teams in EM:
Purdy E, Borchert L, El-Bitar A et al “Psychological safety and Emergency Medicine team performance: a mixed methods review.” EM Australasia 2023;35:456-465
Psychological safety and emergency department team performance: A mixed‐methods study - Purdy
Ottawa M+M rounds framework: Enhancing the Quality of Morbidity and Mortality Rounds: The Ottawa M&M Model - Calder - 2014 - Academic Emergency Medicine - Wiley Online Library
Selected references for artificial intelligence in medicine:
AI chatbot in JAMA Internal Medicine Comparing Physician and Artificial Intelligence Chatbot Responses to Patient Questions Posted to a Public Social Media Forum | Health Informatics | JAMA Internal Medicine
AI in Health Care NEJM podcast Is Medicine Ready for AI? — ITT Episode 6 | NEJM
AI clinical prediction (systematic review 2022) Artificial Intelligence for the Prediction of In-Hospital Clinical Deterioration: A Systematic Review - PMC
Lee P, Bubeck S, Petro J. Benefits, limits and risks of GPT-4 as an AI chatbot for medicine. NEJM 2023;388:1233-1239 Benefits, Limits, and Risks of GPT-4 as an AI Chatbot for Medicine | NEJM

Nov 1, 2023 • 57min
Chapter 24 - In the heat of the moment - Neonatal fever
Neonatal fever can raise the temperature of the entire clinical pod along with the baby, but it doesnt have to. Join as Dr. Meghan Cain, chair of the division of pediatric and adolescent emergency medicine at Mayo Clinic, talks through the nuances of evaluating fever concerns in neonates of different ages and risk profiles and empowers you to be cool as a cucumber in these situations.
CONTACTS
X - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda
YouTube - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda
Instagram – @AlwaysOnEM; @Venk_like_vancomycin; @ASFinch
Email - AlwaysOnEM@gmail.com
REFERENCES & LINKS
Pantell RH, Roberts KB, Adams WG, Dreyer BP, Kuppermann N, O’Leary ST, Okechukwu K, Woods Jr CR. Evaluation and management of well-appearing febrile infants 8 to 60 days old. Pediatrics. 2021 Aug;148(2):e2021052228
Powell EC, Mahajan PV, Roosevelt G, Hoyle Jr JD, Gattu R, Cruz AT, Rogers AJ, Atabaki S, Jaffe DM, Casper TC, Ramilo O, Kuppermann N. Epidemiology of bacteremia in febrile infants aged 60 days and younger. Ann Emerg Med. 2018 Feb;71(2):211-216
Mahajan P, Browne LR, Levine DA, Cohen DM, Gattu R, Linaki JG, Anders J, Borgialli D, Vitale M, Dayan PS, Casper TC, Ramilo O, Kuppermann N. Risk of bacterial coinfections in febrile infants 60 days and younger with documented viral infections. J Pediatr. 2018 Dec:203:86-91.e2

Oct 14, 2023 • 1h 1min
Grand Rounds - Dr. Arya Mohabbat - Central Sensitization: a syndrome of multiple difficult-to-explain chronic debilitating symptoms
So many people come to emergency departments with unexplained recurrent pains, fatigues, gastrointestinal symptoms and more - when there seems like no way we can help them, Dr. Mohabbat offers us some insight into what might be happening and how we can help be a positive experience in these patient's and family's lives. Listen to this grand rounds on Central Sensitization and be a better doctor for this large segment of the population.
CONTACTS
X - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda
YouTube - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda
Instagram – @AlwaysOnEM; @Venk_like_vancomycin; @ASFinch
Email - AlwaysOnEM@gmail.com

Oct 1, 2023 • 1h 25min
Chapter 23 - A mother’s love -Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
Dr. Katie Young, co-director of the cardioobstetrics clinic here at Mayo Clinic sits down to talk about peripartum cardiomyopathy. This is something we will likely consider many times in our careers for patients with shortness of breath in and around late pregnancy. Find out what interventions are key, what patients are most likely to suffer a bad outcome and more.
CONTACTS
X - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda
YouTube - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda
Instagram – @AlwaysOnEM; @Venk_like_vancomycin; @ASFinch
Email - AlwaysOnEM@gmail.com
REFERENCES & LINKS
Gierula J, et al. Prospective evaluation and long-term follow up of patients referred to secondary care based upon natriuretic peptide levels in primary care. European Heart Journal – Quality of Care and Clinical Outcomes. 2019. 5, 218-224
Bay M, et al. NT-proBNP: A new diagnostic screening tool to differentiate between patients with normal and reduced left ventricular systolic function. Heart. 2003. 89,150-154
Dockree S, et al. Pregnancy reference intervals for BNP and NT-pro BNP – changes in natriuretic peptides related to pregnancy. Journal of Endocrine society. 2021. 5(7)1-9
Mueller C, et al. Heart failure association of the European society of cardiology practical guidance on the use of natriuretic peptide concentrations. European Journal of Heart Failure. 2019. 21, 715-731
Ravichandran J, et al. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I levels in normal and hypertensive pregnany. American J of Medicine. 2019. 132,362-366
High sensitivity troponin T and I among pregnant women in the US – the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. JAMA Cardiology. 2023. 8(4)406-408
Tweet MS, et al. Spontenaoues Cardic Artey Dissection associated with pregnancy. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2017. 70,426-435
Baggish AL, et al. The differential diagnosis of an elevated amino-terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide level. Am J Cardiol. 2008. 101,43A-48A
Lichtenstein DA, Meziere GA. Relevance of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute Respiratory Failure – the Blue Protocol. Chest. 2008. 134,117-125
Smit MR, et al. Comparison of linear and sector array probe for handheld lung ultrasound in invasively ventilated ICU patients. Ultrasound in Med & Biol. 2020. 46(12)3249-3256
Haller EP, Nestler DM, Campbell RL, Bellamkond VA. Point-of-care ultrasound findings of acute pulmonary embolism: McConnell sign in the emergency medicine. JEM. 2014. 47(1)e19-e24
Halpern DG, et al. Use of medication for cardiovascular disease during pregnancy:JACC State of the Art Review. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019. Feb, 73(4)457-476
Loyanga-Rendon RY, et al. Outcomes of patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy who received mechanical circulatory support. 2014. Circ Heart Failure. 7,300-309
Adedinsewo DA, et al. Detecting cardiomyopathies in pregnancy and the postpartum period with an electrocardiogram-based deep learning model. European Heart Journal – Digital Health. 2021. 2,586-596
Zieleskiewicz L., et al. Lung ultrasound-guided management of acute breathlessness during pregnancy. Anesthesia. 2013. 68,97-101
Balaceanu A. B-type natriuretic peptides in pregnant women with normal heart or cardiac disorders. Medical Hypotheses. 2018. 121,149-151

Sep 14, 2023 • 1h 1min
Grand Rounds - Dr. Alex Niven - Difficult airway management, an intensivist’s perspective
In this chapter, Dr. Alex Niven, renowned critical care physician and educator, provides a mirror for us to see our current state of emergency airway management - for its opportunities for improvement, innovations and best practices. This evidence fueled presentation is a must-listen for any emergency healthcare physician or provider.
CONTACTS
Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/@AlwaysonEM
X - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda
Instagram – @AlwaysOnEM; @Venk_like_vancomycin; @ASFinch
Email - AlwaysOnEM@gmail.com

Sep 1, 2023 • 1h 43min
Chapter 22 -Did she just say hemosuccus pancreaticus? - Gastrointestinal bleeding in the emergency department
Dr. Nayantara Coelho-Prabhu, Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist specializing in the care of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding and endoscopy, talks through many aspects of acute GI bleeding. She helps to clarify the prioritization of medications, when to incorporate imaging, broadens our differentials for upper and lower GI bleeding, gives mindblowing advice on stool guiac testing and SO much more in this over-stuffed (or should we say constipated) chapter of Always on EM. There is also a special cameo from Dr. Luke Wood going over how to insert a Minnesota tube (esophageal balloon tamponade device)!
CONTACTS
X - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda
Instagram – @AlwaysOnEM; @Venk_like_vancomycin; @ASFinch
Email - AlwaysOnEM@gmail.com
RECOMMENDATION:
Dieulafoy lesion video from New England Journal of Medicine: https://youtu.be/tzJQDen1nug?si=zOmywZ1VN3VvA004
REFERENCES:
Drescher MJ, Stapleton S, Britstone Z, Fried J, Smally AJ. A call for reconsideration of the use of fecal occult blood testing in emergency medicine. Journal of Emerg Med. 2020. 58(1)54-58
Mathews BK, Ratcliffe T, Sehgal R, Abraham JM, Monash B. Fecal Occult Blood testing in hospitalized patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Journal of Hospital Medicine. 2017. 12(7)567-569
Harewood GC, McConnell JP, Harrington JJ, Mahoney DW, Ahlquist DA. Detection of occult upper gastrointestinal bleeding: performance in fecal occult blood tests. Mayo Clin Proc. 2002 Jan;77(1):23-28
Blatchford O, et al. A risk score to predict need for treatment for upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Lancet 2000. Oct 14;356(9238):1318-21
Blatchford O, Davidson LA, Murray WR, Blatchford M, Pell J. Acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage in west of scotland: case ascertainment study. BMJ 1997. Aug 30;315(7107):510-4
Chen IC, Hung MS, Chiu TF, Chen JC, Hsiao CT. Risk scoring systems to predict need for clinical intervention for patients with nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Am J Emerg Med. 2007 Sep;25(7):774-9
Laine L, Barkun AN, Saltzman JR, Martel M, Leontiadis GI. ACG Clinical Guideline: Upper Gastrointestinal and Ulcer Bleeding. Am J Gastroenterol. 2021 May 1;116(5):899-917
Roberts I, Shakur-STill H, Afolabi A, et al. Effects of High-dose 24-h infusion of tranexamic acid on death and thromboembolic events in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding (HALT-IT): an international randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2020. 395(10241):1927-1936
Aziz M, Haghbin H, Gangwani MK, Weissman S, Patel AR, Randhawa MK, Samikanu LB, Alyousif ZA, Lee-Smith W, Kamal F, Nawras A, Howden CW. Erythromycin improves the quality of esophagogastroduodenoscopy in upper gastrointestinal bleeding: a network meta-analysis. Dig Dis Sci 2023. Apr;68(4):1435-1446
Abraham NS, Barkun AN, Sauer BG, et al. American College of Gastroenterology-Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Clinical Practice Guideline: Management of anticoagulants and antiplatelets during acute gastrointestinal bleeding and the periendoscopic period. Am J Gastroenterol 2022;00:1-17
Vigano GL, Mannucci PM, Lattuada A, Harris A, Remuzzi G. Subcutaneous desmopressin (DDAVP) shortens the bleeding time in uremia. Am J Hematol 1989. May;31(1):32-5
Chavez-Tapia NC, Barrientos-Gutierrez T, Tellez-Avila FL, Soares-Weiser K, Uribe M. Antibiotic prophylaxis for cirrhotic patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2010. Sep 8;2010(9):CD002907
Gao Y, Qian B, Zhang X, Liu H, Han T. Prophylactic antibiotics on patients with cirrhosis and upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A meta-analysis. PLoS One 2022. Dec 22;17(12):e0279496
Steffen R, Knapp J, Hanggi M, Iten M. Use of the REBOA catheter for uncontrollable upper gastrointestinal bleeding with hemorrhagic shock. Anaesthesiologie 2023. May;72(5):332-337
Sato M, Kuriyama A. Countering hemorrhagic shock due to duodenal variceal rupture with resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta. Am J Emerg Med 2023. Feb;64:204.e1-204.e3

Aug 14, 2023 • 59min
Grand Rounds - Dr. Shannon McNamara - Safety 1 to Safety 2 - A paradigm shift to improve performance in a complex world
Is healthcare more like an airplane, a flock of birds, or a mayonnaise? Why does it matter? In this talk, Dr. McNamara, emergency physician and patient safety champion, explores the question through the story of how she found herself at the intersection of complexity theory, safety science, and emergency medicine. She will discuss multiple perspectives on safety science, including specific strategies for clinicians to apply in their daily practice to survive amidst the complexity.
CONTACTS
X (formerly Twitter) - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda; @ShannonOMac
Instagram – @AlwaysOnEM; @Venk_like_vancomycin; @ASFinch
Email - AlwaysOnEM@gmail.com

Aug 1, 2023 • 1h 2min
Chapter 21 - Chickity Check Yo’ Self Before Yo’ Wreck Yo Self! Tick borne infections
Drs. Alex Finch and Venk Bellamkonda talk through tick related infectious diseases including Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis and more! Tick related illnesses are prevalent this time of year, so take a moment to brush up on how to manage them.
CONTACTS
Twitter - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda
Instagram – @AlwaysOnEM; @Venk_like_vancomycin; @ASFinch
Email - AlwaysOnEM@gmail.com
REFERENCES & LINKS
Society guidelines:
United States
CDC
Tickborne diseases of the US
Anaplasmosis - information for healthcare providers
Babesiosis - resources for healthcare professionals
Ehrlichiosis
Lyme Disease
RMSF
A reference manual for healthcare providers 2017
American Academy of Pediatrics has several publications on babesiosis, borrelia infections other than Lyme, Ehrlichia, anaplasma, Lyme itself, RMSF
Infectious Disease society of America
Clinical practice guideline on diagnosis and management of babesiosis 2020
Canada
Canadian pediatric society
Practice point on Lyme disease in Canada - focus on children 2021
Society of OB / Gyn of Canada
Committee opinion for management of tick bites and Lyme disease during pregnancy 2020
Australia - New Zealand
Australian government department of health released An Australian guideline on the diagnosis of overseas - acquired Lyme disease / borreliosis in 2015
Japan
choosing wisely Japan - Lyme disease 2018
India
Department of health research - Indian council of medical research (ICMR) - guidelines for diagnosis and management of rickettsial diseases in India in 2015
UK
National institute for health and care Excellence (NICE)
quality standards on Lyme disease 2019
Guideline on Lyme disease 2018
British Infection Association (BIA)

Jul 14, 2023 • 58min
Grand Rounds - Dr. Kharmene Sunga - Can You Hear Me Now? How To Speak Like An Emergency Physician
Dr. Kharmene Sunga, Mayo Clinic emergency medicine consultant physician, specializing in simulation, diversity equity and inclusion, and education shares a guide for how to communicate (both through listening and speaking) most effectively when it counts.
TEASER
There's no place like the Emergency Department. Patients are in pain, scared, and anxious. Staff are distracted, fatigued, frustrated - and sometimes, well, also scared and anxious. How can Emergency Physicians speak to rise above the fray, to best care for patients, lead a team, and ensure that everyone feels heard? Join Dr. Kharmene Sunga as she discusses insights from sources ranging from medicine to business and even child psychology to cut through the proverbial noise.
CONTACTS
Twitter - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda
Instagram – @AlwaysOnEM; @Venk_like_vancomycin; @ASFinch
Email - AlwaysOnEM@gmail.com

Jul 1, 2023 • 1h 8min
Chapter 20 - Relaxin to the maxin - Intrathecal baclofen pumps in the ED
Ms Lisa Beck, assistant professor of nursing and a clinical nurse specialist in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, shares her experiences over a career in caring for persons with intrathecal baclofen pumps for managing spinal cord injury related spasticity. Baclofen related complications such as withdrawal and overdose can both be fatal and pump specific complications as well require timely expertise from the emergency care team – but not often discussed in emergency medicine. Check out the episode to learn more!
CONTACTS
Twitter - @AlwaysOnEM; @VenkBellamkonda
Instagram – @AlwaysOnEM; @Venk_like_vancomycin; @ASFinch
Email - AlwaysOnEM@gmail.com
REFERENCES & LINKS
Singh NK, Agarwal A, Salazar L, Henkle JQ. Osborn waves in hypothermia induced by baclofen overdose. BMJ Case Rep 2009; 2009.
Sullivan R, Hodgman MJ, Kao L, Tormoehlen LM. Baclofen overdose mimicking brain death. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2012;50:141
Alden TD, Lytle RA, Park TS, et al. Intrathecal baclofen withdrawal: a case report and review of the literature. Childs Nerv Syst 2002;18:522