The patient was a mid-40s, African-American female unmistakably cachectic at 90 pounds gasping for air with difficulty; her eyes were wide with panic. In the trauma bay, respiratory therapists, nurses, and residents swooped on her, yelling pressures and medications. The attending rushed in, and after asking me for a quick one-liner, joined the chaos. The team stabilized the patient and made the decision to CT scan her. After the patient was wheeled out, it was palpably quiet for the first time. Tucked into the corner was the husband, the sole figure left in the room.
I felt his need. The emergency medicine team knew how to help the patient, and I knew I could help him. I went to him and explained what the team had accomplished and what we …show more content…
However, it is a memory I constantly reflect upon. Each part of this interaction captured something I enjoyed within Emergency Medicine. I loved the adrenalin rush when EMS swung the double doors open and the fast pace in which vitals were taken, exam completed, and medications dispensed. I felt part of the team as I gently restrained the patient and manually repeated a blood pressure. I witnessed the use of ultrasound to place an IV, video guidance to help intubation, imaging to aid in diagnosis, and identification of the inpatient team best able to care for this patient. I had seen each of these on other clinical rotations, but watching the combination of the wide variety of skills was rewarding. As an emergency medicine doctor, I will utilize my suturing skills learned on surgery one moment and then the pelvic exam I worked on during OB-GYN on the next patient. In residency, I will expand my skills by undertaking rigorous training through ERs, MICUs, and PICUs. These settings differ in the patients they serve, but they will prepare me. They will magnify the scope of whom I can …show more content…
My EM training thus far has been adult based in a university setting with incredible inpatient and subspecialty support. I have not had significant experience in pediatric, county, or community emergency medicine. Emory’s program is unique in that it allows me to experience the incredible breadth that encompasses the field in some of the leading hospitals with patient populations that are dear to me. Growing up in Stone Mountain, I was raised in the shadow of Atlanta and Emory. I spent summers at CHOA-Egleston working with the children in the inpatient setting. I would love to return to CHOA again, but this time to develop skills to help the children. Emergency medicine is my ideal career because it provides a comprehensive training to aide a wide variety of ill patients while combining aspects of quick diagnosis and complex medical decision-making that will continue to challenge me as a physician. Emory’s emergency rooms serve over 300,000 patients a year and is the perfect medium for learning to think as an EM physician. Completing a rotation at Emory, under a staff gifted in the practice and teaching of emergency medicine in a location that is a vital part of who I am and where I hope to practice would be
I felt his need. The emergency medicine team knew how to help the patient, and I knew I could help him. I went to him and explained what the team had accomplished and what we …show more content…
However, it is a memory I constantly reflect upon. Each part of this interaction captured something I enjoyed within Emergency Medicine. I loved the adrenalin rush when EMS swung the double doors open and the fast pace in which vitals were taken, exam completed, and medications dispensed. I felt part of the team as I gently restrained the patient and manually repeated a blood pressure. I witnessed the use of ultrasound to place an IV, video guidance to help intubation, imaging to aid in diagnosis, and identification of the inpatient team best able to care for this patient. I had seen each of these on other clinical rotations, but watching the combination of the wide variety of skills was rewarding. As an emergency medicine doctor, I will utilize my suturing skills learned on surgery one moment and then the pelvic exam I worked on during OB-GYN on the next patient. In residency, I will expand my skills by undertaking rigorous training through ERs, MICUs, and PICUs. These settings differ in the patients they serve, but they will prepare me. They will magnify the scope of whom I can …show more content…
My EM training thus far has been adult based in a university setting with incredible inpatient and subspecialty support. I have not had significant experience in pediatric, county, or community emergency medicine. Emory’s program is unique in that it allows me to experience the incredible breadth that encompasses the field in some of the leading hospitals with patient populations that are dear to me. Growing up in Stone Mountain, I was raised in the shadow of Atlanta and Emory. I spent summers at CHOA-Egleston working with the children in the inpatient setting. I would love to return to CHOA again, but this time to develop skills to help the children. Emergency medicine is my ideal career because it provides a comprehensive training to aide a wide variety of ill patients while combining aspects of quick diagnosis and complex medical decision-making that will continue to challenge me as a physician. Emory’s emergency rooms serve over 300,000 patients a year and is the perfect medium for learning to think as an EM physician. Completing a rotation at Emory, under a staff gifted in the practice and teaching of emergency medicine in a location that is a vital part of who I am and where I hope to practice would be