EM Logic: Using Logic to Avoid Pitfalls in Emergency Medicine

We will discuss common diagnostic errors focusing not on an up-to-date knowledge of the medical literature but rather the applications of logical, patient-specific, medical thinking rather than algorithms that may miss the nuances of the patient in front of you. Highlights may include: 1) limitations of ED testing, especially in unstable angina, TIA and stroke; 2) limitations of common clinical scores such as HEART and PERC; 3) the importance of clinical fit and caution with diagnosing benign conditions such as anxiety when a more serious condition has not truly been ruled out; 4) PE pitfalls with an emphasis on painless PE and vital signs; 5) physical exam pearls such as the jolt sign, and 6) pearls in aftercare discussion and preparation.