January Lifeline

Don’t write MDM Checks Your H&P Can’t Cash. Chapter 5: Acute Headache

• Carpenter CR, Hussain AM, Ward MJ, Zipfel GJ, Fowler S, Pines JM, Sivilotti MLA. Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Describing the Diagnostic Accuracy of History, Physical Exam, Imaging, and Lumbar Puncture with an Exploration of Test Thresholds. Acad Emerg Med. 2016;23(9):963-1003. doi:10.1111/acem.12984.
• Akaishi T, Kobayashi J, Abe M, et al. Sensitivity and specificity of meningeal signs in patients with meningitis. J Gen Fam Med. 2019;20(5):193-198. Published 2019 Jul 15. doi:10.1002/jgf2.268
• Saposnik G, Bushnell C, Coutinho JM, et al. Diagnosis and Management of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Stroke. 2024;55(3):e77-e90. doi:10.1161/STR.0000000000000456
• Searls DE, Pazdera L, Korbel E, Vysata O, Caplan LR. Symptoms and signs of posterior circulation ischemia in the new England medical center posterior circulation registry. Arch Neurol. 2012;69(3):346-351. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2011.2083
   

Leading with Empathy: Lessons in Culture Transformation

• Improving patient experience by implementing an organizational culture model - PMC.

February Lifeline

The Case for Antibiotics When the Chest Radiograph is “Negative” 

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Achievements in public health, 1900–1999: Control of infectious diseases. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1999;48(29):621-629. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10458535/
• Austrian R, Gold J. Pneumococcal bacteremia with special reference to bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia. Ann Intern Med. 1964;60:759-776. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/19642704779
• Rudd KE, Johnson SC, Agesa KM, et al. Global, regional, and national sepsis incidence and mortality, 1990–2017. Lancet. 2020;395(10219):200-211. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31954465/
• Hagaman JT, Rouan GW, Shipley RT, et al. Admission chest radiograph lacks sensitivity in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia. Am J Med Sci. 2009;337(4):236-240. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19365166/
• Self WH, Courtney DM, McNaughton CD, et al. High discordance of chest x-ray and CT for detection of pulmonary opacities in ED patients. Chest. 2013;144(4):1169-1176. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23083885/
• Claessens YE, Debray MP, Tubach F, et al. Early chest CT scan to assist diagnosis and guide treatment decision for suspected CAP. Chest. 2015;148(3):630-637. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26168322/
• Heckerling PS, Tape TG, Wigton RS, et al. Clinical prediction rule for pulmonary infiltrates. Ann Intern Med. 1990;113(9):664-670. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2221647/
• Morens DM, Taubenberger JK, Fauci AS. Predominant role of bacterial pneumonia as cause of death in pandemic influenza. J Infect Dis. 2008;198(7):962-970. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18710327/
   

Empowering Patients: Simplifying Discharge Instructions

• https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/bmjqir/10/3/e001419.full.pdf

 August Lifeline

New Infant 0-60 Day CMT—Why Rectal Temperature Matters in Every Infant

• Perry AM, Caviness AC, Allen JY. Characteristics and diagnoses of neonates who revisit a pediatric emergency center. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2013;29:58–62.
• Morley CJ, Hewson PH, Thornton AJ, Cole TJ. Axillary and rectal temperature measurements in infants. Arch Dis Child. 1992;67:122–125.
• Mintegi S, Gomez B, Carro A, Diaz H, Benito J. Invasive bacterial infections in young afebrile infants with a history of fever. Arch Dis Child. 2018;103:665–669.
• Orfanos I, Sotoca Fernandez J, Elfving K, Alfvén T, Eklund EA. Paediatric emergency departments should manage young febrile and afebrile infants the same if they have a fever before presenting. Acta Paediatr. 2022;111:2004–2009.
• Pantell RH, Roberts KB, Adams WG, et al. Evaluation and management of well-appearing febrile infants 8 to 60 days old. Pediatrics. 2021;148:e2021052228

Patient Care in Non-Opportune Spaces

• Olson RM, Fleurant A, Beauparlant SG, et al. Prolonged Boarding and Racial Discrimination and Dissatisfaction Among Emergency Department Patients. JAMA. 2024.
• Rizer NW, Klein E, Copenhaver MS, et al. Early Clinical Deterioration Among Emergency Department Boarders: A Retrospective Analysis. Ann Emerg Med. 2026. 

September Lifeline

Chest Pain: Always Document the Negatives for Aortic Dissection

• Lovatt S, Wong CW, Schwarz K, et al. Misdiagnosis of aortic dissection: a systematic review of the literature. Am J Emerg Med. 2022;53:16-22.
• Rice DR, Pallaci MJ, Weinstock MB, Cray SS, Foster KM, Oskvarek JJ, Bedolla JJ, Aldeen AZ, Pines JM. The prevalence of life-threatening diagnoses in emergency department patients with chest pain in a national group. Am J Emerg Med. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2026.05.006.
• Alter SM, Eskin B, Allegra JR. Diagnosis of aortic dissection in emergency department patients is rare. West J Emerg Med. 2015;16(5):629-631.
• Klompas M. Does this patient have an acute thoracic aortic dissection? JAMA. 2002;287(17):2262-2272.
• Hagan PG, Nienaber CA, Isselbacher EM, et al. The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD): new insights into an old disease. JAMA. 2000;283(7):897-903.
• Nazerian P, Mueller C, Soeiro AM, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of the aortic dissection detection risk score plus D-dimer for acute aortic syndromes: the ADvISED prospective multicenter study. Circulation. 2018;137(3):250-258.
• Rogers AM, Hermann LK, Booher AM, et al. Sensitivity of the aortic dissection detection risk score, a novel guideline-based tool for identification of acute aortic dissection at initial presentation. Circulation. 2011;123(20):2213-2218.
• Diercks DB, Promes SB, Schuur JD, Shah K, Valente JH, Cantrill SV. Clinical policy: critical issues in the evaluation and management of adult patients with suspected acute nontraumatic thoracic aortic dissection. Ann Emerg Med. 2015;65(1):32-42.e12.

When Patients Are Upset: A Better Way Through

• Psychology, Health & Medicine. 2026;31(3):798–829. doi:10.1080/13548506.2025.2591859. Epub 2025 Dec 16.
• Press Ganey. Service Recovery Model. Educational video series, including “Acknowledge” and “Apologize and Amend.”