The Emergency Docs

Over the course of the last few years, National and Regional Parks have been flooded with new visitors who may not be accustomed to or trained in wilderness survival. As more and more people head into the backcountry, more and more people get into trouble in the backcountry. This episode features Jeff Burke, Dr. AJ Wheeler, and Dr. Will Smith, who discuss their work in backcountry medical rescues. They join host Alaina Rajagopal to talk about what goes into a medical rescue, the different types of medical rescue, scene safety, and more. Listen until the end to learn how you can stay safe in your outdoor adventures and what to do if you come across a medical emergency in the wilderness. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

While Hollywood often sensationalizes human trafficking with kidnapping and car chases, human trafficking victims can be all around us. They might be a lady at the nail salon, a kid at school, or a woman who shows up to the emergency department with a urinary tract infection one too many times. More than ever, we need to start having the right conversations around it! As part of the Social Emergency Medicine Series, Alaina Rajagopal and Victor Cisneros drill down into human trafficking with guests, Dr. Ronnie Rivera and Lisa Murdock. Together, they talk about what human trafficking is, what you should look for to identify victims of human trafficking, and what to do if you ever encounter a victim of human trafficking. This conversation may be sensitive for some listeners, and listener discretion is advised. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Prioritize your health because you can't function well and fulfill your roles if it is deteriorating. This episode features Dr. MeiLan Han, a pulmonary and critical care specialist, and the author of Breathing Lessons: A Doctor's Guide to Lung Health. Dr. Han will talk about why the lungs are so neglected and how we can all work on improving our own lung health. She will talk about COVID-19, the science behind masks, and exactly what a ventilator does. She also discusses what we can all do to be better lung health advocates for ourselves and our communities. You will definitely be able to breathe easier after this episode! Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Government agencies generally did large-scale disaster responses, but Team Rubicon has grown, becoming verified by the World Health Organization as a regency medical team that can be deployed to sudden-onset disasters globally. In this episode, Dr. David Callaway discusses veteran-led disaster response and humanitarian organizations currently working in Ukraine. Dr. Callaway is a US Navy Veteran and Professor of Emergency Medicine at Carolinas Medical Center. He serves as the Chief of Crisis Operations and Sustainability, the Director of the Division of Operational and Disaster Medicine, and the Medical Director of Carolinas MED-1. He shares how a disaster response team works, the types of medical work that can be done in areas of conflict, and how you can help. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Thinking about traveling again soon? Then buckle up as we share great travel protips! We'll talk about the considerations you should undertake before you go on your trip. Dr. Alaina Rajagopal and Dr. Justin Yanuck start with basic things you should do before any trip. They also discuss special considerations for travel in the era of COVID. Packed full of information, this episode is a must-listen. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This episode focuses on career opportunities for people who want to concentrate on the business aspects of medicine. Dr. Lindsey Spiegelman is an Emergency Medicine Physician and Clinical Faculty at the University of California Irvine Medical Center. She double majored in neuroscience and psychology at the University of Southern California and then went to medical school at UC Irvine. She completed a clinical informatics fellowship and MBA at UC Irvine as well. She is the lead medical informaticist for the UCI Emergency Department and a member of the ED Clinical Operations team. She is particularly interested in projects related to ED throughput, hospital efficiency, and leveraging technology for effective patient care. Today, join Alaina Rajagopal as she talks to Dr. Lindsey Spiegelman about her experiences and how physicians can work to improve efficiency in their systems. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

You can't just remove trauma; it takes time to heal. In this episode, we sit down with two incredible guests and discuss strategies for controlling symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Peggy Hays returns to discuss some of her traumatic experiences as a wife of a cardiac arrest survivor and as a nurse anesthetist, as well as her journey toward recovery. Kelly Larson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Director of Pacific Counseling and Trauma Center, and Brainspotting Trainer. Kelly talks to us about the effects of trauma and the various methods that can help with depression, anxiety, and PTSD recovery. If you, or someone you know, has ever experienced any form of depression, anxiety, or PTSD, this is an episode with content you won't want to miss! Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Safety belts are a very important yet often overlooked part of car safety etiquette. Today, we discuss how to properly set up your car safety seats and belts up to standard with Stephanie Tombrello, the Executive Director at SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A from 1982 to 2021. In this episode, she discusses two of the most misunderstood or neglected aspects of child passenger safety: the five-step test and why children need booster seats and; the dangers of riding with an impaired driver. Stephanie also goes into detail on the proper use of child safety seats and seat belts. Join her chat with Dr. Victor Cisneros and Dr. Alaina Rajagopal as she explains child passenger safety tips and best practices that will help reduce and mitigate injury during collisions. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

People across the country, and across the world suffer from food insecurity. What can we do to help bridge the gap and ensure we all have access to nutritious food? Dr. Victor Cisneros and Dr. Alaina Rajagopal discuss food insecurity with Mike Learakos, a food professional and restaurant owner who noticed the TONS of food waste he encountered in the restaurant industry and decided to do something about it. Listen in to hear more about what food insecurity and food deserts are, and how Mike and Abound Food Care are working to stop it. We'll also talk about how food waste impacts the medical community, the homeless, and the climate. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Empathy Fatigue is a very real side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it's critically impacting our health care professionals. Clinicians have been reporting more difficulty with empathy and compassion in the years since the beginning of the pandemic. How are we going to respond to this challenge? Dr. Alaina Rajagopal features Dr. Ethan Kunstadt, an emergency medicine physician in Orange County, California. They explore two articles which highlight some of these issues, as well as strategies for coping, fighting misinformation, and moving forward. References: Sohn, Emily. 2021. Empathy fatigue in clinicians rises with latest COVID-19 surge. Medscape. Published Sept 16, 2021. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/958890 Russell, Peter. 2022. Healthcare workers ‘most likely to report long COVID symptoms.' Medscape. Published Jan 6, 2022. https://www.medscape.co.uk/viewarticle/healthcare-workers-most-likely-report-long-covid-symptoms-2022a10001dt Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The COVID pandemic has taken a toll on everyone, including health professionals. We take a look at what we have learned over the past two years. In this episode, Alaina Rajagopal features Dr. Daryn Towle, a Southern California native and emergency medicine physician. We reflect on the pandemic and how her life has changed as an ER doctor over the last two years. We also discuss some of the science behind why vaccines are important, the Omicron variant, and how to stay safe over the holidays. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The holidays are almost on us, and with it comes tidings of good cheer. We do need to remember that COVID-19 is still here, and along for the ride are new variants, such as the Omicron variant. It's time to stay healthy over the holidays as Alaina Rajagopal talks about holiday health safety with Victor Cisneros. Victor and Aliana discuss the steps you can take to ensure you and your loved ones enjoy a safe, happy and COVID-free Christmas. Tune in and learn more about health and safety here. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Do you feel something is missing in your life? What do you wish you could do more of? It's time to put it on the calendar. After today's episode, you will understand why. Dr. Tanya Dall is an emergency medicine, wife, and mom...but not necessarily in that order. This week, we discuss finding balance between work in the emergency department and at home. We will also hear about Dr. Dall's journey into medicine, how she chose emergency medicine, and how she has been able to accomplish all of that while also raising a family. This is an episode you don't want to miss! Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The topic around vaccines has been very sensitive nowadays, especially because of the pandemic. Dr. Lauren Sylwanowicz is a board-certified emergency medicine physician in Southern California and also happens to be 38 weeks pregnant. She has experienced the pandemic as a physician, patient, and soon-to-be mom, and understands the stresses that new parents face. In this episode, she discusses some of the risks and benefits of getting vaccinated before, during, and after pregnancy and provides resources to help patients make the safest decisions. As a soon-to-be mom, she can now share and understand her patients more and sympathize with them better. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This pandemic has lifted the veil of the disparities that already existed globally, especially when it comes to medicine. What is worse, not only has it revealed these problems, it has also exacerbated the marginalization of many communities. In this episode, Alaina Rajagopal sits down with Dr. Victor Cisneros, an attending physician and Graduate Medical Education (GME) Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Eisenhower Health. Dr. Cisneros discusses his upbringing as a Mexican immigrant and how this has affected his perspectives on diversity in medicine. He sheds light on the disparities in medicine and how the pandemic has highlighted under-resourced populations and regions. Tune in to hear more about what you can do in your community to help alleviate some of these issues and make an impact on society. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The debate on vaccinations and individual freedom has been hot given the pandemic's extended period of quarantine. However, what does biomedical ethics say about this? Joining Dr. Alaina Rajagopal today is Dr. Arthur Caplan, Professor and founding head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. He is also the author or editor of 35 books and more than 800 papers in peer-reviewed journals. His most recent works focused on vaccination, ethics and policy, and good research integrity in biomedicine. Today, they dive into the discourse on vaccination and how medical professionals and patients should approach each case. Within that context, they also delve into which patients to prioritize, the doctor's right to decline or accept patients, and their thoughts on the rampant anti-vax protests. Tune in to this interesting and insightful conversation to learn more about the issue. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

With the pandemic, climate change, and science, anything can be politicized in today's environment. People need to understand what misinformation is so that they can avoid fake news. Join Dr. Alaina Rajagopal and her guest, Dr. Sander van der Linden, in this discussion on how to fight misinformation and learn what is real and what isn't. Dr. van der Linden is a Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Cambridge. He is also the Director of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab. Learn all about medical misinformation, fake news, bias, how social media helps inflate misinformation, and the role science has in decision-making and information. Discover what Dr. van der Linden is doing to help people spot misinformation. Tune in and learn what you can do to avoid getting duped by fake news and stop spreading of incorrect information. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jim and Peggy Hays were enjoying a ski vacation in Jackson Hole... until they suddenly weren't. Jim had a heart attack on the slopes and only managed to survive after a successful emergency response and the support of his wife. Medical miracles aren't really miracles. Instead, they're the result of having the right tools, procedures, and people in place to handle emergency situations, which is what happened to today's guests. Joining host Dr. Alaina Rajagopal are four of the people involved in the Jackson Hole case. Peggy and Jim Hays, the couple who bravely survived the incident, Ian Barwell, the ER nurse and patroller on the scene with Jim's event, and Jeff Burke, the author of the article that covered their incredible story. To survive not one but two heart attacks was a feat in itself for the Hays couple, but to top it all off, it all happened right when COVID started. Learn more about their story and hear essential tips on how to stay safe in the mountains. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://www.theemergencydocs.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This episode is part of our COVID Reflections series where we feature different healthcare providers and their experiences during the pandemic. This week, we talk to Dr. Wajeeha Musharraf, an emergency medicine physician in India. She'll discuss what it has been like working in India during the most recent surge, a bit of advice, and her YouTube channel, EM Code. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Long COVID is fairly unknown syndrome that can occur after a person contracts COVID-19. Melissa Lynch is a healthcare professional, but also a mother. Her daughter, Wednesday, contracted COVID-19 and has dealt with severe symptoms from long COVID. Melissa will discuss the initial presentation of the disease, how they finally got a diagnosis, and what she is doing now to prevent others from going through all of the difficulties she and Wednesday have faced. Melissa now works with Long COVID Kids USA and Long COVID Kids Global to advocate for awareness of the disease, prevention, and research. Listen in to hear more! Here is the link to learn more about Long COVID Kids: https://www.longcovidkids.org/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Have you ever wondered how to save a life? Have you ever thought about what the most important things are that you can do in an emergency? Are you the type that likes to be prepared? Are you the type that is never prepared? Well then this episode is for you! Dr. R and Dr. Y talk about what to do in case of two specific types of emergencies: hemorrhage and cardiac arrest. Learn the basic steps on what to do if you encounter these types of emergency situations. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Ticks are out in force this season. Drs. Rajagopal and Yanuck will discuss types of ticks, diseases that come from ticks, symptoms of those diseases, and what to do if you get bitten. Stay safe and tick-free this summer by listening to this episode! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Dr. Spencer Greene is a medical toxicologist and snakebite expert based in Houston, Texas. In this episode, he'll talk about what toxicology is, how to avoid getting a snakebite in the first place, and what to do if you do get bitten by a snake. He'll also discuss some of the snakebite treatment myths like "the cut and suck." No matter where you live, there are probably some snakes there, so listen in so you can be prepared in case you encounter one! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This episode focuses on Drs. Olen and Danae Netteburg. Dr. Danae Netteburg is an obstetrician gynecologist and Dr. Olen Netteburg is an emergency medicine physician. They both work at a remote hospital and are raising their family in Chad (Africa). Due to the demands of the job, they both also function as surgeons, internists, family medicine doctors, and hospital administrators. Their work as physicians and parents is 24/7/365 and they both handle it with grace. In this episode, we discuss some of their experiences as physicians in Chad, some interesting patient cases (a knife in the face, an arrow through the eye, and more), creative ways to stop a nosebleed, and their harrowing experience of almost losing two of their children to rabies. Listen in - this is an episode you won't want to miss! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We continue the COVID reflections series this week with Dr. Justin Yanuck, aka Dr. Y. Dr. Yanuck discusses his practice in emergency medicine as well as working as a pain management physician. He discusses his personal struggles during the pandemic and some of the cases that really affected him over the last year. Listen in to hear more about mental health and how we can all do better in the future. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Dr. Kellie Strecher is an obstetrician gynecologist based in Minnesota who started an organization called Public Health Heroes to help tell the stories of those clinicians who were lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. As she has developed the organization, she has also placed a focus on mental health, addiction, and other problems that clinicians face. Public Health Heroes is working to not only tell the stories of clinicians but also help them with burnout, depression, and addiction. Listen in to hear more about these amazing heroes' stories as well as how you can help them heal. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Happy Women's History Month! Alyssa Carson is an out-of-this-world inspirational woman in STEM. Alyssa is currently studying astrobiology and hopes to be the first woman to walk on Mars. Listen to hear more about her journey into science, astrobiology, and spaceflight. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Pregnancy is often associated with thoughts of women kicking up their feet and taking it easy but according to fitness expert Jane Wake, that doesn't have to be the case! In this episode we discuss what an exercise journey can look like for a pregnant woman with research-backed recommendations for all stages of pregnancy and the postpartum period. Jane is an internationally renowned fitness expert with decades of experience in women's fitness and we'll discuss her journey into women's fitness as well. We'll also discuss nutrition and supplements postpartum and how you can connect with Jane and help with her research on women's fitness in pregnancy. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We've all seen the images - tired, masked healthcare providers on TV - but what is it really like in the emergency department during COVID? This series of episodes called COVID Reflections will feature healthcare workers telling their stories. This week's episode features Dr. Alisa Wray who will answer some of the questions healthcare workers are asked frequently about the pandemic and provide some perspective on what her life, and her ER, are like on a daily basis. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We'll continue the pregnancy series this week to discuss third trimester pregnancy, some recent memorable cases from the ED, and various types of emergencies we might see with third trimester pregnant patients. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This episode will cover basic fetal development for the second trimester along with some interesting second trimester cases we've seen in the past. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This episode will focus on the first trimester. We'll cover fetal development, maternal symptoms, and various reasons we would see a first trimester mom in the emergency department. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Happy Thanksgiving! This episode focuses on normal digestion as well as what happens when you eat a little too much. We'll also discuss some strategies for healthy eating habits. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

It has been a year of learning for the medical community when it comes to diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for COVID-19. One population we still don't know a lot about is pregnant women with COVID-19. In this episode, we'll review a bit about what we know so far and how to stay safe if you or a family member is expecting. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Have you ever wondered if some of those weird medical mysteries are true? This episode will discuss a few weird medical facts and some creepy crawly emergency department stories! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

It is the time of year when many of us will be exposed to colder temperatures. Listen in to learn more about different types of cold injuries and how to prevent them. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

A.G. Riddle wrote a book called, "Pandemic" which is eerily similar to modern day events. Listen in to hear more from the the author about his background, inspiration, and his ability to predict the future! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Have you had a visit with your doctor by phone or by video chat? Then you've tried telemedicine! Listen in to hear more from Dr. Lahham about the subspecialty of telemedicine and what telemedicine even means! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Anika Miller, NCAA Nordic ski champion and ulcerative colitis patient, discusses her experiences after being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 14. She'll discuss some of her challenges and triumphs with the disease, as well as her experiences with outdoor athletic activities. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) includes disease like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. In this episode, we'll discuss the basics associated with these diseases to give you some background for the special guest we will have next week! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This episode discusses the history of how vaccines were invented, a few myths on vaccines, and how vaccines are currently scheduled in the United States. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, we'll discuss what vaccine and drug trials are, how they work, and how this relates to the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Late summer can be the hottest time of year in a lot of places. This episode focuses on injuries that occur from overexposure to heat and how to treat them. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this week's episode we honor the UTMB endurance race, which was supposed to take place this week with a discussion of hydration and electrolytes for endurance events. Dr. R and Dr. Y will discuss some personal anecdotes as well. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, we'll review the most recent updates in the scientific literature on prevention, symptoms, treatments, and answer some of those burning mask-wearing questions! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, we discuss COVID-19 diagnostic tests with Dr. Aditya Rajagopal. Dr. Rajagopal is a PhD scientist who developed a new method for disease detection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology. The method is employed at his company, Chromacode, which focuses on disease diagnostics and has a test available for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Dr. Rajagopal is also faculty at the California Institute of Technology where he continues to work on diagnostic technology research. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Dr. Sophie Wallace is an emergency medicine physician, based in Australia, who has worked as a physician at Mount Everest Base Camp for three seasons! Tune in to hear more about her story, becoming an expedition medicine physician, and what her life was like on Mount Everest. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This is an introduction to expedition medicine. We'll discuss what expedition medicine is and how it is practiced. Tune in next week to hear an interview with Dr. Sophie Wallace, an expedition medicine physician who has worked at Mount Everest Base Camp for three seasons! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Throat pain is an extremely common ailment we see in the emergency department. Here's a bit of insight into major causes of throat pain and how we approach treating them. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Being in medicine and also using social media can sometimes be tricky. We will have a guest host today, Dr. Cassie Majestic who will talk to us about her career in emergency medicine and how she uses social media to provide medical education and fulfill a need for creativity! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We're continuing our discussion on back pain today by covering a few more causes of back pain and more information from Dr. Y on pain management. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app