EM Pulse Podcast™

NOV 20, 2025

In this first installment of our Medicine on the Go series, we explore how care is moving beyond hospital walls and directly into the community through UC Davis Fire Department’s innovative mobile mental health crisis unit, Health 34. You’ll hear how this no-cost, 24/7 team—staffed by providers with paramedic backgrounds and lay counselor training—meets people where they are to prevent crises, support mental health needs, and connect patients to the right resources before problems escalate. Health 34 Provider, Blythe Clark, joins us to share the origins of the program, how it works, who it serves, and what other communities can learn from this model. We’ll explore how prehospital services can act as a powerful preventative tool and how collaborations like this could reshape the future of care far beyond campus. Do you have a program similar to Health 34 in your area? We’d love to hear how it’s working and what you’ve learned. Share with us on social media @empulsepodcast or connect with us on ucdavisem.com Hosts: Dr. Julia Magaña, Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Guest: Blythe Clark, Health 34 Provider, UC Davis Fire Department Resources: Health 34 *** Thank you to the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting this podcast and to Orlando Magaña at OM Productions for audio production services.

19 MIN

NOV 5, 2025

Real Time TeamSTEPPS

In this episode of EM Pulse, guest host Dr. Neelou Tabatabai joins Julia in a discussion with ED nurse and TeamSTEPPS advocate, Leigh Clary, to explore how structured communication tools can transform even the most high-stress medical and trauma resuscitations. Through a real-life story of conflict and resolution in the emergency department, Leigh illustrates how TeamSTEPPS strategies—like assertive communication, the Two-Challenge Rule, and CUS words—empower teams to speak up, de-escalate tension, and protect patient safety. Together, they unpack how calm, composed dialogue preserves respect, strengthens teamwork, and ensures every voice is heard when it matters most. Do you use TeamSTEPPS or a similar model in your ED? We’d love to hear what has been successful for your team. Hit us up on social media @empulsepodcast or connect with us on ucdavisem.com Hosts: Dr. Julia Magaña, Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Guest Host: Dr. Neelou Tabatabai, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Guest: Leigh Clary, RN, BSN, RN, CEN, ADCES, MICN , ED Nurse and TeamSTEPPS Project Lead at UC Davis Resources: TeamSTEPPS Player of the Month Program, Presentation by Leigh Clary and Jose Metica TeamSTEPPS™: Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety Heidi B. King, MS, CHE, James Battles, PhD, David P. Baker, PhD, Alexander Alonso, PhD, Eduardo Salas, PhD, John Webster, MD, MBA, Lauren Toomey, RN, BSBA, MIS, and Mary Salisbury, RN, MSN. TeamSTEPPS Pocket Guide - Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality EM Pulse: TeamSTEPPS, September 17, 2021 **** Thank you to the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting this podcast and to Orlando Magaña at OM Productions for audio production services.

20 MIN

OCT 20, 2025

Rethinking M&M

In this episode, we dive into the charged world of Morbidity and Mortality conferences—where good intentions can collide with fear, shame, and silence. We’ve all felt that jolt of adrenaline sitting in the audience—or worse, standing at the podium. Our guest expert, Dr. Jaymin Patel, helps us unpack why the traditional M&M model no longer works and how we can rebuild it into something better: a space that turns mistakes into meaningful learning, supports both patient and provider healing, and helps us face our ghosts without fear. How do you think we can improve M&M? Share your ideas with us on social media @empulsepodcast or connect with us on ucdavisem.com Hosts: Dr. Julia Magaña, Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Guest: Dr. Jaymin Patel, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Assistant Residency Program Director at UC Davis Resources: ALiEM: The M&M Shame Game; Case by Dr. Tamara McColl Nussenbaum B, Chole RA. Rethinking Morbidity and Mortality Conference. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2019 Feb;52(1):47-53. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2018.08.007. Epub 2018 Oct 5. PMID: 30297182. Wittels K, Aaronson E, Dwyer R, Nadel E, Gallahue F, Fee C, Tubbs R, Schuur J; EM M&M Culture of Safety Research Team. Emergency Medicine Morbidity and Mortality Conference and Culture of Safety: The Resident Perspective. AEM Educ Train. 2017 May 4;1(3):191-199. doi: 10.1002/aet2.10033. PMID: 30051034; PMCID: PMC6001737. *** Thank you to the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting this podcast and to Orlando Magaña at OM Productions for audio production services.

21 MIN

OCT 6, 2025

PECARN Infant Fever Update: 61-90 days

What happens when a febrile infant presents at 61 days old? Are they suddenly low risk for invasive bacterial infections? In this episode, we explore the gray zone of managing febrile infants aged 61–90 days with the help of two new clinical prediction rules from PECARN. Joining us are two powerhouses in pediatric emergency medicine: Dr. Nate Kuppermann and Dr. Paul Aronson, who walk us through their recent study published in Pediatrics. We discuss why prior research has traditionally stopped at 60 days, what the new data shows about risk in this slightly older age group, and how these rules might help guide clinical decision-making. This study fills a long-standing gap—but should we start using the rules now? Tune in for a nuanced discussion on sensitivity, missed cases, practical application, and the future of risk stratification in young infants with fever. What is your practice in terms of work-up of 2-3 month old febrile infants? Will this change what you do? Hit us up social media @empulsepodcast or connect with us on ucdavisem.com Hosts: Dr. Julia Magaña, Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Guests: Dr. Nate Kuppermann, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer; Director, Children's National Research Institute; Department Chair, Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences Dr. Paul Aronson, Professor of Pediatrics (Emergency Medicine); Deputy Director, Pediatric Residency Program at Yale University School of Medicine Resources: “Hot” Off the Press: Infant Fever Rule Do I really need to LP a febrile infant with a UTI? Aronson PL, Mahajan P, Meeks HD, Nielsen B, Olsen CS, Casper TC, Grundmeier RW, Kuppermann N; PECARN Registry Working Group. Prediction Rule to Identify Febrile Infants 61-90 Days at Low Risk for Invasive Bacterial Infections. Pediatrics. 2025 Sep 1;156(3):e2025071666. doi: 10.1542/peds.2025-071666. PMID: 40854562; PMCID: PMC12432541. Kuppermann N, Dayan PS, Levine DA, Vitale M, Tzimenatos L, Tunik MG, Saunders M, Ruddy RM, Roosevelt G, Rogers AJ, Powell EC, Nigrovic LE, Muenzer J, Linakis JG, Grisanti K, Jaffe DM, Hoyle JD Jr, Greenberg R, Gattu R, Cruz AT, Crain EF, Cohen DM, Brayer A, Borgialli D, Bonsu B, Browne L, Blumberg S, Bennett JE, Atabaki SM, Anders J, Alpern ER, Miller B, Casper TC, Dean JM, Ramilo O, Mahajan P; Febrile Infant Working Group of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN). A Clinical Prediction Rule to Identify Febrile Infants 60 Days and Younger at Low Risk for Serious Bacterial Infections. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Apr 1;173(4):342-351. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.5501. PMID: 30776077; PMCID: PMC6450281. Pantell RH, Roberts KB, Adams WG, Dreyer BP, Kuppermann N, O'Leary ST, Okechukwu K, Woods CR Jr; SUBCOMMITTEE ON FEBRILE INFANTS. Evaluation and Management of Well-Appearing Febrile Infants 8 to 60 Days Old. Pediatrics. 2021 Aug;148(2):e2021052228. doi: 10.1542/peds.2021-052228. Epub 2021 Jul 19. Erratum in: Pediatrics. 2021 Nov;148(5):e2021054063. doi: 10.1542/peds.2021-054063. PMID: 34281996. **** Thank you to the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting this podcast and to Orlando Magaña at OM Productions for audio production services.

36 MIN

SEP 19, 2025

Scorpions and Spiders

Dive into the second half of our envenomation series! Dr. Jonathan Ford, a UC Davis Medical Toxicologist and Professor of Emergency Medicine, returns to the podcast to tackle scorpions and spiders. We're going beyond the basics to discuss the "why" and "how" of these bites and stings. Learn about the neurotoxic effects of bark scorpion venom and the life-threatening airway risks. Explore the mechanism behind black widow bites that leads to intense pain and spasms, and the crucial role of antivenom in severe cases. Plus, we're setting the record straight on a common myth—the brown recluse—and the proper supportive care for its nasty bite. Join us to discover the latest evidence-based approaches that could change how you manage your next bite or sting. Have you had a patient with a serious or challenging envenomation? How did you manage it? Share your story with us social media @empulsepodcast or connect with us on ucdavisem.com Hosts: Dr. Julia Magaña, Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis Guest: Dr. Jonathan Ford, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicologist at UC Davis Resources: Quan D. North American poisonous bites and stings. Crit Care Clin. 2012 Oct;28(4):633-59. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2012.07.010. PMID: 22998994. Levine M, Friedman N. Terrestrial envenomations in pediatric patients: identification and management in the emergency department. Pediatr Emerg Med Pract. 2021 Sep;18(9):1-24. Epub 2021 Sep 2. PMID: 34403224.. ***\ Thank you to the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting this podcast and to Orlando Magaña at OM Productions for audio production services.

18 MIN

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