Common Sense
Common Sense is a bi-monthly member magazine that reports on all AAEM activities and news from the world of emergency medicine. It is delivered to the AAEM membership* six times a year, which currently stands at over 8,000 emergency physicians, residents, and others with an interest in emergency medicine. * International members receive an online subscription only.
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Current Issue: March/April 2023
President's Message
March/April 2023
Stay in the Fight
Author:
One repercussion of the [Covid] crisis is the public realization that the emergency medicine “safety net” has holes. Together with our like-minded partners in other specialties, similarly impacted workers in other fields, concerned patients, citizens, and politicians, we are starting to mend those holes.
January/February 2023
Joy
Author:
There are many words to describe how I felt. Burned out, depressed, dejected, angry, morally injured, quiet quitter, or perhaps just joyless. How did I go from having a wonderful day, enjoying my family and thinking about all the well wishes I had received, to thinking that my professional life was miserable? Was it simply that I had to work a holiday or was there something more?
From the Editor's Desk
March/April 2023
The Personalities in Your Resuscitation Room
Author:
In this article, I ask you to look around your resuscitation room and try and put yourself into the other participants’ shoes and see the resuscitation from their perspective. I want you also to consider the many personalities, goals, and expectations of the other people in the room and consider each of their goals and objectives. I find that many of the issues which arise out of difficult resuscitations have little to do with the medicine but more to arise from each member of the teams’ expectations and perceptions of what did, or what they think, should, or could have happened.
January/February 2023
The Greatest Act of Forgiveness Which I Have Ever Witnessed
Author:
I realized that despite the senseless violence which had occurred and the devastating impact it would have on this young family, that there was still goodness and kindness in this world. Frankly, it humbled me and made me feel ashamed for my anger.
Dollars & Sense
July/August 2020
Disability and Life...Another Option!
Author:
Young doctors are the ripest of "low hanging fruit" for insurance sales agents. You will have, early in your training, friendly, affectionate, insurance sales people tracking you like a pack of slobbering hounds.
May/June 2019
Three Questions
Author:
As I progress in my career, I find myself getting busier and busier. Some of it is my own doing...
Featured Articles
March/April 2023
If You Died and Came Back, What Would Your Art Look Like?
Author:
Incredibly, Dr. Matthew Wetschler has answered this question. Dr. Wetschler is a fellow emergency physician and artist who survived a catastrophic spinal cord injury and cardiac arrest while surfing. You may remember Dr. Wetschler from his moving keynote address, “Water and Stars” at the 2019 AAEM Scientific Assembly in Las Vegas, NV. As co-chair for the 2019 Scientific Assembly Planning Committee, I was in the front row when he shared his inspiring story of recovery against all odds.
January/February 2023
Your Voice Matters: 10 Ways to Battle Online Trolls
Author:
As physicians, we frequently find ourselves advocating for our patients and our colleagues on social media. This can include messages about public health, vaccination, corporate practice of medicine, overdose, and the health impacts of racism. Increasingly, we are confronted with social media trolls who seem filled with hate as they seek to silence our voice. It’s important to remember that their goal is to distract from your message and intimidate you. This article will include important tips for combatting twitter trolls and getting your message out.
Additional Articles
As the editor of AAEM's bi-monthly newsletter Common Sense, Dr. Mayer welcomes your comments and suggestions. You can easily reach Dr. Mayer by submitting letters to the editor using the online form.
The Master of AAEM Series
- Achieving Great Outcomes in Your Discharged ED Patients - Tom Scaletta, MD MAAEM FAAEM
- AAEM: Now More Than Ever! - Larry Weiss, MD JD MAAEM FAAEM
- Welcome to the Tribe: Thoughts on Starting Out in EM - Joe Lex, MD MAAEM FAAEM
- Where Would EM be Without AAEM? - Robert McNamara, MD MAAEM FAAEM
Medical Liability - State by State
- Part 1: Alabama-Florida
- Part 2: Georgia-Maine
- Part 3: Maryland-North Dakota
- Part 4: Ohio-Rhode Island
- Part 5: South Carolina-Wyoming
- The Final Summary
Cracking the Code: Fixing the Crowded Emergency Department
- Part 1: Building the Burning Platform
- Part 2: Creating the Analytic Model
- Part 3: Implementing the Solution