Source: ACEM Glossary of Terms for Fellowship and Primary Examinations
DEFINITIONS
Assessment
Evaluation of the patient by obtaining a history, performing a physical examination and undertaking appropriately prioritised investigations.
Disposition
Discharge from the ED including discharge planning, patient transfer/retrieval to another hospital site, admission to the hospital inpatient wards, or any other departure destination (e.g. patient’s home, residential care facility, correctional facility etc.)
Initial assessment
A rapid evaluation (history and examination) completed when first seeing a patient leading to a differential diagnosis, choice of investigations and initial interventions.
Initial interventions
Highest priority specific treatments, required during or immediately after the initial assessment of a patient.
Investigations
Any form of relevant investigation relevant to the situation. Continuous measurement of gases (e.g. ETCO2) are considered as monitoring, not as an investigation.
Management
Interventions including resuscitation and treatment (including procedures) and disposition.
Procedure
An intervention which involves manipulation, invasion of or application of other therapeutic effects on the patient’s body (e.g. electrical current). Description and/or operation of any specific equipment required for the procedure is expected to be provided.
Resuscitation
Time-critical treatments performed in a critically ill or injured patient which may include investigations immediately available without the patient leaving the resuscitation room.
Treatment
Interventions aimed at treating the patient’s symptoms, injuries or illness. These may include but are not limited to administration of therapeutic agents (e.g. drugs, fluids and gases), physical aids (e.g. splints), body positioning, including procedures as outlined above (e.g.
thoracostomy, ascitic tap etc).
COMMON PHRASES
Key decisions/topic
The most important decisions/topics.
Patient safety
A list of factors which may contribute to error, or prevention of error, in patient care.
Risk stratification
The process of predicting which patients have the greatest likelihood of a specific outcome.
Most common/relevant/important
The expected answer includes some responses that are required
to achieve full marks.
COMMON VERBS
Analyse
Provide a structured description of an investigation result or image (e.g. clinical photo, ECG, or medical imaging scan), highlighting the most significant findings
Calculate
Provide a result after insertion of appropriate values into a formula
Interpret
Provide conclusion/s after analysing an investigation result or image
List
Provide the requested number of answers, where each answer should be no more than a few words long
Outline
Provide a logical framework in which all key decisions/topics are covered (not used in written exam formats)
State
Provide the requested number of answers, where each answer should be no more than a phrase or short sentence.
Structured approach to certain phrases
Prepare
- Place
- Staff
- Drugs
- Equipment
Procedure
- Indications
- Contraindications
- Complications
- Preparation
- Performance
- Disposition
- Documentation
Discuss
- Define
- Pros
- Cons
- Controversies
- Practice Statement
Key Features
- what are the overarching points?
- example: UGIB. key features of history and exam are:
- determine risk – severity, complications and life threats
- determine implications for acute management
- determine implications for resource utilisation