In this episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast, Brad Sobolewski interviews Dr. Jennifer Marin from UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. They discuss evidence-based strategies for using advanced imaging—ultrasound, CT, and MRI—in the pediatric ED, including how to reduce low-value imaging, improve communication with families, and ensure every scan is the right scan.
Watch this recorded session for answers to questions such as, “why is my division making everyone learn how to do ultrasound? and “how did they make the decisions on what scans we have to learn and how many do we need to have?” and even “won’t Radiology get mad if we take their money?"
Parvovirus B19 is back on your differential. Best known for causing fifth disease, this common pediatric virus can also trigger aplastic crises, fetal complications, and chronic anemia in immunocompromised patients. In this episode of PEM Currents, we explore its clinical spectrum, diagnostic nuances, and management strategies—plus a reminder on when kids are (and aren’t) contagious.
This is the only non-medical post I make every year. The annual Anniversary Video that I plan, film, edit, and produce for my wife. I've been sharing them with her every year since our third anniversary. This is number 18.
I've you've been keeping track (and I know you haven't) this is the 52nd straight week I've posted a "Medical Music Mondays" - this was always the plan of course. As AI matures - and I keep writing fun educational songs I'll post more - just not on a weekly basis. I'll end this run with a rap battle [...]
Children with autism spectrum disorder often face heightened challenges in the ED due to sensory sensitivities, communication barriers, and difficulties with transitions. Without appropriate accommodations, care can become distressing and ineffective. Stakeholders emphasized the urgent need for ASD-focused preparation, tailored communication strategies, and staff training to deliver compassionate, individualized emergency care.
Don't forget to use lidocaine when performing painful procedure sin children - even if the child is going to be sedated. Also nu-metal wasn't that bad... was it?
There are some antidotes - though not many - that we can give for common ingestions. If only there were a children's song that would stick in our brains to help us remember them. if only...
Walking pneumonia is the familiar name for a lung infection caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. It's kinda hard to diagnose. But if you're right a good 'ole Z-Pack will work.
This episode of PEM Currents: The Pediatric Emergency Medicine Podcast focuses on the approach to unvaccinated or undervaccinated children aged 3–36 months presenting to the ED with fever. Host Brad Sobolewski reviews differences in immune response, risk for serious and invasive bacterial infections, and outlines evaluation strategies including labs, imaging, and empiric antibiotics. He highlights data showing increased interventions in this population and calls for local guideline development. The episode emphasizes thoughtful, individualized care in the context of rising vaccine hesitancy and declining immunization rates.
