A Call to Listen - The Emergency Department Visit

Emergency medicine is practised in a fast moving, ever-changing environment. The individuals who work in emergency departments are required to think even faster and adapt even more frequently. The skills needed to perform at this level go far beyond the extensive medical training they all receive. The art of listening is equally important in the practice of any medicine, but doubly so in the emergency department. Every piece of information, every personal experience, every second opinion and every voice in the room may mean the difference between immediate and delayed action, sometimes even life and death. The tales recounted here illustrate how the tiniest detail can unlock a medical mystery, calm a child, comfort a loved one, or save a life.