Review:

Challenger EM Psych
Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Emotional and Behavioral Presentations

by
David R. Boyd, MDCM, FACS
Former National Director
Emergency Medical Services Systems
Dept. of Health and Human Services
Washington, D.C.

In 1973, I was a key author of the Emergency Medical Services Systems Legislation (PL 93:154) leading to the national implementation of comprehensive Regional Trauma, Burn, Spinal Cord Injury and Cardiac Care, Poison Control and community based EMT and Para-Medic programs. As the National Director of this EMS Systems (1974-83), I attempted to include Behavioral Emergencies prominently with other recognized clinical categories of emergency care. The mandate of this legislation, about which I have published considerably, included "systems" research for purposes of case survival and incident control that would lead to prevention of these major categories of emergency care occurrences. Included in this far-sighted legislation, implemented over 30 years ago, were both Neurological and Behavioral Emergencies. In our post 9/11 world, we can now better appreciate the necessity of better clinical awareness of the Psychiatric casualty, both at home and abroad.

Challenger EM Psych is a rigorous course intended for the clinician who is willing to devote some real time and effort to testing his or her preparedness for episodic psychiatric presentations. These cases are at risk of misdiagnosis, inappropriate or inadequate stabilizing care, and inaccurate patient instructions and/of staff communications follow up. The case study approach presented here with a programmed learning approach will be beneficial to practicing emergency and urgent care physicians, staff nurses, and other primary care professionals. There are 47 real case studies and 300 stimulating questions and answers each tailored to make the course user think about the presenting situation and then demonstrate competency in responding. Acute care physicians may believe they are adequately prepared to handle these cases, but often they are not. This course can improve professional competency in this poorly understood patient care environment.

This course is therefore a worthwhile investment for clinician's training in the practice of Psychiatric Emergencies.

This course could also be a valuable training resource for residency programs in psychiatry, emergency medicine, public health, prison health care, military hospitals and clinics, and for other acute care institutions. Emergency psychiatry and behavioral events are becoming ever more prevalent. The February 2004 issue of the Annals of Emergency Medicine pointed out that many acute care physicians do not have adequate training in the diagnosis, initial treatment and management of these cases. Acute care physicians, physician assistants or nurses who are in contact with general medical populations with these kinds of cases and lack such training would benefit from your course.

Editor's Note: Dr. Boyd is widely recognized as the "Father" of our national Trauma and EMS System. He conceptualized and implemented the first Statewide Trauma and Comprehensive Emergency Medical Services System (EMSS) in Illinois in 1971. He testified to the US Congress in 1973 on the need for a similar national program, wrote the clinical and systems components of the EMSS Act of 1973 (PL 93-154), and was appointed by the Gerald Ford Administration to direct that effort in the DHEW/DHHS from 1974-83. He is the author of over 200 scientific technical publications on many aspects of shock, trauma and EMS Systems, as well as his landmark textbook in this area. The University of Virginia Department of Emergency Medicine in 1997 established a Distinguished Lectureship in Dr. Boyd's name. He recently served for the past 12 years as the surgeon at the Blackfeet Indian Health Service Hospital in Browning, Montana.

Contact:

Challenger Corporation
5100 Poplar Ave, Suite 310
Memphis, TN 38137
Tel: (800) 676-0822
E-mail: Challenger Public Relations
Web: www.chall.com