ED 2Clinical Reasoning

Diagnostics and Management - Adult

Assessor

PGY4+

Due

Week 4

Requirement

Choose 1 of ED2/3/4

What Assessors Look For

Structured approach to undifferentiated unwell patient
Appropriate investigations ordered with clinical reasoning
Recognition of time-critical conditions (sepsis, ACS, PE, stroke)
Safe prescribing and management initiation
Appropriate escalation and disposition planning

Key Points to Demonstrate

1ABCDE assessment with simultaneous resuscitation
2Focused history: presenting complaint, red flags, PMHx, medications, allergies
3Targeted examination based on presentation
4Investigations: bloods (FBC, UEC, LFT, lactate, VBG), ECG, imaging as indicated
5Sepsis: recognize early, take cultures, give antibiotics within 1 hour
6Shock: identify type (hypovolaemic, cardiogenic, distributive, obstructive)

Tips for Success

  • 💡Think out loud - explain why you're ordering each test
  • 💡Prioritize time-critical diagnoses and rule them out first
  • 💡Know your hospital's sepsis pathway and chest pain pathway

Study Resources