European Commission proposes measures on cross-border health threats
Gozo News
To better protect Europeans from a wide range of health threats and provide for a fully coordinated response in the event of a crisis, the European Commission recently adopted a legislative proposal on the means to address serious cross border health threats. Building on lessons learned with recent crises such as the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, the volcanic ash cloud in 2010 and the outbreak of E. coli in 2011, the Commission is proposing to beef up the means to prepare for and to address such crises.More

ICEM 2012 abstract submission closing
International Conference on Emergency Medicine
The final deadline for submitting abstracts for the 14th International Conference on Emergency Medicine is closing Dec. 22. No abstract will be considered after the closing date. Please note that presenting authors whose abstracts are accepted MUST be paid registrants. Abstracts should be submitted online at www.icem2012.org.More

EPI issue No. 6 now available for free download
Emergency Physicians International
Log in to the EPI Online Network and read the sixth issue of Emergency Physicians International: The Africa Issue.

Featuring:

Pulmonary embolism: Still a challenging diagnosis
Emergency Physicians Monthly
One of the trickiest diagnoses in emergency medicine is pulmonary embolism. The problem is not a lack of information; the amount of literature on this topic is truly staggering. The problem with making the PE diagnosis is that ordering the definitive test, a CT pulmonary angiogram, is a big deal. It is very costly, there is a substantial amount of radiation (probably equivalent to about 500 chest X-rays) and IV contrast is required, which in some patients runs the risk of causing renal issues. So, emergency physicians are often in a quandary when it comes to making the diagnosis. More

Doctor uses iPad to reprogram implanted cardiac devices
MobiHealthNews
A Florida hospital has developed a system for wireless real-time monitoring and reprogramming of cardiac devices, including pacemakers and defibrillators, using an iPad. A doctor can suggest changes to a cardiac device's settings, then relay the information for a nurse in the hospital to execute using a touchscreen laptop. The apparent pitch: Save time and money by enabling specialty trained physicians to remotely program implanted cardiac devices.More

Report highlights Central African Republic's alarming mortality rates
The Guardian
Médecins Sans Frontières, the medical aid group, has called on donor governments and development agencies to take urgent action to bring down "frighteningly" high mortality rates in Central African Republic. Describing CAR as a forgotten crisis, in contrast to Afghanistan and Somalia, MSF said that the government and international donors have been cutting back on investments in health, while humanitarian assistance has failed to reduce the widespread medical crisis.More

Malaria deaths are down but progress remains fragile
World Health Organization
Malaria mortality rates have fallen by more than 25 percent globally since 2000, and by 33 percent in the World Health Organization African Region, according to the World malaria report 2011, issued by WHO. This is the result of a significant scaling-up of malaria prevention and control measures in the last decade, including the widespread use of bed nets, better diagnostics and a wider availability of effective medicines to treat malaria.More

Trick of the trade: Captain Morgan technique for hip dislocation
Academic Life in Emergency Medicine
Relocation of a hip joint is often quite a sight to see in the emergency department. A commonly taught technique is the Allis maneuver. It is often perceived as a bit precarious to have someone stand on the patient's bed. More

Haiti Disaster Relief and Development Conference
Haiti
Jan. 10-18

"Leveraging Disaster Response to Spur Ongoing Humanitarian Development"
This unique conference takes place on the ground in Haiti evaluating the relief efforts of the international community and seeking new ways of creating continuity between disaster response medicine with long term reconstruction and development.More

1st Global Network on Emergency Medicine Conference
Dubai
Jan. 13-17

The upcoming 1st Global Network on Emergency Medicine Conference will be held Jan. 13-17, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This conference is the first of what is hoped to be an annual event in the region. It is supported by the European Society for Emergency Medicine with international and regional societies and associations. This congress will target all medical professionals who deal with the complex nature of Emergency Medicine; those engaged in pre-hospital, in-hospital or inter-hospital emergency medical care and disaster planning; and those involved with the training of emergency physicians, nurses and technicians.More

The 2nd Israeli International Conference on Healthcare System Preparedness and Response to Emergencies and Disasters
Tel Aviv, Israel
Jan. 15-19

The Israeli Ministry of Health and the Home Front Command will be hosting the Second Israeli International Conference on Healthcare System Preparedness and Response to Emergencies and Disasters. The conference will provide a unique opportunity for professionals from around the world to share the latest findings and new experiences regarding health system readiness for disasters and emergencies of all types.More