Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health

Learning Objectives: 1. Create content that varies in teaching format and requires active engagement by a small group of residents for six twenty-minute sessions 2. Teach a variety of environmental disaster medicine topics and their subsequent workup and management

Introduction: We present an Innovative Teaching Format (ITF) focusing on Environmental Emergencies developed during our 2021-2022 academic year at Orlando Health Emergency Medicine Residency Program, an ACGME accredited, Level 1 trauma center. The curriculum was introduced to PGY1-3 residents. Resident assessments were provided pre- and post- ITF.

Curricular Design: ITF: Environmental Emergencies is designed to review six environmental medicine categories, each the focus of 20-minute small group learning sessions. Topics include snake envenomation, altitude sickness, dysbarism, lightning strike, marine envenomation, and hypothermia. Stations are designed with intent to be engaging and require active participation, as well as vary in teaching style and format. Formats included SIM sessions, virtual hiking expeditions and toxic animal encounters, tabletop discussions, and oral boards cases. Seven staff members are required for this curriculum: six expert educators for stations, and one coordinator. Pre- and post- test assessments were given to residents with a total of 18 objective content questions and a subjective self- assessment. Google Forms via a QR code was utilized for pre- and post- test assessments.

Impact: We recorded 29 resident responses to our pre-test and 26 responses to the post-test. Average number of correct answers on the pre-test were 3.66/9 compared to 5.23/9 on the post-test. On a numbered scale from 1-10, residents initially reported confidence levels of 5/10 in knowledge, diagnosis, and treatment of environmental emergencies. Residents reported improvement of all categories on the post-test with a response of 7, 8, and 8 respectively. Although the ITF curriculum requires substantial preparation and many involved staff, these findings suggest those investments are worthwhile. Conclusion: Innovative Teaching Format: Environmental Emergencies is an enriching way to teach residents varying environmental emergency topics.