Divisions

• Division of Clinical Trials

• Division of Emergency Critical Care

  Phil Andrus, M.D., and Scott Weingart, M.D., Directors
  E-mail: pandrus@bway.net and scott.weingart@mssm.edu
  The division of Emergency Critical Care provides a comprehensive approach to the evaluation and management of critically ill patients in the Emergency Department. Our mission is to ensure a continuum of quality care from the ED bedside to the Intensive Care Unit. To this end, we have sought to translate ICU technology and methodologies to critically ill patients in the Emergency Department. Division members have special interests in neuro-critical care, advanced hemodynamic monitoring, airway management, severe sepsis and early goal directed therapy.

• Division of Education

• Division of Emergency Ultrasound

  Bret P. Nelson, M.D., R.D.M.S., Director
  E-mail: bret.nelson@mountsinai.org
  The Ultrasound Division exists to promote the use of bedside ultrasound in the evaluation and management of patient in the emergency department. Using portable technology and goal-directed exams, assessment of basic cardiac function, abdominal pain, and thoracic disorders can be made at the bedside. Ultrasound is also widely employed to assist in bedside procedures such as central and peripheral venous access, paracentesis, abscess aspiration, and others. Emergency medicine residents undergo a dedicated bedside ultrasound rotation during their intern year, and a course is available for medical students as well. Current ultrasound research in the department focuses on pneumothorax detection, ectopic pregnancy evaluation, and assessment of deep vein thrombosis.

• Division of EMS and Disaster Management

• Division of Global Health

  Sigrid Hahn, M.D., Director
  E-mail: sigrid.hahn@mssm.edu
  The Emergency Department is part of the interdepartmental Global Health Center, which has the goal of using evidence-based solutions to improve the delivery of medical care for the underserved worldwide. Emergency medicine residents can enter the Global Health Residency Track during their third year, participating in monthly seminars which focus on a range of global health topics. During their fourth year, selected residents participate in an intensive two week training session to review important skills needed for effective field projects and research, followed by an elective at a "partner site" where they implement or participate in a project of their choice. Current research in the department focuses on injury surveillance.

• Division of Informatics

• Division of Neurologic Emergencies

  Andy Jagoda, M.D., and John Bruns, Jr., M.D., Directors
  E-mail: andy.jagoda@mountsinai.org  and john.bruns@mountsinai.org
  The Neurological Emergencies Division exists to enhance patient care, education, and research in traumatic brain injury, stroke, epilepsy, and other acute neurological emergencies. Mount Sinai was one of the first hospitals in New York City to be designated by JCAHO as a stroke center, and patient care is enhanced by close relationships among the emergency medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, and radiology departments. A long tradition of stroke research exists within the emergency department. Prior research endeavors have included community education and outreach on acute stroke and a software-based stroke assessment and management tool for clinicians (Handistroke, available at www.ferne.org). Sinai faculty have served in leadership positions and conducted research with support from the Foundation for Education and Research in Neurological Emergencies (FERNE). Current projects include the development of clinical protocols for status epilepticus management and central nervous system hemorrhage and the development of a multi-center data registry on traumatic brain injury.

• Division of Observation Medicine

• Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine

  Karin Sadow, M.D., Director; Ari Cohen, M.D., Associate Director
  E-mail: karin.sadow@muntsinai.org and ari.cohen@mountsinai.org
  The Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine has six full time BC/BE Pediatric Emergency Medicine faculty dedicated to the care of children. We have an established ACGME-accredited three year pediatric emergency medicine fellowship program. Our annual census is 25,000 with a 10 percent admission rate. The division is fully integrated within our successful emergency medicine department, with strong ties to the department of pediatrics. We provide didactic and bedside teaching of pediatric emergency medicine to both the pediatric and emergency medicine residents. Some of our current research projects include the treatment of pediatric anaphylaxis, the use of positive airway pressure for patients with asthma, and the use of simulation to augment resident education.

• Division of Research

• Division of Simulation

  Yasuharu Okuda, M.D., Director
  E-mail: yasuharu.okuda@mssm.edu
  The mission of the Division of Simulation is to provide realistic patient encounters in a risk free environment to enhance emergency medicine resident, medical student, physician assistant, and nursing education. The simulations are performed the HELPS center (Human Emulation, Education and Evaluation Lab for Patient Safety and Professional Study) occupying 1,600 square feet of space with two video linked conference rooms and two fully functional simulation rooms with adult, pediatric, and infant simulators in the Anesthesia department. The emergency medicine residents participate in monthly simulation conferences in case based format followed by a debriefing and evidence based didactic session. Emphasis is placed on team building skills, leadership and communication, procedural competency, and medical management. Simulation is also built into the mandatory fourth year medical student sub-internship in emergency medicine to allow students the opportunity to manage acute medical and trauma resuscitations on their own. Current simulation research in the department includes the areas of pediatric simulation and resuscitation and the development of resident assessment tools. The division has also begun a senior resident specialty track in simulation and education for residents interested in a career in education.

• Division of Toxicology

  Ruben Olmedo, M.D., Director
  E-mail: ruben.olmedo@mountsinai.org
  The Toxicology Division is well integrated to patient care, physician education, and hospital administration. The division provides bedside consultation service, offering care for a wide scope of clinical poisonings including drug overdoses, drug interactions, toxic environmental exposures and envenomations. The division is invested in education and research projects that advance toxicology and emergency medicine internationally and has participated in several conferences in Latin America as a representative of the Mount Sinai program. The division has been recognized by the residency with three teaching awards in the past 5 years for its bedside teaching and its comprehensive lecture series. As part of the Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee, the division works with the rest of the hospital to select its formulary and to limit pharmaceutical errors. The division works closely with the NYPCC and participates in their monthly Consultants’ Conference and their annual Intensive Review Course every March. In collaboration with the NYPCC, the division is studying differences in clinical management of the poisoned patient amongst different medical specialties. Other research interests include innovative treatment approaches to alcohol withdrawal and the prophylactic treatment to prevent post traumatic stress syndrome.