Day on Torts
Part of the case evaluation process is a review of appropriate literature. A literature review is not enough – you still need as expert to testify that the protocols set forth in any given piece of literature represent the standard of care. But the existence of literature on point can help you persuade experts to testify and, indeed, can even help you identity experts (by contacting the authors).
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEC) has issued a list of documents which "describe the College’s policies on the clinical management of presenting symptoms, specific illnesses or injuries." The ACEC’s Clinical Policies Committee drafts each protocol and and each protocol is approved by the ACEP Board.
Here is the list:
Syncope
Clinical Policy: Critical Issues in the Evaluation and Management of Adult Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Syncope
Acute Heart Failure Syndromes
Clinical Policy: Critical Issues in the Evaluation and Management of Adult Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Acute Heart Failure Syndromes
Acute Myocardial Infarction – Reperfusion Therapy
Clinical Policy: Indications for Reperfusion Therapy in Emergency Department Patients with Suspected AMI
NSTE Acute Coronary Syndromes
Clinical Policy: Critical Issues in the Evaluation and Management of Adult Patients with Non-STSegment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes
Asymptomatic Hypertension
Clinical Policy: Critical Issues in the Evaluation and Management of Adult Patients with Asymptomatic Hypertension in the Emergency Department
Psychiatric Patient
Clinical Policy: Critical Issues in the Diagnosis and Management of the Adult Psychiatric Patient in the Emergency Department
Procedural Sedation and Analgesia
Clinical Policy: Procedural Sedation and Analgesia in the Emergency Department
Pediatric Sedation and Analgesia – Pharmacologic Agents
Clinical Policy: Evidence-Based Approach to Pharmacologic Agents Used in Pediatric Sedation and Analgesia in the Emergency Department
Seizure
Clinical Policy: Critical Issues in the Evaluation and Management of Adult Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Seizures
Blunt Abdominal Trauma
Clinical Policy: Critical Issues in the Evaluation of Adult Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Acute Blunt Abdominal Trauma
Fever – Children Younger than 3 Years
Clinical Policy for Children Younger Than Three Years Presenting to the Emergency Department With Fever
Lower Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis
Clinical Policy: Critical Issues in the Evaluation and Management of Adult Patients Presenting With Suspected Lower-Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis
Pulmonary Embolism
Clinical Policy: Critical Issues in the Evaluation and Management of Adult Patients Presenting With Suspected Pulmonary Embolism
Early Pregnancy
Critical Issues in the Initial Evaluation and Management of Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department in Early Pregnancy
Neuroimaging – Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Clinical Policy: Neuroimaging and Decisionmaking in Adult Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the Acute Setting
Headache
Critical Issues in the Evaluation and Management of Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Acute Headache
Community-acquired Pneumonia
Clinical Policy for the Management and Risk Stratification of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adults in the Emergency Department
Abdominal Pain
Clinical Policy: Critical Issues for the Initial Evaluation and Management of Patients Presenting With a Chief Complaint of Nontraumatic Acute Abdominal Pain
Neuroimaging – Seizure
Practice Parameter: Neuroimaging in the Emergency Patient Presenting With Seizure (Summary Statement)
Find all of these documents here.