The winter season has brought back some of the regular ED volumes in South Florida. We all continue to adapt not only to the usual seasonal fluctuation, but to the extra factor of ED crowding amidst the COVID-19 pandemic this year as well.

Here at St. Lucie, we are very excited to have two brand new ultrasound machines. These will help us further improve our current ultrasound curriculum with clearer images, the ability to print, power doppler mode, and auto-calculations for cardiac output and IVC volumes. That’s not the only new technology in the department: we are also fortunate enough to have received a C-MAC videolaryngoscope, which will assist all levels of training with airway management. The C-MAC allows residents to intubate via direct laryngoscopy while the attending can visualize simultaneously via video.

Despite everything being virtual, we have still been able to keep up with some of our research opportunities. Three residents presented their cases at the virtual HCA NSU research day in November. Drs. Drechsler, Tran and Daniel presented on “Cocaine Induced Celiac Artery Dissection,” “Secondary Spontaneous Pneumothorax in setting of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis,” and “Pulmonary Embolism: A Mimicker of Asthma,” respectively.

We hope to continue our in-person simulation labs soon, as well as poster competitions and conferences when conditions allow again. In the meantime, we will continue to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible. ■