• Dr. Josyann Abisaab and ER News

    It seems that CT scans on kids in Emergency Rooms might be being over-used, according to a recent study in ‘Radiology.’ Figures show that the number has increased a staggering fivefold since 1995 and this has to “raise concerns about radiation exposure.”  The huge escalation can probably be explained by advancements in CT technology, but may not justify it.  The problem is exacerbated when some radiology departments are not “consistently tailor[ing] the CT technique to the child’s size.”  Physicians need to “ensure appropriate scanning indications to minimize pediatric radiation exposure.” Dr. Josyann Abisaab is an emergency room physician practicing at New York’s Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital.

  • Understanding Triage: Dr. Josyann Abisaab

    ER physicians like Dr. Josyann Abisaab know that people wonder why emergency rooms often don’t treat patients in the precise order in which they arrive. This due to the concept of triage. Triage is generally a patient’s first stop in the emergency department. It is the site where a member of the ER team, usually a nurse, evaluates the patient’s condition and assigns him to one of three categories: 1.       Imminently life-threatening 2.       Urgent, but not imminently life-threatening 3.       Less urgent As a result of triage, someone who arrives with a life-threatening condition can be seen immediately, even if he or she was not the first to arrive. Conversely, this means that…