Editor’s Letter

Passing the baton into able hands
–

Over the past fifteen years as the editor-in-chief of Emergency Physicians Monthly, I have seen this publication grow into a one-of-a-kind national publication, a truly democratic discussion between working docs in the trenches. But now it’s time for me to take a leave of absence. It is my pleasure to introduce the new editor-in-chief, Dr. Kevin Klauer. I hope Kevin will forgive me, but I feel a little like a teacher who is leaving a favorite class in the hands of a substitute for the first time. I have the urge to give endless lists of instructions as if the substitute knows nothing about teaching. But the truth of the matter is that this ‘substitute’ is an experienced teacher. Dr. Klauer is a nationally-recognized emergency medicine educator with an excellent feel for the pulse of our specialty. His training and experience have more than equipped him to moderate this national dialogue. This next year will present many challenges to our specialty as we attempt to increase the quality of care to our patients in an environment of rising expectations and shrinking resources. Not to mention that all this must happen while, in our personal lives, we wage battle against sleep deprivation and the mortgage crisis. That’s why EPM has always sought to address the personal as well as the professional aspects of the lives of emergency physicians. As a reader, I hope you will join Dr. Klauer in this continuing discussion. As for me, I’ll continue to read and contribute when I can while on a little ‘vacation in the sand’.

Mark Plaster will be spending his leave of absence serving with the Marine Corps somewhere in Iraq. He will continue to contribute to Night Shift as time allows.

Merging knowledge with experience
-Kevin Klauer, DO

After fifteen years, Mark certainly is taking a well-deserved “vacation.” Unfortunately, when most of us think of “fun and sun,” a desert in the Middle East is not what comes to mind. Although I hate to see Mark get re-deployed, he and I agree that his sabbatical in the sandbox provides Emergency Physicians Monthly (EPM) an opportunity to grow and refocus with a fresh set of eyes and new direction. This transition will be seamless with the exception of a renewed emphasis on providing our readership with timely information on the clinical practice of emergency medicine, lifestyle and well-being issues, as well as management and operational suggestions designed to make your job easier. From my perspective, it is much harder to practice our specialty than it has ever been before. Despite the fact that patient volumes are increasing, regulatory requirements are out of control and our reimbursement is at risk. Like it or not, the current mantra is “More work for the same or less money.” Regardless of our current challenges, the practice of emergency medicine is, and should be, both rewarding and fulfilling. Our goal is to help you to be a better emergency physician this month than you were last month, staying ahead of the curve on these difficult issues. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and if it’s a train, we’ll be the first to get you off the tracks.

We know you have choices. What you don’t have is time! When you are deciding where to go for the quick read, we want your choice to be Emergency Physicians Monthly. EPM’s content comes directly from the experiences of practicing emergency physicians, including your Editor-In-Chief. Our goal is to focus on issues facing today’s emergency physicians, providing real world solutions. This is a claim that most emergency medicine publications just can’t make.

Are you a clinician or a scientist? No need to make a choice. Today’s emergency physicians need to be both, finding quick answers to the right questions.  No need to spend your afternoon in the library or on Pub med. With every scientific/clinical article we publish, we will include relevant citations for you to review. Our web site will provide a hotlink to such articles, so that in a matter of minutes, you can stand toe to toe with the experts on any given topic.

I may have an unusual perspective. However, this isn’t our publication. It’s yours. What we publish must be relevant and useful to you or we need not waste everyone’s time. I encourage and solicit your input. Let us know what issues are impacting you most and that is exactly what you’ll be reading about.

I look forward to serving you, in Mark’s absence, and hope to return EPM to him with an invigorated sense of purpose and commitment, guided by the compass of today’s practicing emergency physician. 

Kevin Klauer is the director of Quality and Clinical Education for Emergency Medicine Physicians, Ltd. (EMP) and the director for the Center for Emergency Medicine Education (CEME). As a nationally-known speaker and the recipient of such awards as ACEP’s National Faculty Teaching Award and the EMRA Robert J. Dougherty Teaching Fellowship Award, Kevin is a proven educator. He is the current Finance Committee Chairperson for national ACEP and former Ohio Chapter ACEP President. Kevin was the Academic Chief Resident at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, and has been practicing Emergency Medicine since 1996.

Have a question for new EPM editor-in-chief Kevin Klauer?
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