The central challenge for the emergency clinician is straightforward but difficult: rapidly identify and treat true cerebral ischemia while recognizing patients whose illnesses mimic stroke—and avoiding missed strokes that present atypically as “chameleons.”The presentation emphasizes practical bedside diagnosis, appropriate neuroimaging, posterior circulation ischemia, acute vestibular syndrome and HINTS+, and the safety of IV thrombolytic therapy […]
Lectures
Brain Biomarkers
This FERNE educational presentation examines the evolving role of brain biomarker testing in the evaluation of mTBI patients and its potential role in safely reducing unnecessary NCCT neuroimaging. The educational content reviews the GFAP and UCH-L1 biomarkers, including biomarker physiology, laboratory interpretation, diagnostic performance, and the clinical implications of false-negative biomarker results. The clinician will […]
ED Acute Ischemic Stroke, Mimic, and Chameleon Patient Care
Edward P. Sloan, MD, MPH, FACEP, is Professor Emeritus of Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago, Medical Director of the Physician Assistant Studies Program at Dominican University, and President and Board Chair of the Foundation for Education and Research in Neurological Emergencies (FERNE). This educational series is based on Dr. Sloan’s presentation on Emergency Department […]
The Care of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Patients in the Emergency and Primary Care Settings
These five FERNE clinical summaries provide a comprehensive update on the evaluation and management of emergency department patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), emphasizing the integration of clinical assessment, neuroimaging, and emerging diagnostic strategies. They examine the clinical role of the blood biomarkers GFAP and UCH-L1, including FDA-cleared applications, diagnostic performance, appropriate patient selection, limitations, confounding […]
Journal Club #3: MILD TBI PATIENT EVALUATION: BRAIN BIOMARKERS TESTING
This FERNE Journal Club addresses the specific issue of how brain biomarker lab testing can be used to enhance the emergency care of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) patients. This analysis of the optimal care of mTBI patients with possible concussion includes important clinical concepts regarding the potential use of brain biomarker labs. The discussion of brain […]
Journal Club #2: MILD TBI PATIENT EVALUATION: LAB BIOMARKERS / NEUROIMAGING
This FERNE Journal Club addresses the general issues related to the emergency care of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) patients. This analysis of the optimal care of mTBI patients with possible concussion includes important clinical concepts regarding use of the clinical exam, brain biomarkers, and neuroimaging. The discussion of optimal mTBI patient care includes the following: Use […]
Landmines of the Spine – ED Patient Care When Spine Illness Exists – MEMC 2025
Presenter: Joseph S. Colla, MD, MBA, FPD-AEMUS
Mechanical Rx 10 Years Later – ED Acute Ischemic Stroke Patient Care – MEMC 2025
Presenter: Christopher Lewandowski, MD
ED Migraine Headache Patient Rx – From Chaos to Clarity – MEMC 2025
Presenter: Heather M. Prendergast MD, MS
ED Intracranial Hemorrhage Patient Rx – Clinical Update – MEMC 2025
Presenter: Adam J Singer, MD