So you head down to the ER to see that possible appendicitis your attending told you about. You have to figure out where in the ER your patient is located first....

The overall flow of seeing a consult in the ED includes:

1. Locating the patient - check the central core computers for any patients awaiting consult by your service or attending physician and note their bed number.

2. Now that your know their bed number, find the patient chart and speak with their nurse - there are slots according to bed number which contain their chart (ER note, medications, other interventions, etc.).

3. Check in with the ER doctor who saw this patient initially. Let them know you are here to do the consult. They will usually tell you why they've consulted your service.

4. Review any labs and/or imaging on the computer - use any of the computers on the peripheral corners of the ER core. The rest are usually in use, or will soon be in use by other staff.

You meet the patient, perform your consult (history, physical and review of what investigations have been done) and prepare yourself to present your diagnosis and plan to the preceptor.

For a full review of relevant areas of the ER- follow this link

Now that you've seen your patient in the ED, you decide to: