The Situation Room(s) with Dr. James "Big Jim" Neuenschwander

·26 min·2 clips

How does a simple 10-question survey before and after a case discussion prove that small-group learning sticks for 30 days?

The episode begins with host Dr. Ryan Stanton introducing guest Dr. James Neuenschwander, who is wearing an Ohio State jersey to celebrate a recent win. They briefly banter about college football before shifting to the main topic: the Situation Room. Dr. Neuenschwander describes it as an evolution of focus groups from the Emergencies in Medicine conference, designed for case-based learning with teaching pearls. A key feature is administering a 10-question survey before the session, immediately after, and 30 days later to gauge knowledge retention. Results show that even participants with low initial knowledge gain and retain information effectively. The discussion explores how this method applies to attending physicians, whose continuing education often lags behind current evidence. Dr. Neuenschwander shares that Situation Rooms include diverse participants like cardiologists, internists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and even an OB-GYN, providing unique insights such as birth control management post-blood clot. International perspectives are highlighted, with Canadian practitioners noting they often send VTE patients home for primary care follow-up, unlike some U.S. settings where admission is more common due to access issues. The conversation emphasizes that practice variations depend more on location and resources than the disease itself. Dr. Neuenschwander mentions involving lab professionals to understand testing limitations, like space constraints for new equipment. The name 'Situation Room' is inspired by Kennedy's approach, and it's also humorously called 'the woodshed.' Over time, these sessions have evolved to address practical challenges, such as follow-up access for discharged patients. An example is a young construction worker with a family history of clots who couldn't get a follow-up appointment for 35 days, leading to initiatives for virtual visits within two weeks. Collaboration with anticoagulant manufacturers helped provide 30-day free medication cards, though hospital firewalls and reduced sales forces now pose barriers. The episode also includes a tangential anecdote about betting on horse races based on which horse poops last, tied to a shared experience at the Kentucky Derby. In closing, Dr. Neuenschwander encourages listeners to join Situation Rooms at conferences or virtually, stressing the need for full attention during the 75-minute sessions. Contact information is shared, and the episode ends with the Ohio State fight song as a playful nod to the opening banter.

As heard by us

A grounded emergency medicine conversation about turning cross-specialty insight into better follow-up.

The episode uses the idea of a "situation room" to frame emergency medicine as a place where specialties can compare pressures and turn shared lessons into better practice.

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Why you'd press play

You will hear how a red, swollen leg, missing follow-up, and a situation room sharpen decisions about VTEs.

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