"Clinical Pearls" is a section of Academic Emergency Medicine that uses photographic images to provide visual clues for a case study presented as an unknown. Visual clinical findings make up a large part of the practice of Emergency Medicine. "Capturing" these findings allow clinicians to share their experience and knowledge with others making clinical photographs an excellent teaching tool. This section intends to stimulate academic emergency physicians to use clinical photography for augmenting their teaching of emergency medicine.
Each issue of Academic Emergency Medicine contains a case presentation with accompanying clinical photograph. Radiographs and other supporting data (ECGs, pathology specimens, gram stains, etc.) are acceptable if they accompany a clinical photograph. A series of clinical photographs to demonstrate a progressive disease process is acceptable.
The most original image available (slide, negative, or photograph) and two 5 by 7 inch color prints should accompany the manuscript. The original image will be returned. Arrows, symbols, or labels identifying structures should be marked on the second print if necessary. Each print and slide should be labeled with the last name(s) of the contributors and an arrow indicating the top of the image.
Manuscript preparation should follow the general "instructions for authors" found in AEM. Format of the section follows this general scheme: Title (usually the chief complaint of the patient), chief complaint, history of present illness, physical examination and laboratory, diagnosis , discussion, clinical pearls (3-5 "take-home" points of the case), and references.
Contributors must provide the names, highest academic degrees, addresses, phone and fax numbers of the photographer and all contributors. Acknowledgment of manuscript and photograph acceptance will be made in writing to the contributor.
The section editor will have the photograph "critiqued" by a professional medical photographer to provide suggestions for improving photographic technique. The critique will become part of the published manuscript.
By submitting to the "Clinical Pearls," the contributor allows the section editor to distribute the case and image to all Emergency Medicine Residency Programs in the United States as part of a pre journal mail-out. This activity allows programs to preview the case in didactic situations to enhance the learning from the case.
It is the responsibility of the contributor to obtain consent for use of the photograph in a publication if the patient is in any way identifiable.
Send images and manuscripts to Lawrence B. Stack, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-6200. For information or questions please call 210-916-6016 or fax 210-916-6542. Internet address is Larrystack@aol.com.
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