A Safer Opioid? Buprenorphine for Acute Pain in the ED

Buprenorphine is well-known for opioid use disorder—but what about for acute pain? Drs. Terry Ahern and Jon Lee join host Maiya Smith to discuss low-dose buprenorphine for pain management in the emergency room, covering pharmacology, dosing, patient selection, and why it may be a safer, underused analgesic.  

One talk with Dr. Fred Kency, and you will appreciate not only a strong work ethic, but also ingenuity and a passion for all aspects of the field of medicine. Join EMRA*Cast host Dr. D'Monte "TP" Farley for a stimulating conversation on ways to stay inspired and motivated in your career.  Publisher's note: This conversation was recorded at the ACEP Leadership and Advocacy Conference 2025, where emergency medicine visits Capitol Hill en masse to advocate for patients and practitioners. The EMRA Representative Council will hold its Spring Representative Council meeting in conjunction with LAC in April 2026.

In this episode of EMRA*Cast's "Bridging Health and Humanity," host Natalie Hernandez interviews Dr. Jailyn Avila about the importance of gender-affirming care in the emergency department. Dr. Avila highlights the significant health disparities and challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ patients, including a reluctance to seek care in the ED due to fear of discrimination and past negative experiences. The conversation covers the critical aspect of treating trans patients with the same respect and care as cis patients, avoiding irrelevant medical questions, and implementing small changes in practice to create a supportive environment. Dr. Avila shares personal experiences as a transgender woman, emphasizes the necessity of advocacy, and provides actionable steps for clinicians to improve the care and trust of LGBTQIA+ patients. The episode also addresses the impact of recent restrictive policies on the health care of trans individuals and calls for education, advocacy, and systemic change to support this vulnerable population.

Whether you're days from becoming an attending or just trying to figure out how to get a BP on a pulseless patient, this episode will help you go from fear to confidence in managing LVADs in the emergency department. Join EMRA*Cast host Dr. Maiya Smith and guest Dr. Anna Ciullo as they review how to assess perfusion, manage complications, and decide on CPR. From pump thrombosis to GI bleeds, we help you stay calm and take control.

Laceration repair is not uncommon in the emergency department. In this episode, we get some expert tips for emergency physicians from a plastic surgery colleague. Join Dr. Kimberly Fiscella of Albany Medical Center and host Dr. Blythe Fiscella of ChristianaCare to pick up some essential pearls on suturing and skin/soft tissue injury management in the ER.

In this EMRACast episode, hosts Lauren Rosenfeld and D'Monte Farley sit down with Dr. Mel Herbert, emergency physician, educator, and writer/medical consultant for The Pitt, the hit TV drama inspired by life in the emergency department.

The emergency department offers critical access to health care in our broken system. An important skillset of the modern emergency medicine physician is a set of low-risk, low-time commitment, high-benefit interventions for the management of chronic diseases. In this episode, we discuss the diagnosis and management of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, asthma, alcohol use disorder, and tobacco use disorder from the emergency department.

Career-switching into medicine as a second profession might not be typical, but it's not out of reach - just ask Dr. Rob Lowe, an aerospace engineer for 6+ years before trading in his flight simulator for a stethoscope. Dr. Lowe joins the show to detail his previous experiences, discuss commonalities between engineering and emergency medicine, and ultimately inspire any career-changers to keep pushing forward. 

In this episode of "Bridging Health and Humanity," hosted by Dr. Natalie Hernandez, the focus is on the effects of current immigration policies and enforcement tactics on the health of vulnerable communities. The discussion features Dr. Rose Diaz and Dr. Sarah Lopez, both advocates for immigrant health, who share their insights on changes in immigration policy, including the revocation of "sensitive location" protections and adjustments to the public charge rule. They delve into the broader impact of these policies on patient trust and public health, including delayed care and increased health care costs. The segment also explores how health care teams can support immigrant communities through advocacy, education, and understanding legal protections. The episode concludes with hopeful reflections and practical advice for medical professionals committed to supporting these marginalized populations.  

July is the most exciting time of the year in the hospital - especially in the Emergency Department, when all of the new interns show up! Get 12 pieces of advice for interns reporting for their first shifts, courtesy of EMRA*Cast host Blythe Fiscella, MD, and guests Andrew Toron, MD (chief resident), Brielle Grote, DO, and Emerson Trimble, DO.