How EM Experts Think

This week we feature Dr Reuben Strayer, who is speaking at EMCORE Singapore 15th – 17th April 2026.

Reuben Strayer is an emergency physician and addiction physician based in Brooklyn. He is the author of emupdates.com, a popular EM blog since 2007. He has accrued hundreds of invited regional, national, and international lectures over 20 years in his clinical areas of interest, which include airway management, analgesia, substance use disorders, procedural sedation, agitation, decision-making and error. His extra-clinical areas of interest include sweeping generalizations and jalapeño peppers. He lures himself out of bed with chocolate dipped in peanut butter before heading to Maimonides Medical Center, where he is happily employed.

 

This podcast from Emergency Medicine Cases (1) features Dr Reuben Strayer, Dr Scott Weingart and Dr Mike Betnzer.

This podcast covers:

1. Pre-shift Preparation and Arrival Ritual
2. Strategies for staying sharp on a shift
3. Strategies for managing cognitive load
4. Strategies for handling negative emotions on a shift
5. Resuscitation Mindset and Execution
6. Strategies for post resuscitation recovery

Listen to part of the podcast below and then go over to Emergency Medicine Cases and listen to Part 1 and Part 2.

Here is a summary from the emcases post:

Pre-Shift Preparation	“Arrive early, set up workspace systematically, use positive self-talk, visualize success.”
Managing Interruptions	“Use Post-it notes or EMR messaging; finish tasks before addressing interruptions.”
Managing Cognitive Load	“Sequential patient care; heuristics for common cases; schedule short 6–8 hour shifts.”
Managing Flow	“Start shifts early, make prompt decisions and commit to them, and document in real-time.”
Handling Negative Emotions	“Address physical needs, use mindfulness, reframe challenges, and implement positive self-talk.”
Resuscitation Prep	“Speak aloud to guide the team, invite input, and recap the situation; prioritize controlling patient physiology.
During Resuscitation	“Speak aloud to guide the team, invite input, and recap the situation; prioritize controlling patient physiology.”
Post-Resuscitation	“Rehydrate, debrief briefly, recalibrate with simpler cases, and practice gratitude for team success.”

 

References

1. Helman, A. Weingart, S. Betzner, M. Strayer, R. Episode 200 How EM Experts Think: Pre-Shift Preparation and Arrival Ritual, Staying Focused on Shift, Managing Interruptions, Managing Cognitive Load, Handling Negative Emotions, Resuscitation Mindset and Execution, Post-Resuscitation Recovery. Emergency Medicine Cases. December, 2024. https://emergencymedicinecases.com/how-the-em-experts-think-part-1. Accessed January 7, 2026

            

EMCORE Singapore 15-17 April     EMCORE Greece 1-4 June     EMCORE London 15-17 June