An Advanced Cardiac Life Support Application Improves Performance during Simulated Cardiac Arrest.

OBJECTIVES: Variability in cardiopulmonary arrest training and management leads to inconsistent outcomes during in-hospital cardiac arrest. Existing clinical decision aids, such as American Heart Association (AHA) advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) pocket cards and third-party mobile apps, often lack comprehensive management guidance. We developed a novel, guided ACLS mobile app and evaluated user performance during simulated cardiac arrest according to the 2020 AHA ACLS guidelines via randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Forty-six resident physicians were randomized to lead a simulated code team using the AHA pockets cards (N = 22) or the guided app (N = 24). The primary outcome was successful return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Secondary outcomes included code leader stress and confidence, AHA ACLS guideline adherence, and errors. A focus group of 22 residents provided feedback. Statistical analysis included two-sided t-tests and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: App users showed significantly higher ROSC rate (50 vs. 18%; p = 0.024), correct thrombolytic administration (54 vs. 23%; p = 0.029), backboard use (96 vs. 27%; p < 0.001), end-tidal CO2 monitoring (58 vs. 27%; p = 0.033), and confidence compared with baseline (1.0 vs 0.3; p = 0.005) compared with controls. A focus group of 22 residents indicated unanimous willingness to use the app, with 82% preferring it over AHA pocket cards. CONCLUSION: Our guided ACLS app shows potential to improve user confidence and adherence to the AHA ACLS guidelines and may help to standardize in-hospital cardiac arrest management. Further validation studies are essential to confirm its efficacy in clinical practice.

The Role of Large Language Models in Transforming Emergency Medicine: Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI), more specifically large language models (LLMs), holds significant potential in revolutionizing emergency care delivery by optimizing clinical workflows and enhancing the quality of decision-making. Although enthusiasm for integrating LLMs into emergency medicine (EM) is growing, the existing literature is characterized by a disparate collection of individual studies, conceptual analyses, and preliminary implementations. Given these complexities and gaps in understanding, a cohesive framework is needed to comprehend the existing body of knowledge on the application of LLMs in EM. OBJECTIVE: Given the absence of a comprehensive framework for exploring the roles of LLMs in EM, this scoping review aims to systematically map the existing literature on LLMs' potential applications within EM and identify directions for future research. Addressing this gap will allow for informed advancements in the field. METHODS: Using PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) criteria, we searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for papers published between January 2018 and August 2023 that discussed LLMs' use in EM. We excluded other forms of AI. A total of 1994 unique titles and abstracts were screened, and each full-text paper was independently reviewed by 2 authors. Data were abstracted independently, and 5 authors performed a collaborative quantitative and qualitative synthesis of the data. RESULTS: A total of 43 papers were included. Studies were predominantly from 2022 to 2023 and conducted in the United States and China. We uncovered four major themes: (1) clinical decision-making and support was highlighted as a pivotal area, with LLMs playing a substantial role in enhancing patient care, notably through their application in real-time triage, allowing early recognition of patient urgency; (2) efficiency, workflow, and information management demonstrated the capacity of LLMs to significantly boost operational efficiency, particularly through the automation of patient record synthesis, which could reduce administrative burden and enhance patient-centric care; (3) risks, ethics, and transparency were identified as areas of concern, especially regarding the reliability of LLMs' outputs, and specific studies highlighted the challenges of ensuring unbiased decision-making amidst potentially flawed training data sets, stressing the importance of thorough validation and ethical oversight; and (4) education and communication possibilities included LLMs' capacity to enrich medical training, such as through using simulated patient interactions that enhance communication skills. CONCLUSIONS: LLMs have the potential to fundamentally transform EM, enhancing clinical decision-making, optimizing workflows, and improving patient outcomes. This review sets the stage for future advancements by identifying key research areas: prospective validation of LLM applications, establishing standards for responsible use, understanding provider and patient perceptions, and improving physicians' AI literacy. Effective integration of LLMs into EM will require collaborative efforts and thorough evaluation to ensure these technologies can be safely and effectively applied.

Serum D-2-hydroxyglutarate and the ratio of D-2HG/L-2HG predict IDH mutation in acute myeloid leukemia.

This study investigates whether serum D-2HG (D-2-hydroxyglutarate) produced by the mutated isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) can predict IDH mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at diagnosis. D-2HG and L-2HG are measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. D-2HG, total 2HG and the D/L ratio (D-2HG/L-2HG) are significantly higher in IDH mutated cases than in IDH wild cases. The optimal cutoff values to predict IDH mutations at 100% sensitivity (specificity 91%-94%) are >588 ng/mL for D-2HG and >2.33 for the D/L ratio. Our study indicates that elevated serum D-2HG and the D/L ratio may serve as noninvasive biomarkers of IDH mutation in AML.

Adult mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL): B/myeloid MPALisoMPO is distinct from other MPAL subtypes.

INTRODUCTION: Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is considered a specific marker of myeloid/non-monocytic lineage in the diagnosis of mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL). However, the clinical significance of isolated dim MPO expression in otherwise typical B lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL; referred to as B/myeloid MPALisoMPO ) in adult patients is unknown. METHODS: We compared flow cytometric immunophenotype and clinicopathological findings among cases of B/myeloid MPALisoMPO (n = 13), other MPAL subtypes (n = 10, B/myeloid and T/myeloid MPAL), B-ALL (n = 64), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML, n = 58), using the 2016 WHO classification. For MPAL cases, MPO was reported as the percent of MPO positive blasts and its intensity (dim or moderate/strong). The pattern of heterogenous antigen expression (inversely coordinated expression between myeloid and lymphoid markers and cell size) was assessed. RESULTS: Cases of B/myeloid MPALisoMPO showed a fairly homogenous single B-lineage blast population with dim MPO expression whereas cases of other MPAL subtypes displayed heterogeneous antigen expression and moderate/strong MPO expression. The percent of MPO positive blasts in these two groups was similar. Expressions of CD15, CD117, and monocytic markers were more common in other MPAL than in B/myeloid MPALisoMPO . B/myeloid MPALisoMPO patients had similar overall and leukemia free survivals as B-ALL patients and better than other MPAL patients. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to investigate the clinical significance of adult B/myeloid MPALisoMPO using the 2016 WHO classification. Our results suggest that B/myeloid MPALisoMPO clinically behaves more similarly to B-ALL than to other MPAL subtypes, supporting the 2016 WHO classification to segregate this entity from other MPAL subtypes.

Reengineering the specificity of the highly selective Clostridium botulinum protease via directed evolution.

The botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) cuts a single peptide bond in SNAP25, an activity used to treat a wide range of diseases. Reengineering the substrate specificity of BoNT/A's protease domain (LC/A) could expand its therapeutic applications; however, LC/A's extended substrate recognition (≈ 60 residues) challenges conventional approaches. We report a directed evolution method for retargeting LC/A and retaining its exquisite specificity. The resultant eight-mutation LC/A (omLC/A) has improved cleavage specificity and catalytic efficiency (1300- and 120-fold, respectively) for SNAP23 versus SNAP25 compared to a previously reported LC/A variant. Importantly, the BoNT/A holotoxin equipped with omLC/A retains its ability to form full-length holotoxin, infiltrate neurons, and cleave SNAP23. The identification of substrate control loops outside BoNT/A's active site could guide the design of improved BoNT proteases and inhibitors.

Regulation of PGC1α Downstream of the Insulin Signaling Pathway Plays a Role in the Hepatic Proteotoxicity of Mutant α1-Antitrypsin Deficiency Variant Z.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Insulin signaling is known to regulate essential proteostasis mechanisms. METHODS: The analyses here examined effects of insulin signaling in the PiZ mouse model of α1-antitrypsin deficiency in which hepatocellular accumulation and proteotoxicity of the misfolded α1-antitrypsin Z variant (ATZ) causes liver fibrosis and cancer. RESULTS: We first studied the effects of breeding PiZ mice to liver-insulin-receptor knockout (LIRKO) mice (with hepatocyte-specific insulin-receptor gene disruption). The results showed decreased hepatic ATZ accumulation and liver fibrosis in PiZ x LIRKO vs PiZ mice, with reversal of those effects when we bred PiZ x LIRKO mice onto a FOXO1-deficient background. Increased intracellular degradation of ATZ mediated by autophagy was identified as the likely mechanism for diminished hepatic proteotoxicity in PiZ x LIRKO mice and the converse was responsible for enhanced toxicity in PiZ x LIRKO x FOXO1-KO animals. Transcriptomic studies showed major effects on oxidative phosphorylation and autophagy genes, and significant induction of peroxisome proliferator-activated-receptor-γ-coactivator-1α (PGC1α) expression in PiZ-LIRKO mice. Because PGC1α plays a key role in oxidative phosphorylation, we further investigated its effects on ATZ proteostasis in our ATZ-expressing mammalian cell model. The results showed PGC1α overexpression or activation enhances autophagic ATZ degradation. CONCLUSIONS: These data implicate suppression of autophagic ATZ degradation by down-regulation of PGC1α as one mechanism by which insulin signaling exacerbates hepatic proteotoxicity in PiZ mice, and identify PGC1α as a novel target for development of new human α1-antitrypsin deficiency liver disease therapies.

Seeds in the Lungs: A Pseudo-Miliary Pattern of Sarcoidosis.

We present a 26-year-old African-American gentleman with no significant past medical history who presented with a three-day history of dry cough. Computerized tomography of the chest showed scattered infiltrates consistent with a pseudo-miliary pattern. A transbronchial biopsy showed non-caseating granulomas confirming our suspicion for pulmonary sarcoidosis. Miliary sarcoidosis is rare; therefore, health care providers should consider other diagnoses such as tuberculosis, malignancy, and pneumoconiosis.

Multidisciplinary Care for Refractory Pediatric Functional Abdominal Pain Decreases Emergency and Inpatient Utilization.

ABSTRACT: Children with refractory functional abdominal pain (FAP) experience functional disability and may utilize emergency department (ED) and/or inpatient services. Whether multidisciplinary programs which help care for children with refractory FAP affect acute healthcare utilization is unknown. A retrospective chart review of children initially evaluated by the outpatient Multidisciplinary Abdominal Pain Program (MAPP) from October 2016 to May 2019 was completed. Patient characteristics and number of ED visits and hospitalizations for abdominal pain in the year prior to versus year after MAPP evaluation were captured. Thirty-eight children (ages 9-17 years [median 13 years]) were included. The median number of ED visits/patient/year decreased from 1 (range: 0-7) to 0 (range: 0-3) (P < 0.0001). Seven (18%) children had been hospitalized and, in these children, the median number of hospitalizations/patient/year decreased from 1 (range: 1-5) to 0 (range: 0-1) (P < 0.05). These data suggest multidisciplinary outpatient intervention for refractory FAP is associated with significant decreases in acute healthcare utilization.

Mobile app helps trainees manage emergencies at the bedside.

BACKGROUND: Although emergency departments (ED) have standardized guidelines for low-frequency, high-acuity diagnoses, they are not immediately accessible at the bedside, and this can cause anxiety in trainees and delay patient care. This problem is exacerbated during events like COVID-19 that require the rapid creation, iteration, and dissemination of new guidelines. METHODS: Physician innovators used design thinking principles to develop EM Protocols (EMP), a mobile application that clinicians can use to immediately view guidelines, contact consultants (e.g., cath lab activation), and access code-running tools. The project became an institutional high priority, because it helps EM trainees and off-service rotators manage low-frequency, high-acuity emergencies at the point of care, and its COVID-19 guidelines can be rapidly updated and disseminated in real time. RESULTS: This intervention was deployed across two academic medical centers during the COVID-19 surge. Nearly 300 ED clinicians have downloaded EMP, and they have interacted with the app over 5,400 times. It continues to be used regularly, over 12 months after the initial surge. Since the app was received positively, there are efforts to build in additional adult and pediatric guidelines. DISCUSSION: Digital health tools like EMP can serve as invaluable adjuncts for managing acute, life-threatening emergencies at the point of care. They can benefit trainees during normal day-to-day operations as well as scenarios that cause large-scale operational disruptions, such as natural disasters, mass casualty events, and future pandemics.

STAT: Mobile app helps clinicians manage inpatient emergencies.

In response to the unprecedented surge of patients with COVID-19, Massachusetts General Hospital created both repurposed and de-novo COVID-19 inpatient general medicine and intensive care units. The clinicians staffing these new services included those who typically worked in these care settings (e.g., medicine residents, hospitalists, intensivists), as well as others who typically practice in other care environments (e.g., re-deployed outpatient internists, medical subspecialists, and other physician specialties). These surge clinicians did not have extensive experience managing low frequency, high acuity emergencies, such as those that might result from COVID-19. Physician-innovators, in collaboration with key hospital stakeholders, developed a comprehensive strategy to design, develop, and distribute a digital health solution to address this problem. MGH STAT is an intuitive mobile application that empowers clinicians to respond to medical emergencies by providing immediate access to up-to-date clinical guidelines, consultants, and code-running tools at the point-of-care. 100% of surveyed physicians found STAT to be easy to use and would recommend it to others. Approximately 1100 clinicians have downloaded the app, and it continues to enjoy consistent use over a year after the initial COVID-19 surge. These results suggest that STAT has helped clinicians manage life threatening emergencies during and after the pandemic, although formal studies are necessary to evaluate its direct impact on patient care.

A random-walk-based epidemiological model.

Random walkers on a two-dimensional square lattice are used to explore the spatio-temporal growth of an epidemic. We have found that a simple random-walk system generates non-trivial dynamics compared with traditional well-mixed models. Phase diagrams characterizing the long-term behaviors of the epidemics are calculated numerically. The functional dependence of the basic reproductive number [Formula: see text] on the model's defining parameters reveals the role of spatial fluctuations and leads to a novel expression for [Formula: see text]. Special attention is given to simulations of inter-regional transmission of the contagion. The scaling of the epidemic with respect to space and time scales is studied in detail in the critical region, which is shown to be compatible with the directed-percolation universality class.

A Case of Pulmonary Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma with Literature Review.

Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare vascular tumor and infrequently described in medical literature as case reports and case series. Diagnosis is often incidental with high index of histopathological suspicion from clinical pathologist. The pathological pattern is quite unique with distinct immunohistochemical stains. Up to this day, there is no established standard treatment owing to the scarcity of this tumor. In this case report, we describe a case of pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma unexpectedly diagnosed with transthoracic needle biopsy, along with a review of the current literature.

Early dialysis in a rare case of combined toxic alcohols ingestion.

Ingestion of toxic alcohols (TA) typically presents with a high anion gap (AG) metabolic acidosis, and elevated osmolar gap (OG). Hemodialysis (HD) has not been recommended in early phases of intoxication with high OG and normal AG metabolic acidosis. We describe the case of a 40-year-old male who was brought to our emergency department for reported paint thinner ingestion. He was unable to protect his airway and required intubation. Blood gas showed respiratory acidosis, an initial AG, corrected by albumin of 12.75, lactic acid 5.26 mmol/L, and an OG of 170. Patient was treated with bicarbonate drip, fomepizole and emergent HD, which improved his neurologic status. Days after his admission, alcohol levels came positive for a co-ingestion of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and methanol. Most of the TA are metabolized into their toxic byproducts by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). The kinetics of these alcohols will be altered when there is co-ingestion of multiple substances. Moreover, early ingestions will translate in a high OG without a high AG. False elevation of lactate can occur with the ingestion of ethylene glycol due to a cross-reaction with L-lactate oxidase in the analyzer. In our case, the administration of fomepizole followed by an early HD given the poor clinical improvement, was followed by a fast recovery of the neurological status and potentially prevented renal failure. A high index of suspicion for TA ingestion should be raised when encountering an individual with lactic acidosis, high OG, and normal AG.

Evaluation of Intravenous Ranitidine on Gastric pH in Critically Ill Pediatric Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the dosing regimen of intravenous ranitidine (IVR) most likely to achieve a gastric pH of ≥4 in critically ill pediatric patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was designed and included patients younger than 19 years with gastric pH samples taken from a nasogastric tube within 24 hours after a dose of IVR in an intensive care unit. Data collection included patient demographics, clinical variables, IVR dosing, and gastric pH samples. Descriptive statistical analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis with clustering of patients was performed to determine variables associated with odds of obtaining a pH of ≥4. RESULTS: A total of 628 patients (1356 nasogastric samples) met study criteria (median age 1.3 years [IQR, 0.33, 5.7 years]; 53% male). The IVR dose was 0.90 ± 0.30 mg/kg per dose every 8.1 ± 2.9 hours, and 60.9% of patients (n = 383) had a pH ≥4. Patients with a pH value ≥4 had gastric pH samples taken earlier after a dose of IVR (6.7 ± 5.0 vs. 5.9 ± 4.7 hours, p < 0.001) but had no difference in IVR dose per kilogram (0.88 ± 0.31 vs. 0.88 ± 0.26, p = 0.86) or frequency of dosing (7.9 ± 3.2 vs. 7.9 ± 3.2 hours, p = 0.89). A multivariable logistic regression model identified increasing age, decreased kidney function, and decreased time to pH sample after an IVR dose with significantly greater odds of pH ≥4. CONCLUSIONS: The IVR dosing to maintain a gastric pH ≥4 in critically ill pediatric patients should occur more frequently than every 8 hours. Gastric pH evaluation may be necessary to assess IVR efficacy.

Staphylococcal Pericarditis Causing Pericardial Tamponade and Concurrent Empyema.

Bacterial pericarditis is a rare presentation and is usually due to secondary infection from a hematogenous cause or can occur secondary to trauma, intrathoracic surgery, or due to spread of infection from a contiguous focus via ligaments that anchor the pericardium to its surrounding structures. Its course is fulminant characterized by a high mortality rate from sepsis, tamponade, and constriction. We describe a rare case of Staphylococcus aureus pericarditis with concurrent unilateral empyema. The patient rapidly developed tamponade and was successfully treated with antibiotics and urgent percutaneous pericardial drainage with placement of a temporary catheter. Treatment for bacterial pericarditis typically is 4-6 weeks long. Thoracic surgery should be consulted as soon as possible to determine need for surgical intervention, as fibrin deposition may occur, making percutaneous drainage incomplete and leading to complications of persistent purulent pericarditis or constrictive pericarditis.

A Patient With a Chronic Cough: An Unexpected Case of Calcium Pill Aspiration.

Foreign body aspiration is a life-threatening medical condition that requires prompt action. Delayed diagnosis is associated with long-term serious complication often leading to death. In adults, it can remain undetected for a long period of time. The patient gives a long history of a cough, which clinicians often ignore. A chest radiograph is unreliable to exclude the disease as it may not show radiolucent objects. Diagnostic bronchoscopy is necessary to exclude the disease. We report a case of 70-year-old woman who had a 1-month history of a cough and was admitted for shortness of breath, and on further evaluation, we incidentally detected calcium tablets in her bronchus. The present case demonstrates the need for early bronchoscopy especially when the cause of a chronic cough is not known.

An analog of glibenclamide selectively enhances autophagic degradation of misfolded α1-antitrypsin Z.

The classical form of α1-antitrypsin deficiency (ATD) is characterized by intracellular accumulation of the misfolded variant α1-antitrypsin Z (ATZ) and severe liver disease in some of the affected individuals. In this study, we investigated the possibility of discovering novel therapeutic agents that would reduce ATZ accumulation by interrogating a C. elegans model of ATD with high-content genome-wide RNAi screening and computational systems pharmacology strategies. The RNAi screening was utilized to identify genes that modify the intracellular accumulation of ATZ and a novel computational pipeline was developed to make high confidence predictions on repurposable drugs. This approach identified glibenclamide (GLB), a sulfonylurea drug that has been used broadly in clinical medicine as an oral hypoglycemic agent. Here we show that GLB promotes autophagic degradation of misfolded ATZ in mammalian cell line models of ATD. Furthermore, an analog of GLB reduces hepatic ATZ accumulation and hepatic fibrosis in a mouse model in vivo without affecting blood glucose or insulin levels. These results provide support for a drug discovery strategy using simple organisms as human disease models combined with genetic and computational screening methods. They also show that GLB and/or at least one of its analogs can be immediately tested to arrest the progression of human ATD liver disease.

Usability of Learning Moment: Features of an E-learning Tool That Maximize Adoption by Students.

INTRODUCTION: E-learning is widely used in medical education. To maximize the potential of E-learning tools, every effort should be made to encourage adoption by optimizing usability. We created Learning Moment (LM), a web-based application that integrates principles of asynchronous learning and learning portfolios into a platform on which students can document and share learning experiences that occur during clinical work. We sought to evaluate the usability of LM and identify features that optimize adoption by users. METHODS: We implemented LM in August 2016 at a busy, urban, tertiary care emergency department that hosts an emergency medicine residency, robust third and fourth year medical student clerkships as well as a physician assistant student rotation. We conducted a single-center, mix-methods study using the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire and qualitative interviews. We sent e-mail invitations with subsequent reminders to all students who rotated in our emergency medicine clerkship from August 2016 to April 2017 to complete the SUS questionnaire anonymously and to participate in qualitative interviews. We employed purposive sampling to recruit students who used LM during their rotation to participate in our qualitative interviews. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 participants (10 individual interviews and one 3-person group interview) between January and March 2017 using an ethnographic approach and utilized a general inductive method to analyze and code for potential themes. RESULTS: Thirty of the seventy students invited to participate completed the SUS questionnaire (Response rate of 42.8%). The mean SUS score is 80.9 (SD 18.2, 80% CI 76.5 - 85.3). The internal consistency of the responses achieved the Cronbach's Alpha of 0.95. The participants stressed the importance of the following in the adoption of LM: maximal simplicity and usability, compatibility with learning preferences, and department-wide acceptance and integration. CONCLUSION: The overall perceived usability of LM was high. Our qualitative data revealed important implications for future designers to maximize adoption: include target users in every step of the design and development process to maximize simplicity and usability; build features that cater to a diversity of learning preferences; involve the entire department and find ways to incorporate the tool into the educational infrastructure and daily workflow.

A Giant Right Heart Thrombus-in-Transit: The Challenge of Anticoagulation in Factor V Leiden Thrombophilia.

Factor V Leiden (FVL) is an autosomal dominant condition resulting in thrombophilia. Factor V normally acts as a cofactor for prothrombinase, helping cleave prothrombin to thrombin. A single point mutation in it disrupts factor V, making it unreceptive to protein C and increasing the risk of thrombosis. FVL mutation associated with right heart thrombus is a rare entity. Right heart thrombus or right heart thrombus-in-transit is associated with high mortality. We present a 51-year-old male with a past medical history of FVL homozygous mutation and recurrent blood clots, who has failed multiple different oral anticoagulants. He presented to the hospital with symptoms of shortness of breath and subsequently found to have a giant right heart thrombus. He was treated with surgical embolectomy. This case underscores the challenges faced by patients with FVL and recurrent blood clots.

A Novel Web-Based Experiential Learning Platform for Medical Students (Learning Moment): Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Experiential learning plays a critical role in learner development. Kolb's 4-part experiential learning model consists of concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation in a recurring cycle. Most clinical environments provide opportunities for experiences and active experimentation but rarely offer structured means for reflection and abstract conceptualization that are crucial for learners to learn through experience. We created Learning Moment, a novel Web-based educational tool that integrates principles of asynchronous learning and learning portfolios to fulfill the reflection and abstract conceptualization aspects of Kolb's learning cycle in the modern clinical learning environment. Medical students log concise clinical "pearls" in the form of "learning moments" for reflection, review, and sharing with peers in a community of practice. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate learners' experiences with Learning Moment via a qualitative study. METHODS: We employed purposive sampling to recruit medical students who used Learning Moment during their rotation. We conducted 13 semistructured interviews (10 individual interviews and one 3-person group interview) between January and March 2017 using an ethnographic approach and utilized a general inductive method to analyze and code for potential themes. RESULTS: A total of 13 students (five in their third year of medical school and eight in their fourth year) voluntarily participated in our qualitative interviews. Five of the 13 (38%) students intended to pursue emergency medicine as their chosen field of specialty. The median number of "learning moments" logged by these students is 6. From our analysis, three key themes emerged relating to the perceived impact of Learning Moment on student learning: (1) logging "learning moments" enhanced memorization, (2) improved learning through reflection, and (3) sharing of knowledge and experiences in a community of practice. CONCLUSIONS: Learning Moment was successfully implemented into the educational infrastructure in our department. Students identified three mechanisms by which the application optimizes experiential learning, including enabling the logging of "learning moments" to promote memorization, encouraging reflection to facilitate learning, and fostering the sharing of knowledge and experiences within a community of practice. The Learning Moment concept is potentially scalable to other departments, disciplines, and institutions as we seek to optimize experiential learning ecosystems for all trainees.