The concept of Emergency Medicine Journal Club was first described by William Osler as a means for busy clinicians to maintain proficiency with ever-evolving medical science. Today, more than 5,000 biomedical publications appear every day. Obviously, keeping current has not become any easier. Developing the skills to efficiently find, critically appraise, and implement practice-changing advances in the medical literature is fundamental to a successful residency.
The Washington University Department of Emergency Medicine Journal Club is held during Tuesday morning conference time. Dates and times for Journal Club are published on the residency conference calendar. Attending physicians, residents, fellows, and medical students come together to critically analyze recent medical literature under the guidance of the Journal Club Director and faculty topic experts using the principles of evidence-based medicine, integrating the best available scientific evidence with clinician expertise and patient values.
WashU Medicine’s Department of Emergency Medicine Journal Club has been published and presented at a variety of North American emergency medicine and non-emergency medicine academic programs. Each month’s Journal Club centers on a focused clinical question addressing a therapeutic, diagnostic, prognostic, or cost-effectiveness topic. A clinical vignette and literature search strategy are distributed electronically two to three weeks before the session, along with critical appraisal worksheets derived from the Users’ Guides to the Medical Literature. Prior to Journal Club, residents submit their completed appraisal forms for individualized feedback and additional instruction when needed. Faculty organize and administer this educational experience, allowing residents to focus on developing the critical appraisal skills that are essential for lifelong learning and evidence-based clinical practice.
Although Journal Club is now integrated into the residency’s protected conference time, it continues to foster thoughtful discussion, collaboration, and mentorship among residents and faculty while providing a structured forum for applying evidence-based medicine to patient care.
Every December, the traditional Journal Club is replaced by a well-attended and hotly contested faculty-versus-resident trivia competition.