Some patients do not give you time to think it through. They deteriorate while you are still forming the plan. An airway closes. Anaphylaxis accelerates. Tension physiology builds quietly until it suddenly does not. In these moments, hesitation costs more than an imperfect decision.

This session focuses on patients whose condition is actively worsening in front of you. It examines how to recognize that turn early, how to prioritize when multiple threats compete for attention, and how to act decisively when delay increases risk. Using case driven discussion, the session highlights airway obstruction, anaphylaxis, and tension physiology as examples of time sensitive problems where speed and sequencing matter as much as the intervention itself.

The emphasis is on field decision making. What to do first. What cannot wait. How early actions influence what happens next when the patient reaches the emergency department. The goal is to support clearer thinking and faster prioritization when seconds are slipping away.

We are pleased to welcome Nicholas Genthe, MD, emergency physician and educator.

Dr. Genthe brings practical insight from frontline emergency care and education, with a focus on clinical reasoning under pressure and the connection between prehospital decisions and downstream outcomes.

Global Educational Objectives

Upon participation in this activity, EMS and emergency care professionals will be able to:

• Recognize early clinical indicators of rapid patient deterioration requiring immediate prioritization and intervention

• Differentiate time critical threats in patients with airway obstruction, anaphylaxis, and tension physiology

• Apply structured decision making strategies to prioritize interventions during rapidly evolving field scenarios

• Communicate evolving patient status and critical decisions effectively during transitions of care

Continuing Education and Accreditation

This activity provides 1.0 Continuing Education Hour (CEH). through the University of Wisconsin

EMS Providers: This activity is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE). Granting of CAPCE credit does not represent endorsement by CAPCE or its board members.

Participants must attend the live session and complete the required attendance verification and evaluation to receive continuing education credit.

There is no cost to attend this activity.

Register for attendance to the live session here: "Time Is the Enemy": Field Decision-Making in Rapidly Deteriorating Patients