Interruptions are, in a way, the currency of emergency medicine. But many of them may be making patient care worse rather than safer. EKGs are a perfect example: physicians may be interrupted thousands of times each year so that every tracing receives immediate attention, even when the overwhelming majority do not represent an emergency. Protecting physician attention doesn’t have to come at the expense of quickly identifying patients who need immediate intervention.

In this episode, we explore how one emergency department dramatically reduced unnecessary EKG interruptions, why a 10-minute interpretation window may be safer than reflexively interrupting physicians, and how local data helped turn a counterintuitive idea into departmental practice. We also examine how asynchronous communication, protected workspaces, nursing partnerships, and a different way of thinking about attention can create a safer and more intentional emergency department.

Guest Bio: Dr. Jake Zadra is a board-certified Emergency Physician and the current Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine and Diagnostics at St. Mary's Hospital in Janesville, WI, where he also serves as Vice Chief of Staff. He completed medical school (’18) and EM residency (’21) at the University of Wisconsin, where he served as chief resident. Outside of medicine, he’s a live music enthusiast, enjoys slipping Lord of the Rings references into everyday conversation, and spends as much time outdoors as possible. He remains one of the few Emergency Physicians with no interest in ultramarathons or BASE jumping.

We Discuss:

Why Every EKG Doesn’t Need to Be an Emergency
The Cost of 7,000 Interruptions to Find Two Unflagged STEMIs
What Happens When the EKG Machine Misses a STEMI
Why Fewer Interruptions May Lead to Better EKG Interpretation
How the Workflow Handles Gray-Zone EKGs
Rethinking the 10-Minute EKG Rule
Using Local Data to Build a Safer Workflow
How an EKG Drop Zone Keeps Deferred Reviews From Getting Lost
How a Quieter Workspace Reduces Drive-By Interruptions
Why Not Every Interruption Deserves the Same Response
How Secure Chat Can Become an Asynchronous Inbox
Why Nurses Need Protection From Interruptions Too
How Making Interruptions Visible Creates Buy-In

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