Training Videos: The Emergency Practitioner & The Unhealthy Drinker

It would be easy for the physician to just clean and suture a patient’s wounds, or keep him/her under observation until their blood alcohol concentration falls, and then let them go home. BUT, there is an opportunity here for the physician to do more than just medically clear the patient. The medical visit presents an opportunity to detect, assess and intervene with patients whose unhealthy drinking or drug use puts them at risk for medical, social and legal consequences. In other words, PREVENT further negative consequences.