Customer Reviews

Emergency Medicine Oral Board Review Illustrated (Cambridge Medicine)

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I used this book to study for my EM oral boards in May and let me tell you right now, it's the best oral board review book on the market. I purchased two other books, and they were absolute garbage - one even had wrong information that would kill a patient!

This book has everything you need to study and pass your oral boards with flying colors. It's set up so that you can practice the style in which the oral boards are given. It does help to have a partner to go through the cases in order to simulate the oral boards testing style, but it's not 100% necessary if you can't find anybody.

I didn't take an oral board review course, or anything like that. I just used this book, and it was more then enough to pass the exam.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is - if you want to pass your oral boards, buy this book.

I studied with friends for the EM boards using both this book and another leading EM boards book, Emergency Medicine Oral Board Review: Pearls of Wisdom, and I felt that this book was far superior to the other, which advocates outdated information and has far fewer cases. (As an FYI, it seems that there are rumors that ABEM wants you to do non-evidence based things on the boards. Not true.) The other book supports that notion (ie -- you must hyperventilate all head trauma. Ugh. How 1992!). This one does not, and the authors actually reference the evidence for their conclusions at times.

This book has the most cases by far (> 100), but there are no triples. That is easily solved by, well, just having a friend give you three cases together. It is not a big deal at all. The cases are all classic EM, the kind of cases you should be practicing for the boards. No zebras, no off-the-wall scenarios, which is just like the real boards.

There is a small appendix of high yield information on peds, trauma, tox, procedures, and ACLS. Very useful. The appendix is smaller than in the other book, but it appeared to me to be more high-yield.

There are quite a few typos and a few factual medical errors, but they are mostly minor and/or obvious. Fairly typical for a first edition.

Good luck!

Drs. Okuda and Nelson's new oral board review book is the most comprehensive and effective oral board review book on the market. I just completed my oral boards and felt like running through cases was the most effective way to prepare myself for the actual simulated environment that ABEM creates. The format of the book allows you to simulate that environment on your own. Flipping back through the book after the exam, I found many similar cases to those I encountered with ABEM. This book covers such a wide breadth of cases that it can be your only study source. The appendices were also indispensable for last minute cramming of high yield information that also showed up on the exam.

Drs. Okuda and Nelson have done an excellent job in compiling this oral board review. This text is a unique one, in that it addresses key issues in preparing for the Emergency Medicine Oral Board Exam. It helps to organize your thought process, by going through > 100 classic cases. It also allows you to practice for the exam by going through cases with a colleague.

Having just taken the ABEM oral boards, I highly recommend this book.

I got the letter today stating that I am a fully board - certified emergency medicine physician as declared by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and this book had a large part in that. It's 100 and some - odd very high - yield cases and related material. It's set up, ideally, for 2 people in a patient - doctor encounter; however, one person can easily make do (as I did). Each chapter begins with a fully scripted case and dialogue. Following the case is a brief review of the material and pearls to be aware of. The figures are all very relevent and clear. Also noted are several "critical actions," essentially all of which must be met for a passing score on the exam.
I was totally prepared for the exsm and can honestly say that of the hundreds of exams I've taken in the last 10 years, I knew I passed this one beyond a shadow of a doubt. Several of the oral board cases seemed to be taken directly from this book. For one of the cases on the real thing, there was a very subtle nuance that needed to be addressed or the fictional patient would have deteriorated rapidly and likely died. Without this book, I'm pretty sure I would have missed it.
My only criticisms (and they're relatively minor) are would be the lack of OB cases; although, this is not highly represented on the real exam, so in the end it didn't really make a difference.
My formula: I went through each case thoroughly 3 times over the course of 3 months and did the AAEM review course (also highly recommended) and nailed every single case. I probably would have passed with the book alone, but the course was great for the timing of the exam.
Believe me when I say I've seen every oral board review book out there and this simply is a class above the rest. Do yourself a favor, know that you will easily pass if you have this book down pat. Thanks for reading.

Just took the oral boards and found this book extremely helpful in my preparation. Studying with this book works great when you're together with fellow EM trainees, but it's also fine with non-EM folks or even for reviewing by yourself. Each case has an area where the critical actions are well defined, but also a nice summary of emergency disease management little pearls about each topic. If you go through this book, you'll be extremely prepared and a lot more comfortable about the real exam.

Awesome book... I bought a different book before this one and was rather frustrated with the 'answers' to the cases- frequently wrong. This book nails the process and the answers and- in my opinion- prepared me well to ace the orals. Highly recommended.

I just took my oral boards last month and used this as well as another study source-i found it useful to study w/ a few other people taking the boards at the same time- i even skyped and practiced with one of my friends from residency. The most important part in my opinion is getting a routine, a set way you approach all of the cases so you don't forget anything. This book is great and even allows for non medical people to help you study, so you can get your boyfriend to repay you for cooking that amazing meal by practicing cases. There are many cases, and a great variety of cases, good discussions at the end. I highly recommend this book

Great book with a lot of cases, a great way to get experience and practice for the Oral Boards

I would unequivocably recommend this book based on the number and strength of cases.

Well-organized and with 109 cases. (The cases are harder than those presented in a review course.) I appreciated the citing of "pearls" and critical actions. Interesting appendices, as well.

I did buy it via Kindle and was vaguely annoyed by picture quality and inability to quickly "flip" back and forth.