American Medical Seminars Emergency Medicine for Primary Care 2026

AMS Emergency Medicine for Primary Care 2026 | Pediatric Emergencies, Respiratory Distress, Acute Abdominal Conditions, Suicide Risk Assessment, Substance Use Disorders & Urgent Care Management

The American Medical Seminars Emergency Medicine for Primary Care 2026 is a continuing medical education program focused on the practical evaluation and management of acute medical conditions commonly encountered in primary care, family medicine, internal medicine, hospital medicine, and urgent care practice. Organized by American Medical Seminars (AMS), the conference is described as taking place from July 6–9, 2026, at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, New York. The program emphasizes evidence-based clinical assessment, recognition of emergency warning signs, appropriate diagnostic testing, early management, and timely referral or escalation of care. Particular attention is given to pediatric emergency medicine, respiratory distress in young children, acute pediatric abdominal complaints, suicide risk assessment, substance misuse and addiction, challenging patient interactions, suspected non-accidental trauma, pediatric fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. The educational objectives are relevant to clinicians who must make important diagnostic and treatment decisions in outpatient or urgent care settings, frequently before a definitive diagnosis has been established. The AMS Emergency Medicine for Primary Care 2026 program combines clinical reasoning, patient safety, risk stratification, diagnostic assessment, and practical management principles to support healthcare professionals caring for patients with acute presentations.

Course Details

• Course: American Medical Seminars Emergency Medicine for Primary Care 2026
• Organizer: American Medical Seminars, Inc. (AMS)
• Dates: Monday, July 6 – Thursday, July 9, 2026
• Location: Niagara Falls, New York, USA
• Venue: Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino
• Primary Specialty: Emergency Medicine
• Additional Focus: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Urgent Care, Hospital Medicine and Psychiatry
• Language: English
• Target Audience: Primary Care Physicians and Other Healthcare Professionals
• Educational Focus: Recognition, Assessment and Management of Acute Clinical Conditions
• Teaching Approach: Evidence-Based Clinical Review and Practical Diagnostic Decision-Making
• Exact Recording Inventory: Not Confirmed
• Individual Lecture Titles and Faculty: Not Independently Verified
• CME Credits for This Specific Edition: Not Independently Verified

The dates and venue are based on the supplied course information. A complete original agenda was not available for independent verification.

Target Audience

The program is intended for healthcare professionals involved in the evaluation and management of acute medical presentations. The target audience includes:

• Primary Care Physicians
• Family Medicine Physicians
• Internal Medicine Physicians
• General Practitioners
• Hospitalists
• Emergency Medicine Physicians
• Urgent Care Physicians
• Pediatricians
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physicians
• Nurse Practitioners
• Physician Assistants
• Registered Nurses
• Advanced Practice Providers
• Medical Residents
• Clinical Fellows
• Other Healthcare Professionals Involved in Acute Care

It is particularly relevant to clinicians seeking practical guidance on identifying potentially serious conditions, selecting appropriate investigations, and determining when patients require emergency department evaluation.

Program Overview

Primary care and urgent care clinicians regularly encounter patients whose symptoms may represent either self-limited illness or a potentially serious medical emergency. The challenge is to recognize high-risk presentations while avoiding unnecessary testing or treatment in lower-risk patients. The American Medical Seminars Emergency Medicine for Primary Care 2026 curriculum addresses these clinical responsibilities through an educational focus on common urgent presentations. Major areas include:

• Emergency Medicine in Primary Care
• Acute Patient Assessment
• Clinical Risk Stratification
• Suicide Risk Assessment
• Pediatric Respiratory Distress
• Pediatric Abdominal Emergencies
• Acute Abdominal Pain
• Pediatric Vomiting
• Pediatric Diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Pediatric Fever
• Suspected Non-Accidental Trauma
• Substance Misuse
• Addiction Risk Factors
• Difficult Patient Encounters
• Challenging Family Interactions
• Patient Safety
• Diagnostic Test Selection
• Urgent Care Decision-Making
• Emergency Referral
• Clinical Communication
• Evidence-Based Management

The educational focus emphasizes combining clinical assessment with appropriate diagnostic investigations and individualized patient care.

Learning Objectives

After completing the educational program, participants should be better able to:

1. Develop a structured process for evaluating patients at risk of suicide.
2. Select appropriate diagnostic tests for young children presenting with respiratory distress.
3. Determine suitable diagnostic modalities for children with symptoms of common abdominal emergencies.
4. Evaluate risk factors associated with substance misuse and addiction.
5. Implement practical communication and management strategies when dealing with difficult patients and family members.
6. Develop approaches to the assessment and management of common pediatric urgent complaints, including respiratory distress, vomiting, diarrhea, suspected non-accidental trauma, fever, and other acute presentations.

Comprehensive Educational Topics

The following sections expand the supplied learning objectives. They are organized for clinical relevance rather than presented as verified lecture titles from the original conference.

Session I – Suicide Risk Assessment in Primary Care

Recognizing and Evaluating Suicide Risk

Suicide risk assessment is an important responsibility in primary care, emergency medicine, and urgent care settings. Patients may present with depression, anxiety, substance use, psychosocial stressors, or medical concerns while also experiencing suicidal thoughts. Clinicians must recognize warning signs, conduct appropriate assessments, and determine when immediate psychiatric or emergency intervention is necessary. Important educational considerations include:

• Suicide Risk Assessment
• Recognition of Suicidal Ideation
• Mental Health History
• Previous Suicide Attempts
• Psychiatric Comorbidities
• Substance Use
• Psychosocial Stressors
• Protective Factors
• Structured Clinical Assessment
• Immediate Safety Evaluation
• Emergency Referral
• Safety Planning
• Appropriate Follow-Up

Clinical Risk Stratification

Suicide risk assessment requires consideration of multiple clinical and contextual factors. Relevant assessment areas include:

• Current Suicidal Thoughts
• Intent and Planning
• Previous Self-Harm
• Access to Lethal Means
• Psychiatric Symptoms
• Substance Intoxication
• Social Support
• Recent Stressors

The educational emphasis is on recognizing patients who may require urgent safety interventions while ensuring appropriate follow-up for others.

Session II – Pediatric Respiratory Distress

Evaluation of Respiratory Distress in Young Children

Respiratory complaints are frequent reasons for pediatric urgent care and emergency evaluation. Young children may deteriorate rapidly when respiratory illness leads to increased work of breathing, impaired oxygenation, or respiratory fatigue. Important topics include:

• Pediatric Respiratory Distress
• Tachypnea
• Increased Work of Breathing
• Retractions
• Nasal Flaring
• Hypoxemia
• Pediatric Respiratory Assessment
• Pulse Oximetry
• Respiratory Examination
• Clinical Severity Assessment
• Appropriate Diagnostic Testing
• Emergency Stabilization
• Referral Decisions

Common Pediatric Respiratory Presentations

Relevant conditions may include:

• Bronchiolitis
• Asthma Exacerbation
• Croup
• Pneumonia
• Upper Airway Obstruction
• Foreign Body Aspiration
• Viral Respiratory Illness

The educational focus is on recognizing clinical patterns and selecting diagnostic tests according to the patient's presentation.

Diagnostic Test Selection

Not every child with respiratory symptoms requires the same diagnostic investigations. Clinical decisions may involve:

• Oxygen Saturation Measurement
• Clinical Examination
• Chest Radiography When Indicated
• Laboratory Evaluation in Selected Patients
• Assessment of Respiratory Severity
• Recognition of Respiratory Failure

The program emphasizes appropriate investigation and early recognition of potentially life-threatening respiratory conditions.

Session III – Pediatric Abdominal Emergencies

Diagnostic Evaluation of Acute Abdominal Symptoms

Abdominal pain, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal symptoms are frequently encountered in pediatric primary care and emergency settings. Some presentations are self-limited, while others may indicate surgical or other urgent pathology. Important considerations include:

• Pediatric Abdominal Pain
• Clinical History
• Abdominal Examination
• Symptom Onset
• Pain Localization
• Associated Vomiting
• Fever
• Dehydration
• Clinical Warning Signs
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Laboratory Testing
• Surgical Consultation
• Emergency Referral

Important Pediatric Abdominal Conditions

Examples of clinical conditions relevant to acute pediatric abdominal assessment include:

• Appendicitis
• Intussusception
• Bowel Obstruction
• Gastroenteritis
• Constipation
• Urinary Tract Infection
• Testicular Torsion
• Ovarian Torsion

These are illustrative differential diagnoses, not a verified list of conditions discussed in individual lectures.

Choosing Diagnostic Modalities

Diagnostic assessment may require careful consideration of:

• Clinical Findings
• Ultrasound
• Radiography
• CT Imaging When Appropriate
• Laboratory Testing
• Age-Specific Considerations
• Radiation Exposure
• Diagnostic Urgency

The objective is to select investigations that are appropriate to the clinical presentation while minimizing unnecessary testing.

Session IV – Substance Misuse and Addiction Risk

Recognizing Risk Factors for Substance Use Disorders

Substance misuse and addiction can affect patients across a broad range of medical and social circumstances. Primary care clinicians play an important role in recognizing substance-related problems, providing early intervention, and coordinating specialist care. Important topics include:

• Substance Use Disorders
• Addiction Risk Factors
• Alcohol Use
• Opioid Use
• Prescription Medication Misuse
• Psychiatric Comorbidities
• Psychosocial Factors
• Screening
• Patient Interviewing
• Nonjudgmental Communication
• Referral to Treatment
• Long-Term Follow-Up

Clinical Assessment and Patient Counseling

Relevant considerations include:

• Substance Use History
• Risk Assessment
• Screening Tools
• Withdrawal Risk
• Overdose Risk
• Medication Review
• Motivational Communication
• Appropriate Referral
• Harm Reduction Principles

The educational emphasis is on identifying patients who may benefit from further assessment, counseling, or specialized treatment.

Session V – Managing Difficult Patient and Family Encounters

Communication During Challenging Clinical Situations

Difficult interactions may arise when patients or family members experience distress, uncertainty, disagreement, or dissatisfaction with medical recommendations. Effective communication is an important component of patient safety and clinical care. Relevant themes include:

• Difficult Patient Encounters
• Family Communication
• Emotional Distress
• Conflict Resolution
• De-Escalation
• Professional Communication
• Clear Explanation of Clinical Decisions
• Patient Expectations
• Shared Decision-Making
• Documentation
• Safety

Practical Communication Principles

Clinical approaches may involve:

• Active Listening
• Clear and Respectful Language
• Acknowledgment of Concerns
• Explanation of Medical Uncertainty
• Shared Treatment Planning
• Appropriate Professional Boundaries
• Recognition of Unsafe Situations

The program aims to support constructive interactions in challenging clinical environments.

Session VI – Pediatric Vomiting and Diarrhea

Evaluation of Acute Vomiting in Children

Vomiting may result from gastrointestinal illness or a variety of other medical and surgical conditions. Important considerations include:

• Pediatric Vomiting
• Clinical History
• Hydration Assessment
• Gastrointestinal Symptoms
• Abdominal Examination
• Red Flags
• Differential Diagnosis
• Oral Rehydration
• Diagnostic Testing
• Escalation of Care

Pediatric Diarrhea and Dehydration

Diarrhea is another common pediatric presentation. Relevant topics include:

• Acute Diarrhea
• Gastroenteritis
• Fluid Loss
• Dehydration
• Electrolyte Disturbances
• Oral Rehydration
• Clinical Monitoring
• Nutritional Considerations
• Indications for Further Evaluation

The educational focus is on identifying dehydration severity and distinguishing uncomplicated illness from conditions requiring emergency management.

Session VII – Pediatric Fever and Urgent Complaints

Fever in Infants and Children

Fever is among the most common reasons for pediatric medical evaluation. Appropriate assessment depends on age, clinical appearance, associated symptoms, and other risk factors. Important clinical considerations include:

• Pediatric Fever
• Fever in Young Infants
• Clinical Appearance
• Age-Specific Risk
• Infectious Disease Evaluation
• Sepsis Risk
• Diagnostic Testing
• Hydration
• Symptom Management
• Emergency Referral

Recognizing Serious Pediatric Illness

The educational emphasis includes identifying warning signs that require further investigation or urgent escalation. Relevant assessment factors include:

• Altered Mental Status
• Poor Perfusion
• Respiratory Distress
• Severe Dehydration
• Persistent Lethargy
• Serious Infection Indicators
• Age-Specific Risk Factors

Session VIII – Suspected Non-Accidental Trauma

Recognition of Possible Child Abuse

Suspected non-accidental trauma requires careful clinical assessment, objective documentation, appropriate safeguarding, and adherence to relevant reporting requirements. Important educational topics include:

• Non-Accidental Trauma
• Child Physical Abuse
• Injury Patterns
• Clinical History
• Developmental Considerations
• Physical Examination
• Differential Diagnosis
• Documentation
• Diagnostic Assessment
• Child Protection
• Multidisciplinary Consultation
• Safeguarding

The session's stated objective is to support the evaluation of suspected non-accidental trauma as part of general pediatric urgent care.

Session IX – Emergency Medicine Decision-Making in Primary Care

Recognizing When Urgent Escalation Is Necessary

One of the major challenges in primary care is determining which patients can be managed safely in an outpatient setting and which require immediate emergency evaluation. Relevant considerations include:

• Clinical Stability
• Vital Signs
• Acute Symptom Assessment
• Risk Stratification
• Diagnostic Uncertainty
• Emergency Warning Signs
• Immediate Stabilization
• Referral Decisions
• Patient Safety
• Clinical Follow-Up

Coordination Between Primary Care and Emergency Services

Safe patient management may require communication among:

• Primary Care Physicians
• Urgent Care Clinicians
• Emergency Physicians
• Pediatric Specialists
• Mental Health Professionals
• Hospitalists
• Specialist Services

The educational emphasis is on timely recognition, communication, and continuity of care.

Major Topics Covered

• American Medical Seminars Emergency Medicine 2026
• Emergency Medicine for Primary Care
• Primary Care Emergency Medicine
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Urgent Care
• Family Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• Hospital Medicine
• Pediatric Respiratory Distress
• Bronchiolitis
• Asthma Exacerbation
• Pediatric Airway Assessment
• Respiratory Failure
• Acute Pediatric Abdominal Pain
• Pediatric Abdominal Emergencies
• Appendicitis
• Intussusception
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Pediatric Ultrasound
• Pediatric Vomiting
• Pediatric Diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Pediatric Fever
• Non-Accidental Trauma
• Child Protection
• Suicide Risk Assessment
• Behavioral Health Emergencies
• Substance Use Disorders
• Addiction Risk
• Difficult Patient Encounters
• Family Communication
• Clinical De-Escalation
• Risk Stratification
• Diagnostic Decision-Making
• Emergency Referral
• Patient Safety
• Evidence-Based Acute Care

Pediatric Emergency Medicine in Primary Care

Pediatric emergency presentations may require rapid recognition of potentially serious illness. Respiratory distress, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever can represent a broad spectrum of clinical conditions. The program emphasizes structured assessment and appropriate decision-making when evaluating children with urgent medical complaints.

Suicide Risk and Behavioral Health Safety

Behavioral health crises are relevant to emergency medicine and primary care. The curriculum includes a specific objective addressing suicide risk assessment. The educational focus is on identifying patients who may be at increased risk, conducting appropriate evaluation, and selecting suitable safety interventions and referral pathways.

Substance Use Disorders and Addiction

Substance-related presentations can affect acute medical care, chronic disease management, and patient safety. The course includes an educational objective concerning risk factors for substance misuse and addiction. Important areas include screening, recognition, communication, assessment, and appropriate care coordination.

Clinical Communication and Difficult Encounters

Effective communication can improve patient understanding and support safer care in emotionally difficult clinical situations. The program includes the management of difficult patient and family interactions as a learning objective. The educational emphasis is on professional communication, de-escalation, and patient-centered decision-making.

Diagnostic Testing and Clinical Risk Stratification

Selecting the appropriate investigation is an important part of emergency medicine practice. The course emphasizes diagnostic decision-making, particularly for children presenting with respiratory distress or abdominal symptoms. The goal is to support accurate evaluation while recognizing serious conditions requiring urgent care.

Practical Application in Urgent Care and Hospital Medicine

The educational themes are relevant to clinicians managing patients across outpatient clinics, urgent care centers, and hospital-based settings. The curriculum supports recognition of acute illness, appropriate clinical assessment, referral decisions, and coordination with emergency services.

Why This Course Is Relevant

The American Medical Seminars Emergency Medicine for Primary Care 2026 program focuses on clinical situations that may require immediate assessment, careful diagnostic reasoning, and timely intervention. Its educational scope includes pediatric emergencies, mental health safety, substance use concerns, and difficult clinical interactions. The program is particularly relevant to family medicine physicians, internists, urgent care clinicians, hospitalists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants seeking practical updates in acute patient care.

Official Program Reference and MedicalAmboss Purchase Scope

American Medical Seminars: https://www.americanmedicalseminars.com/ Emergency Medicine Conference Category: https://www.americanmedicalseminars.com/event-category/em/ The organizer's website provides general information on its continuing medical education programs. A verified lecture-by-lecture agenda for the specified July 6–9, 2026 event was not available during preparation of this description. The event information supplied by the product owner is therefore used for the conference dates, venue, target audience, and learning objectives. MedicalAmboss File Scope: This listing describes the educational subject matter for reference. Provider registration, live attendance, streaming-platform access, CME or other credit, certificates, memberships, apps, accounts, and publisher-hosted extras are not included unless explicitly listed as store files.

Short Description

American Medical Seminars Emergency Medicine for Primary Care 2026 provides practical, evidence-based education in the assessment and management of acute conditions commonly encountered in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatric urgent care, and hospital medicine. The program is listed for July 6–9, 2026, at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, New York. + Topics: *Note: these are continuous video recordings during the conference, they include individual lectures mentioned in the Detail section below

Date	Session	Time	Speaker	Topic
7/6/2026	1-1	7:30am-8:30am	Vilke	ENT
	1-2	8:35am-9:35am	Vilke	Genito-urologic emergencies
	1-3	9:40am-10:40am	Vilke	Toxicology emergencies
	1-4	10:45am-11:45am	Joffe	Pediatric Lower Respiratory Infections
	1-5	11:50am-12:50pm	Joffe	Diagnosis and Misdiagnosis of Appendicitis in Children
7/7/2026	2-1	7:30am-8:30am	Joffe	Pediatric Abdominal Emergencies
	2-2	8:35am-9:35am	Vilke	Office Based Procedures
	2-3	9:40am-10:40am	Vilke	Pediatric emergencies
	2-4	10:45am-11:45am	Zun	Provider Wellness
	2-5	11:50am-12:50pm	Zun	Depression
7/8/2026	3-1	7:30am-8:30am	Zun	Dealing with Difficult Patients
	3-2	8:35am-9:35am	Zun	Suicide and violence
	3-3	9:40am-10:40am	Zun	Substance abuse
	3-4	10:45am-11:45am	Vilke	Neurologic emergencies
	3-5	11:50am-12:50pm	Joffe	Injuries to an Immature Skeleton
7/9/2026	4-1	7:30am-8:30am	Joffe	Pediatric Radiology Cases
	4-2	8:35am-9:35am	Joffe	Medical Errors in Pediatrics
	4-3	9:40am-10:40am	Zun	Infectious emergencies
	4-4	10:45am-11:45am	Zun	Psychiatric emergencies
	4-5	11:50am-12:50pm	Zun	Common office emergencies