AOBEM Emergency Medicine study guide
AOBEM Emergency Medicine · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The AOA Osteopathic Board Certification in Emergency Medicine is a specialty board credential offered through the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (AOBEM), one of the AOA's specialty certifying boards. It is intended for osteopathic physicians (DOs) practicing emergency medicine who want to demonstrate specialty-level competence and affirm a commitment to ongoing evidence-based education and whole-person care. The AOBEM Emergency Medicine study guide has 4 sections and about 1,082 words.
01Emergency Medicine: Prioritized Assessment and Disposition
The Emergency Medicine domain tests whether you can move from an undifferentiated presentation to a safe disposition using a prioritized, time-aware approach. Expect questions on resuscitation sequencing, recognition of time-critical diagnoses (aortic dissection, ectopic pregnancy, necrotizing fasciitis, compartment syndrome, testicular torsion), risk stratification tools (HEART, Wells, PERC, Ottawa rules, NIHSS), and appropriate use of imaging and empiric therapy.
289 words, about 1 min02Emergency Medical Services: Systems, Triage, and Field Decisions
The EMS domain covers system design, medical direction, triage, transport decisions, and field protocols. Candidates should understand the difference between online (direct) and offline (indirect) medical direction , the role of EMS medical directors in protocol development and quality improvement, and the structure of triage and destination policies (trauma center levels, stroke and STEMI bypass, mass-casualty triage such as START).
265 words, about 1 min03Medical Toxicology: Toxidromes and Antidotes
The Toxicology domain tests recognition of toxidromes (anticholinergic, cholinergic, sympathomimetic, opioid, sedative-hypnotic, serotonin, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome), application of antidotes , and decisions about decontamination and enhanced elimination . Know the classic antidote pairs: naloxone for opioids, flumazenil for benzodiazepines (with caution), N-acetylcysteine for acetaminophen, sodium bicarbonate for salicylates and TCA cardiotoxicity, glucagon and high-dose insulin for beta-blocker toxicity, lipid emulsion for local anesthetics, hydroxocobalamin for cyanide, and fomepizole for methanol/ethylene glycol.
275 words, about 1 min04OMT Designation: Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in the ED
The OMT designation tests whether you can integrate osteopathic principles (structure-function, somatic dysfunction, the body's self-healing capacity) into emergency care. Candidates must understand somatic dysfunction (TART: tissue texture change, asymmetry, restriction of motion, tenderness), common counterstrain and muscle energy techniques, and safe application in the ED setting.
253 words, about 1 min