Is EM primary care?

[JeetKuneDo]

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Could EM count as a primary care? I always thought of it as such, but I had a discussion with a friend who said it isn't, stating that primary care is only IM, FM and maybe OB. Some threads have also stated that EM is not considered primary care; however I would think that it should be. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[TooMuchResearch]

Yes, EM is largely primary care, but this probably is not the ideal system. I do research in the ED at a large, urban hospital. We get many more uninsured folks that really aren't sick enough to be in the ED than assault and accident victims.

I used to volunteer in a suburban hospital, and we actually did get more acutely ill folks that needed immediate care...I suppose it depends on the frequency of uninsured people in the area.

 

[SireSpanky]

I don't know of anyone personally who would claim an ER doc as their primary care provider - typically, in an emergency, you take whoever you can get (or who the paramedic gives you to). There are few individuals who actually go to a specific ER doc, especially in true emergencies IMHO.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

I don't know of anyone personally who would claim an ER doc as their primary care provider - typically, in an emergency, you take whoever you can get (or who the paramedic gives you to). There are few individuals who actually go to a specific ER doc, especially in true emergencies IMHO.

Yes, but there are many people that lack a traditional primary care provider. When they need any medical care, they go to the emergency department. For example, patients come into our ED every day because they need a new inhaler for their asthma. This is the type of visit that is better suited to the clinic, but a lot of people lack the resources/insurance necessary to make these visits.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I think you'll mostly find that EM is considered primary care in drastically underserved areas where they're just trying to get someone to come practice some kind of medicine. Ditto that for general surgery.

 

[236116]

It is not supposed to be but our system is broked.

 

[riceman04]

I don't know of anyone personally who would claim an ER doc as their primary care provider - typically, in an emergency, you take whoever you can get (or who the paramedic gives you to). There are few individuals who actually go to a specific ER doc, especially in true emergencies IMHO.

It is funny you live in Houston and still make that statement! 🙄 Did you ever volunteer at at least one of the several hospitals in the Texas Med Center? Houston has a significantly high percentage of citizens lacking health insurance. And where do you think these people go when they have some type of medical issue? The witch doctor in 3rd Ward, 4th Ward, Baytown, or Rosenberg? 🙄

I am going to have to assume you live outside of Beltway 8

 

[riceman04]

It is not supposed to be but our system is broked.

I'm not part of the grammar mafia and I am not laughing at you...but rather at your wit (which is great, BTW).

I am assuming (based on previous posts) you meant to spell broke like that

 

[236116]

I'm not part of the grammar mafia and I am not laughing at you...but rather at your wit (which is great, BTW).

I am assuming (based on previous posts) you meant to spell broke like that

TY, and yes.

Broked broked broked.

 

[AdmiralChz]

It is not supposed to be but our system is broked.

Sad, but true. Since the Emergency Room for many people is becoming their primary source of treatment (they don't have a family physician - they get their care from the ER, mostly true of uninsured people), EM will be considered more and more primary care. As an EMS member, I can say even in the last few years, the number of people I take to the hospital where it's not an emergency has been increasing.

 

[Aladdin]

Could EM count as a primary care? I always thought of it as such, but I had a discussion with a friend who said it isn't, stating that primary care is only IM, FM and maybe OB. Some threads have also stated that EM is not considered primary care; however I would think that it should be. Anyone have any thoughts?

I've seen it listed as primary care and i've seen it listed as a specialty. By the same token, I've seen General Surgery also listed as primary care. Usually, "primary care" includes Family Med, Internal med, Peds, and OB/GYN