What is an emergency?

[Birdstrike]

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What really is an emergency?

Here's the reason I ask. It seems to me, the whole point of defining exactly what an emergency is (or isn't) is to decide which patients are going to be seen the quickest. If we are committed to seeing every single patient in seconds to minutes ("must have a 'door to doctor' time <15 min!") then what is the point in having a distinction, without a difference.

Don't forget to answer the poll. Read the question carefully. I'm not asking what you think the definition of an emergency is, but what the acting definition is, due to today's policies, in today's world.

🙂

 

[diphenyl]

Emergency: Potential loss of life/ limb or impending disability within the next 48 hrs.

 

[bougiecric]

("must have <15 min 'door to doctor' time!")

I am increasingly amused by this metric. I've recently had to attend a number of outpatient clinic visits for myself and my family. At these scheduled appointments, the "door to doc" time is almost always 30-60 minutes.

Is the entire concept of an "emergency" outdated, in the sense that we are committed to treating everyone, regardless of need, in seconds to minutes?

At least in the community (in the minds of administrators), taking care of "emergencies" has become an inconvenient annoyance that gets in the way of maximizing reimbursement and throughput. The crashing patient is simply a roadblock that delays you from seeing a level 5 chest pain that you could dispo in an hour.

"Emergency Department" or "Emergency Room" are outdated terms, as emergencies are not their primary focus. But at the same time, they're the only place where you can get emergent treatment. I think a more appropriate label would be something like "Acute Care Clinic" with the subtitle "We See Emergencies Too!"

The epitome of this is the Freestanding ED. It blows my mind that I can sit around surfing the internet most of the day while occasionally seeing a low acuity patient, and get paid way more than my normal ED job. I mean, these places are making money hand over feet.

From a selfish standpoint, of course I like getting paid more. But if I'm honest with myself, these places simply demonstrate how jacked up American healthcare is. The illness, diagnosis, and treatment are all the same, but when a FM doc takes care of it they can barely make ends meet. When a Freestanding ED takes care of it, they make bank.

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

I wonder the same...

It seems like there is a push from 'EMS' to become Prehospital Medicine. I think its cool and a great time to be involved with 'EMS' but that aspect of emergency care is exploding with this; our new EMS Board Certification helps fuel this too..... like Community Paramedicine and the thought of treating/streeting/diverting patients that call 911 and such. All likely good things, IMHO.

Slowing down and getting to the patient ASAP is maybe not so important also.

Good or bad, we are all involved in an interesting time of medicine and I can only hope its for the better but I will remain skeptical...

 

[mark hary]

Is there anybody can give me the exact information "how many people attack by cardiopulmonary resuscitation everyday in USA?"And how many of them are died for not getting emergency service?

 

[USCDiver]

Is there anybody can give me the exact information "how many people attack by cardiopulmonary resuscitation everyday in USA?"And how many of them are died for not getting emergency service?

No.