Emergency Care

The Emergency Care topic includes research on the care of patients experiencing emergency situations in a pre-hospital and emergency department setting. Research on patient care that extends beyond this setting (intensive/critical care unit, urgent care, etc.) is included when it focuses on the immediate impact of emergency care provided.

Emergency care encompasses treatment of many conditions, some of which—like heart attacks, strokes, traumatic injuries, burns, and poisoning—are life threatening.

Physicians in emergency departments treat some of the sickest and most vulnerable people in the health care system. More hospital patients are admitted through the emergency department than any other department. However, not all emergency department patients have life-threatening or serious conditions. Many patients visit the emergency department because they cannot access other medical providers.