Emergency Medicine
American Board of Emergency Medicine
3000 Coolidge Road
East Lansing, MI 48823
(517) 332-4800
www.abem.org
A physician who specializes in Emergency Medicine focuses on the immediate decision-making and action necessary to prevent death or any further disability both in the pre-hospital setting by directing emergency medical technicians and in the emergency department. This specialist provides immediate recognition, evaluation, care, stabilization and disposition of a generally diversified population of adult and pediatric patients in response to acute illness and injury.
Specialty training required prior to Board Certification: Three years
Subspecialties:
To become certified in a particular subspecialty, a physician must be Board Certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and complete additional training as specified by the Member Board.
Emergency Medical Services
An Emergency Medicine physician specializing in Emergency Medical Services has special knowledge and skills for the delivery of medical care of the acutely ill or injured patient in the pre-hospital setting. This care includes the inital patient treatment, stabilization and transportation in specially equipped ambulances and medical helicopters. The inital care for conditions such as heart attack or stroke may occur in patient homes, public places and wilderness settings. These medical specialists perform life-saving procedures outside the hospital setting, sometimes when people are still trapped in cars or buildings.
Hospice and Palliative Medicine
An Emergency Medicine physician with special knowledge and skills to prevent and relieve the suffering experienced by patients with life-limiting illnesses. This specialist works with an interdisciplinary hospice or palliative care team to maximize quality of life while addressing the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of both patient and family.
Internal Medicine-Critical Care Medicine
This physician also coordinates patient care among the primary physician, critical care staff and other specialists.
Medical Toxicology
Medical Toxicologists are physicians who specialize in the prevention, evaluation, treatment and monitoring of injury and illness from exposures to drugs and chemicals, as well as biological and radiological agents.
These specialists care for people in clinical, academic, governmental and public health settings, and provide poison control center leadership. Important areas of Medical Toxicology include acute drug poisoning; adverse drug events; drug abuse, addiction and withdrawal; chemicals and hazardous materials; terrorism preparedness; venomous bites and stings; and environmental and workplace exposures.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
An Emergency Medicine physician who specializes in Pediatric Emergency Medicine has special qualifications to manage emergency treatments in acutely ill or injured infants and children.
Sports Medicine
An Emergency Medicine physician who specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating injuries related to participating in sports and/or exercise.
In addition to the study of those fields that focus on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of injuries, sports medicine also deals with illnesses and diseases that might have effects on health and physical performance.
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine
An Emergency Medicine physician who specializes in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine treats decompression illness and diving accident cases and uses hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat such conditions as carbon monoxide poisoning, gas gangrene, non-healing wounds, tissue damage from radiation and burns, and bone infections.
This specialist also serves as a consultant to other physicians in all aspects of hyperbaric chamber operations, and assesses risks and applies appropriate standards to prevent disease and disability in divers and other persons working in altered atmospheric conditions.