​The field of emergency medicine is a medical specialty that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of unexpected injuries and illnesses. Emergency medicine practitioners must develop a wide range of skills, as described by the Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine.

In addition to the diversity of conditions that practitioners must prepare for, the field of emergency medicine encompasses the complete spectrum of care, from the initial assessment and diagnosis through all facets of treatment, including medical, surgical, and psychiatric procedures. Services may be provided in various settings, including freestanding and hospital-based emergency departments, urgent care clinics, and medical response vehicles. Emergency medical professionals may also render care at the site of a disaster or accident.

Practitioners of emergency medicine are also involved in related clinical and administrative processes, such as authorizing out-of-hospital medical control systems and coordinating on-site emergency medical response services. They often assist community leaders with matters of disaster preparedness and drive emergency department strategy and leadership, which includes optimizing patient intake processes and ensuring compliance with the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act.

As emergency medical practitioners advance in their careers, they take on emergency department budgeting and staffing responsibilities and help develop departmental policies and procedures, which are critical to optimizing patient outcomes. They also must stay current by meeting continuing education mandates.

Perhaps most importantly, emergency medical professionals function as the bedrock of the national healthcare system's patient safety net. With this in mind, practitioners must coordinate emergency department patient care across numerous healthcare providers and medical facilities. They should also leverage their deep knowledge of the healthcare delivery system to help elevate local, regional, and national health policy initiatives.

While the history of treating seriously ill and injured patients in the United States can be traced back hundreds of years, the concept of organized emergency medical care is relatively new, beginning late in the 20th century. The field did not achieve specialty recognition until 1979.

Several factors motivated the development of emergency medical care in the US, but the driving force involved the increasing quality of life and standard of living throughout the country. As time progressed, more Americans benefited from the mobility of cars, making it easier to seek out unscheduled medical care.

Similarly, many Americans gained access to increased financial support to fund these unplanned visits. The healthcare delivery system of the past could not handle the influx of unscheduled patient visits and had to change, resulting in the development of the emergency medicine specialty.

Established in 1968, the Emergency College of American Physicians was the first organization that dedicated itself to emergency medical education and service. Two years later, the nation's first emergency medicine residency program opened in Cincinnati. The American Board of Emergency Medicine began operations in 1976, quickly followed by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine. The American Academy of Emergency Medicine has also made significant contributions to the field, including the development of the aforementioned Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine.

Interest in emergency medicine has swelled since the turn of the century. From 2000 to 2010, the field grew more than any other medical specialty. Nearly 50,000 American doctors practice emergency medicine. With new residency programs being created at an increasing rate, researchers believe America can achieve a 20 to 30 percent surplus of board-certified emergency physicians by 2030. This compares favorably to a national physician shortage, which is predicted to grow to 86,000 physicians by 2036, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

​Volunteering with local community resources offers a meaningful way to give back while at the same gaining personal fulfillment. To get started, individuals should first evaluate their interests and motivations, ensuring they choose roles aligned with their values and skills. Some feel drawn to education, while others focus on environmental or social causes or helping those in need. Identifying these preferences early helps those considering volunteering find opportunities to contribute effectively and make a lasting impact.

The next step is to research available opportunities within the community. Nonprofits, shelters, schools, hospitals, and public service programs seek volunteers, and local volunteer centers can list roles that match skill sets and interests. Community boards, websites, and social media groups list ongoing projects needing help. This research helps potential volunteers understand community needs and choose a role that fits their availability and expertise.

Once an opportunity is identified, the organization must be contacted. Most volunteer programs have coordinators who oversee new applications and provide guidance on available positions. Contact through email or a visit helps clarify expectations, responsibilities, and necessary qualifications. Some roles may require background checks or specific training, making it essential to gather all required information when being considered. Clear communication and asking questions before committing ensures that volunteers understand their obligations and that organizations find reliable individuals suited to their needs.

Understanding time commitments prevents misalignment between volunteers and organizations. Some roles require a regular schedule, while others are flexible, seasonal, or event-based. Being realistic about availability fosters sustained involvement, benefiting both volunteers and organizations. Setting reasonable expectations ensures meaningful and lasting contributions.

Training and orientation often play a vital role in preparing volunteers for their responsibilities. Many organizations offer onboarding workshops that expose new volunteers to their policies, methods, and goals. Training may involve learning safety standards, comprehending ethical norms, or developing technical skills related to a particular profession. These sessions improve effectiveness and help volunteers integrate into teams. Learning also helps people overcome obstacles and contribute with greater confidence.

Once integrated into a volunteer role, open communication with team members and coordinators enhances the overall experience. Asking for advice, feedback, and observations makes everything run more smoothly and boosts productivity. Open communication also includes volunteers voicing issues and suggesting changes. Proactive volunteers frequently get more relevant tasks, as they naturally become valued by their organizations. The person and organization gain from this dynamic partnership by establishing respect and shared goals.

Consistently reflecting on one’s volunteer experiences ensures ongoing personal growth and fulfillment. Individuals can change their engagement by assessing whether a role matches their goals, skills, and long-term goals. Some may find new interests and try other sorts of volunteering, while others may increase their dedication to one area. Monitoring progress and appreciating contributions boosts self-esteem and the value of volunteering.

Beyond the immediate impact of their contributions, volunteers often develop skills that extend into other areas of life. Community service enhances leadership, cooperation, problem-solving, and communication. Networking with like-minded people and professionals in diverse industries also occurs. These relationships can lead to mentorships, collaboration, and job promotion. This makes volunteering a professional and personal growth tool as well as a philanthropic act.

Approaching volunteer work with a long-term perspective maximizes its benefits. Many start with minor jobs and advance as they acquire experience. A habit and an attitude of continual involvement strengthen the work. Over time, those who stay involved see their efforts pay off, adding to their drive. Keeping in mind the more significant impacts of prolonged volunteering gives the day’s efforts more meaning.

​Emergency medicine offers interventions to patients facing life-threatening injuries and illnesses. It is a critical field in which quick decision-making, efficiency, and precision are necessary to save patients’ lives and protect their well-being. Technology has emerged as a potent tool in improving emergency medical services (EMS), enhancing diagnostics, and streamlining facility workflows. This resource is transforming how emergency departments operate and optimizing treatment outcomes. Telemedicine, artificial intelligence (AI), wearable devices, robotics, and electronic health records (EHR) are popular innovations influencing emergency medicine.

Telemedicine allows patients to more easily access health care, particularly those living in underserved and remote areas. Through video consultations and remote diagnostics, emergency physicians can interact with patients, provide guidance to paramedics, and determine if hospitalization is necessary. This innovation facilitates early intervention and has been effective in various efforts, such as stroke care and disaster response. In stroke care, neurologists can review patients’ imaging results and promptly guide care providers on the necessary treatment plans. Similarly, in disaster response, specialists can offer real-time guidance to local care providers and paramedics on handling patients, circumventing the inaccessibility challenges that are common within affected locations.

AI is helping physicians diagnose conditions more accurately and efficiently. AI-powered algorithms analyze medical data, identify patterns, and provide clinical decision support, assisting EMS professionals in making rapid and evidence-based decisions. A popular example of this technology’s influence is in radiology, where radiologists can leverage AI-driven imaging interpretation to detect fractures, brain hemorrhages, and pulmonary embolisms quickly and accurately. Another application of this technology is the use of predictive analytics, a feature of AI that analyzes data to make predictions. Using this technology, emergency departments can anticipate patient surges and create suitable plans to serve these patients with effective resource allocation.

Wearable devices continuously monitor patients’ vital signs, including heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure, and communicate this information to care providers. These devices alert EMS professionals and patients when vital signs deviate from baseline, prompting immediate medical attention or proactive intervention by care providers. Smartwatches with electrocardiogram (ECG) capabilities, for instance, are administered to cardiac patients to detect irregular heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation, and prompt early medical intervention when necessary. Similarly, wearable glucose monitors enable diabetic patients to better control their blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of diabetic emergency interventions.

Robotics is also revolutionizing emergency medicine. Robot-assisted surgery is now commonly used in trauma care, since it allows minimally invasive procedures to be carried out with high levels of precision. Surgeons use this resource to hold and use their equipment. They then attach a small camera to the robotic arm to take enhanced, magnified pictures of the surgical area. Notably, these devices do not replace surgeons, but rather improve their precision and in many cases eliminate the need for open surgery. Several types of specialists rely on robot-assisted surgery to treat patients, including urologists, brain surgeons, spinal surgeons, and gynecologists.

EHR systems store patient information in a centralized database, including their medication history, allergies, and past surgeries. Within emergency rooms, having this information helps EMS professionals make informed decisions related to suitable medication, diagnostic tests, and treatment plans. Moreover, EHR systems facilitate communication and collaboration among various specialists when working on patients in critical conditions. The ability to access this data in real time improves efficiency and promotes positive health outcomes.

Despite its benefits to emergency medicine, emergency medical technology faces two primary challenges. One is data privacy and security. Critics argue that collecting and storing patient information can attract cyberattacks, leading to the loss of or unethical access to sensitive information. To mitigate this, facilities and emergency departments should invest in robust cybersecurity and implement tactics like data encryption and access control.

Secondly, there are concerns about over-reliance on technology when developing intervention strategies. Critics point out the possibility of bias in algorithms, particularly when using AI. To address this, it is imperative to maintain human oversight so that the judgment of experienced health care professionals is prioritized in clinical decision-making.

​
“An Ethical Analysis of the Arguments Both For and Against COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for Healthcare Workers” (Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2022) focuses on the development of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved vaccines that led to mandatory immunization requirements for many healthcare workers wishing to avoid state medical board censure and loss of job.

While a majority of those in the medical profession accepted vaccine mandates, a vocal few characterized them as unnecessary and intrusive, as it violated their civil liberties and right to pursue whatever health care mitigation steps they saw fit.

Vaccine mandates historically fall under the purview of nations worldwide, starting with the state of Bavaria in Germany, which required smallpox vaccines shortly after they were developed in 1807. The precedent-setting 1905 U.S. Supreme Court case Jacobson vs. Massachusetts established that vaccine mandates at state levels were enforceable and legal when necessary to protect public health.

Today such mandates meet the criterion of “acceptability,” or something generally accepted by the public at large. This is particularly true when vaccine requirements are consistently applied in a way that is just, or “fair, equitable, and appropriate” to all involved, whether healthcare workers or ordinary citizens. With the demonstrated benefits of immunity to COVID-19 substantially outweighing the risks, vaccines meet this criterion. Further they are administered through legal means without bias or discrimination, and constitute a “necessary treatment.”

Precedent favors this perspective as well: over the past half-century, those who work in health care have generally abided by requirements that obtaining hospital privileges goes hand in hand with mandatory vaccines, when circumstances dictate. Before March 2020, when COVID-19 restrictions took hold, mandatory vaccination proof, or proof of immunity, regarding rubella, mumps, measles, hepatitis B, and tetanus was standard when obtaining clinical work engagements in a majority of US healthcare settings.

Another aspect of this argument is the concept of nonmaleficence, which aligns physicians with the Hippocratic Oath and a promise to “act in a way which does no harm.” In remaining unvaccinated, healthcare workers are not simply exercising free will. Because they interact with coworkers and members of the public in physical settings, they are exposing highly vulnerable people to potential viral transmission.

Beyond this, healthcare workers’ decision not to get vaccinated depletes society of the very type of professionals necessary to assist patients during a pandemic. The physician–patient relationship, as well as the societal healthcare construct, suffer as a result. Refusal to get vaccinated counters the utilitarian principle that underlies the intersection between public health policy, law, and ethics, of accomplishing “the best for the most.”

With utilitarian arguments common during crisis, such formulations can infringe on the individual’s rights. Some healthcare workers argued that, while the seasonal flu vaccine is readily available and required in numerous healthcare settings, it is not mandated at a policy level. Indeed, there are workarounds as a professional, such as wearing a mask throughout the flu season.

However, a new type of easily transmissible virus that has severe effects is different. In such a situation, one must weigh the level of risk with the unknown effects of a new virus. COVID-19 poses a greater threat to more people than the common flu. In turn, higher risks make an overarching mandate more necessary and permissible.

The authors go on to tie the vaccine mandate to the philosopher Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative, which holds that moral laws are applicable to every individual. In particular, universalizability dictates that one should, as a moral actor, consider what the consequences would be if all other individuals acted in the way one is acting. Moral self-governance requires actions that one may not agree with or prefer, but which one submits to when they serve the greater good and, by extension, the well-being of fellow humans.

​Medical malpractice represents a critical concern in healthcare. When medical professionals fail to provide the standard of care expected in their field, they potentially cause significant harm to patients. Studies suggest that medical mistakes can result in as many as 251,000 deaths annually in the United States, which makes medical errors the third leading cause of death.

There are several forms of medical malpractice. Misdiagnosis stands as one of the most prevalent forms of medical error. This occurs when healthcare providers fail to recognize or correctly identify a patient's medical condition, potentially leading to incorrect treatments, missed treatment windows, and even fatal consequences. For a misdiagnosis to qualify as malpractice, the doctor must have performed below the standard expected of their professional peers.

Surgical errors represent another significant area of medical malpractice. These can range from performing unnecessary procedures to leaving surgical instruments inside patients, causing avoidable damage to organs or tissues, or failing to maintain sterile equipment. While surgical procedures can never be risk-free, medical professionals are obligated to inform patients about these risks. Malpractice occurs when errors extend beyond anticipated surgical complications.

Prescription drug errors pose another substantial risk to patients. These mistakes can involve prescribing incorrect medications, miscalculating dosages, or failing to consider potential drug interactions. For example, doctors may inadvertently prescribe a blood thinner without considering its interaction with other drugs the patient is already taking or the patient's pre-existing conditions. In fact, blood thinners are responsible for almost seven percent of medication errors in hospitalized patients.

Birth injuries represent a particularly sensitive category of medical malpractice. Complications during childbirth can result in nerve damage, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, and other long-term conditions. Most medical malpractice claims against obstetricians and gynecologists stem from these potentially preventable birth-related injuries.

Lawyers need to examine multiple elements when taking on a medical malpractice case. Firstly, the lawyer must demonstrate that the interaction between doctor and patient actually entailed an owed professional duty or service. Second, lawyers need to prove that the doctor failed to provide the standard of care, thus breaching this duty. Third, lawyers need to establish causation; the breach must have directly caused an injury. Finally, the injury must have resulted in significant damages, which could include physical suffering, loss of income, disability, or emotional distress.

Informed consent is a key tenet of modern medicine, and overlooking it when dealing with patients can lead to medical malpractice. If a healthcare provider fails to fully disclose potential risks associated with a procedure, they may be liable for damages, even if the procedure itself was performed correctly. For instance, a surgeon who does not inform a patient about a significant risk of limb loss could be held responsible if such a complication occurs.

The legal process for medical malpractice cases is complex and often stressful. Plaintiffs must meticulously document evidence, often requiring expert testimony to establish the standard of care and demonstrate negligence. Compensation can cover economic damages like medical expenses and lost earnings, as well as non-economic damages for pain and suffering.

Prevention remains the most effective strategy. Hospitals and healthcare institutions are increasingly implementing best practices, such as establishing clear guidelines and enforcing strict hygiene protocols, to minimize the occurrence of medical errors.

For individuals who suspect they have experienced medical malpractice, seeking consultation with an experienced medical malpractice attorney is crucial. These legal professionals can help evaluate the specifics of a case, determine its viability, and guide patients through the complex legal landscape of medical negligence claims.