Emergency Medicine

Emergency medicine centers on the rapid evaluation, stabilization, and treatment of patients with acute illnesses or injuries. It spans trauma, cardiac and respiratory emergencies, stroke, sepsis, toxicologic exposures, and undifferentiated symptoms that require immediate diagnosis and intervention. The field integrates clinical judgment, point-of-care testing, imaging, and procedures performed under time pressure, often with limited information. Emergency medicine also coordinates prehospital care, disaster response, triage, and critical decision-making that determines downstream outcomes. Its goal is to preserve life, prevent complications, and provide timely, efficient care in situations where minutes truly matter.