Also called: Critical Care Physician, Emergency Department Doctor (ED Doctor), Emergency Department Physician (ED Physician), Emergency Doctor, Emergency Medicine Physician
Emergency medicine physicians make immediate medical decisions and act to prevent death or further disability. Provide immediate recognition, evaluation, care, stabilization, and disposition of patients. May direct emergency medical staff in an emergency department.
Analyze records, examination information, or test results to diagnose medical conditions.
Assess patients' pain levels or sedation requirements.
Collect and record patient information, such as medical history or examination results, in electronic or handwritten medical records.
Communicate likely outcomes of medical diseases or traumatic conditions to patients or their representatives.
Conduct primary patient assessments that include information from prior medical care.
Consult with hospitalists and other professions, such as social workers, regarding patients' hospital admission, continued observation, transition of care, or discharge.
Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, residents, and other medical staff.
Discuss patients' treatment plans with physicians and other medical professionals.
Evaluate patients' vital signs or laboratory data to determine emergency intervention needs and priority of treatment.
Identify factors that may affect patient management, such as age, gender, barriers to communication, and underlying disease.
Monitor patients' conditions and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
Perform emergency resuscitations on patients.
Perform medical procedures, such as emergent cricothyrotomy, endotracheal intubation, and emergency thoracotomy.
Refer patients to specialists or other practitioners.
Select and prescribe medications to address patient needs.
Select, request, perform, or interpret diagnostic procedures, such as laboratory tests, electrocardiograms, emergency ultrasounds, and radiographs.
Stabilize patients in critical condition.
Work Context
Work Context information for this career will be available soon.
Work Activities
Work Activities information for this career will be available soon.
Detailed Work Activities
Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.
Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.
Record patient medical histories.
Advise patients on effects of health conditions or treatments.
Evaluate patient functioning, capabilities, or health.
Confer with other professionals to plan patient care.
Supervise patient care personnel.
Confer with other professionals to plan patient care.
Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals.
Analyze patient data to determine patient needs or treatment goals.
Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
Evaluate patient outcomes to determine effectiveness of treatments.
Treat medical emergencies.
Operate on patients to treat conditions.
Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.
Evaluate treatment options to guide medical decisions.
Prescribe medications.
Conduct diagnostic tests to determine patient health.
