The Evolution Of Emergency Medical Care
It's a wonderful thing to be able to walk into the emergency department at the nearest hospital and receive medical attention for minor ailments, such as scrapes and coughs, to more serious afflictions, such as broken bones and appendicitis. In fact, emergency departments completely revolutionized the way emergency medicine developed and continues to develop to this day.
The Early Stages of American Emergency Medicine: House Calls
Prior to this revolution in emergency medical care, you had to trust that your town's doctor was on call. When a patient could not make it in to their doctor's private office, the doctor would make a personal house call—that is, he would bring the medicine to them.
You could forget about moving a patient with serious injuries, as there was no official form of emergency transport for the general public until the 1950s.
Post WWII: The Beginnings of Change
With the Second World War coming to an end, more and more specially trained physicians were making their way into American hospitals. The medicine they learned on the fields of battle became an invaluable addition to the modern field of emergency care. While there had been a demonstrated need for specialized emergency care for decades, it wasn't until now that something could be done to meet that need.
Doctors were beginning to specialize and training was becoming more demanding, leading to better qualified medical personnel.
The Public Awakening: The Rise in Automobile Accidents and the Need for Immediate Emergency Care
Until the enactment of the safety laws, transportation from car accidents and other such situations were largely unmonitored. There were no standards of training when it came to emergency medical care on the scene, which of course would have a huge effect on the patient's recovery and overall outcome.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Act was only the beginning for emergency transportation standards. Further training and regulation came in 1973 with the EMS Systems Act making prognosis for accident patients much better in the long run.
EMS and Emergency Rooms Today
As of today, the emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and emergency room staff work together to provide the best patient care in the event of a medical emergency. The increase in communication between these two teams means better care—care that is continually evolving.
The care provided by emergency personnel continually proves to be an invaluable part of society, something that so many take for granted. As science and medicine continues to evolve and improve, so will emergency medical care.
Share