The Changing Role of Emergency Medicine

The role of the Emergency Department (ED) for both children and adults has changed considerably over the last several decades, with visits to the ED increasing by one-third in the decade between 1997 and 2007.1 Beyond the critically important role of tending to children perceived to be in urgent need of health care, the pediatric ED is now used as an extension of the “safety net” for individuals without a primary care provider, including but not limited to low-income persons, an after-hours extension of private pediatricians’ offices, a rapid diagnostic center, and a streamlined entryway for admissions.
Source: Pediatric Clinics of North America - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Foreword Source Type: research