“Bring 'em all”: The ED in a tradition of refuge

The rapid deployment of advanced emergency medical care is a celebrated function of the modern emergency department. However, as anyone who has worked in an ED can attest, a wide array of conditions and situations are cared for which defy straightforward medical categorization. It is not uncommon for victims of human trafficking; the cold, hungry, and homeless; the estranged elderly; those in custody by law enforcement; and many others with nowhere else to turn to find their way into a local ED.
Source: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Source Type: research