Imagine that someone in your family suddenly has chest pain, or there is a minor accident on the road. We rush to the hospital's emergency room, or ETU, in a panic, right? Have you ever wondered who the doctor who sees us first and makes quick decisions to save our lives is? They are the
emergency medicine doctors. These people are like the first line of defense in the hospital. Today, let's talk about the doctors who perform this valuable service.
Who is an emergency doctor? What do they do?
Simply put, an emergency physician is a doctor who has received special training to treat emergencies and accidents immediately. They are the ones who mainly work in the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of a hospital. Their main job is
to quickly stabilize a patient who has come in with any illness or accident and decide what the best course of action is. Imagine that about 10 patients come to the ETU at once. One has a
heart attack , another has a broken arm, another has a serious wound and is bleeding, and another has a simple fever. These doctors decide who should be treated first. They give priority to the person who is most at risk. In medicine, we call this
triage . If you have a minor injury and have to stay in the ETU, that's why it takes a while. Emergency physicians are like people who have knowledge of many subjects at the same time. They:
...are prepared to face any emergency situation related to any field. Some patients can be treated and sent home. Others need to be admitted to a ward for further treatment. Sometimes they need to be referred to another specialist. All these decisions are made by the emergency doctor.
The most important thing is that they treat patients based solely on the severity of their condition, without considering anything like their age, gender, or social status.
When should we run to ETU?
Sometimes we can't figure out if it's something serious enough to go to the ETU, or if it's something that should be seen by a regular doctor. If you have the symptoms below,
go to the hospital's emergency room immediately or call the 1990 Suwaseriya Ambulance Service. This can be a matter of life and death.
| Symptom/condition | Things to pay attention to |
|---|
| Difficulty breathing | Sudden onset of severe shortness of breath, inability to take a deep breath, feeling of tightness in the chest and throat. If you have uncontrolled asthma, go to the ETU immediately. |
| Head, neck, or back injuries | Loss of consciousness or feeling disoriented after a head injury. If there is an injury to the neck or spine and the limbs feel numb or cannot be moved. |
| Heavy bleeding that cannot be stopped | If there is excessive bleeding from an injury or other cause and it cannot be controlled, it is an emergency. |
| Chest pain or pressure | This can be a major symptom of a heart attack. If you have a squeezing, squeezing pain in the center of your chest that radiates to your arm or jaw, take immediate action. |
| Stroke symptoms | Sudden inability to speak, see, or walk; numbness or weakness on one side of the body (face, arm, or leg); slurred speech. Time is of the essence in this case. |
| Other emergencies | Things like sudden severe headaches, suspected broken bones, deep cuts, and fits with high fever. |
Situations where you should see a regular doctor instead of going to the ETU
If your problem is not life-threatening, but you need to see a doctor quickly, it is better to see your family doctor (Family Doctor/GP) or channel a specialist than to go to the ETU and increase the congestion. For example:
- Colds and flu (if not severe)
- Ear infections
- Sore throat
- Migraine
- Skin rashes
- Minor injuries such as sprains, minor scrapes, and minor burns
What happens when you go to ETU?
If you are not arriving by ambulance, there is a process when you enter the ETU. 1.
Registration: First, your details (name, address) are recorded. 2.
Triage: Next, a nurse comes in and asks what your problem is, measures things like your blood pressure and pulse, and categorizes you according to the severity of your condition. 3.
Medical examination: Then the emergency doctor examines you and asks more details about your symptoms. 4.
Tests: Various tests can be done to diagnose the disease accurately.
| Test type | Examples and descriptions |
|---|
| Blood Tests | Complete blood count (CBC), blood sugar, creatinine, pregnancy test, etc. |
| Urinalysis | To detect infections or other problems. |
| ECG (EKG/ECG) | To check the functioning of the heart. This is especially important in cases of chest pain. |
| Imaging Tests | These include X-rays, ultrasound scans, and CT scans. |
Based on the results of these tests, the doctor will decide what to do next. Accordingly,
- You can be treated, given advice, and sent home.
- You may be admitted to a hospital ward for further treatment.
- You may be referred to another specialist (e.g. cardiologist, neurologist).
- You may be referred for emergency surgery.
Take-Home Message
- Emergency physicians are specialists who treat life-threatening emergencies and accidents.
- Do not ignore serious symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or paralysis. Go to the ETU immediately or call 1990.
- By seeing your family doctor for minor medical conditions, you can reduce congestion in the ETU and allow someone who really needs it to receive treatment quickly.
- Don't worry if you have to stay in the ETU for a short time. It could mean that someone more serious than you is being treated.
- After you go home from the ETU, follow the doctor's instructions exactly. If he or she asks you to see him or her again, be sure to do so.
Emergency Medicine, ETU, Emergency Treatment Unit, Doctor, Hospital, Emergencies
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