History of Emergency Medicine

Abstract

The field of emergency medicine has a unique history in that it faced quite a bit of opposition in becoming an officially recognized medical specialty. Pioneers in the field of emergency medicine were willing to risk their own careers and professional reputations to fight for an ideal that other physicians in their time did not yet understand or respect, believing their patients deserved more than the standard for their day. These physicians chose not to accept the standard but to instead push beyond and raise the quality of care for the acutely ill. Emergency medicine has come a long way in a relatively short period of time. Only about 60 or 70 years ago, the emergency department was essentially the hospital basement often referred to as the “pit.” Nowadays, emergency departments have become somewhat of the front door of the hospital and the safety net of medical care for society.