Emergency department

A hospital unit that evaluates and treats people with acute illness or injury, providing emergency care around the clock. It stabilizes urgent conditions and arranges admission, transfer, or discharge.

Emergency triage: The process of sorting patients by the urgency of their medical needs. Triage determines who receives assessment and treatment first when patients arrive.
Acute coronary syndrome: A group of conditions caused by sudden reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. Rapid diagnosis can determine whether urgent heart treatment is needed.
Emergency physician: A physician trained to evaluate and treat urgent and life-threatening conditions. Emergency physicians lead acute assessment and coordinate initial treatment.
Boarding (health care): The prolonged stay of admitted patients in an emergency department while they await inpatient beds. Boarding ties up emergency space and staff needed for incoming patients.
Emergency medical services: A system that provides prehospital emergency care and transport to medical facilities. Prehospital teams alert departments and deliver patients needing urgent care.
Stroke: Brain injury caused by interrupted blood flow or bleeding within the brain. Time-sensitive assessment can identify candidates for treatments that limit brain damage.
Emergency nurse: A nurse specializing in care for patients with acute illness or injury. Emergency nurses perform triage, monitoring, treatment, and patient coordination.
Ambulance diversion: The redirection of ambulances away from a hospital unable to accept additional patients. Overloaded departments may limit ambulance arrivals, shifting pressure to nearby hospitals.
Resuscitation: Emergency measures used to restore or support vital functions. Resuscitation bays handle patients whose breathing or circulation is failing.
Trauma surgery: Surgical care for injuries caused by physical force. Severe injuries may require coordinated emergency evaluation and immediate operative care.

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