Emergency Medicine

Emergency medicine remains one of the most popular specialty options for new physicians. A cutting edge field that requires doctors to be fluent in an array of medical procedures, emergency medicine entails broad, multi-faceted training. You must be able to assess, triage, and treat whatever comes through the door, from common head colds to gunshot wounds and severe trauma.

Grace Under Pressure

All medical training is taxing; however, emergency medicine is known to be an especially competitive specialty. Following four years of medical school, every doctor must choose a residency that allows for further specialization. Each year, emergency medicine is one of the most sought-after residency tracks, and one of the most difficult placements to obtain. Residency typically lasts three years, although some programs require an additional internship year.

In addition, because emergency medicine is a generalist enterprise, many doctors choose subspecialties that allow them to refine their skills further within a specific area of practice. Emergency pediatrics, sports medicine, and international medicine are all popular options. However, whatever the area of practice, emergency medicine doctors must be able to treat a diverse patient population.

This means exposure to an array of presenting problems as well as a wide variety of patient demographics. Whether young or old, rich or poor, American or foreign, a good doctor will be able to provide quality care to her patients. To be sure, it is broad training and the ability to work well under pressure that makes a doctor competent in the emergency room.