A guest column by the American College of Emergency Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD.com.
Emergency medical care in the United States is a unique success story. Born from military tactics, emergency medicine has grown exponentially in size and sophistication from its early days. What was once a patchwork of inspired professionals cobbled together at a moment’s notice is now a highly esteemed medical specialty; singularly trained and expertly equipped to handle any emergency for any patient, anytime. As emergency medicine has grown, so has the demand for our services.
With more than 136 million annual patient visits, the equivalent of one in five Americans come through our doors every year. Unfortunately, misconceptions about emergency medicine could lead to dangerous policies that compromise patient care if left unchecked.
One myth is the perceived prevalence of the “unnecessary visit.” This myth is supported predominantly by insurance companies that continue trying their best to avoid compensating patients for necessary emergency care.
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