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3 Reasons Board-Certified ER Doctors Matter – Especially in an Emergency
What to know before you or a loved one needs emergency care
PHOTO CREDIT: American Board of Emergency Medicine
If you've ever watched a medical drama like The Pitt, you might think the fast pace and high stakes are scripted just to keep viewers hooked. But real-life emergency departments can be just as intense, with real lives on the line.
In a real-life emergency, a doctor board-certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine can significantly improve the care patients receive – especially when treating adults over 50, who are more likely to need emergency care. Here's why board certification matters in emergency medicine and how to find out whether your local emergency department is staffed with board-certified physicians.
PHOTO CREDIT: American Board of Emergency Medicine
Specialized training and proven expertise
Did you know that emergency medicine is a specialty, similar to cardiology or orthopedic surgery, and requires specialized training?
Board-certified emergency physicians, such as those certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), have finished years of specialized training and passed comprehensive exams demonstrating expertise in their field. Once certified, they also complete ongoing assessments to help make sure they're prepared for any patient that may come to the emergency department.
After all, emergency physicians treat patients of all ages and conditions, often without the luxury of time to gather a complete medical history. In a single shift, they might go from setting a broken bone to caring for a stroke patient to treating a severe allergic reaction. With such variety in their day-to-day work, patients expect doctors to stay up to date with the latest medical advances.
Beyond medical expertise, emergency physicians must stay calm under pressure, make quick decisions, and communicate clearly and compassionately with patients and their loved ones. Ongoing reassessment by a certifying body allows patients to feel confident knowing they're being treated by physicians who have met rigorous board certification standards.
Leadership in life-or-death moments
Emergency departments can be chaotic environments (to put it mildly). Multiple patients are being treated simultaneously by dozens of medical professionals and support staff. When there’s a true emergency, the department needs to operate seamlessly.
In those moments, emergency physicians play a central role in diagnosing complex conditions, leading care across medical teams, and making critical decisions under pressure. This leadership is crucial to patient care, and board certification helps ensure physicians are ready to step up when the moment calls for it.
Confidence, preparedness, and peace of mind
Emergencies are stressful enough without worrying about the care you'll receive. In the heat of the moment, your instinct will likely be to go to the closest emergency department. What many people don't realize is that not every emergency department requires ABEM board certification for its physicians.
Although you can choose your primary care doctor or specialists you see, you don't have the ability to choose your doctor in the emergency department. While you can't predict when an emergency will strike, you can spend a few minutes now learning about your local hospital’s emergency department.
If your preferred hospital isn't staffed with ABEM-certified emergency physicians, or the information isn’t clear, call and ask questions before an emergency ever happens. You can advocate and let your local hospital know that you value having ABEM board-certified doctors care for you and your loved ones. You may also want to identify another nearby option that provides this standard of care.
Along with keeping an up-to-date list of medications and emergency contacts, determining where you would seek care if an emergency ever arises can help you feel more prepared.
When medical care matters most, you want to have confidence in the emergency physicians treating you. Understanding why ABEM board certification matters can help you make more informed decisions and advocate for yourself and your loved ones. Doctors who are board-certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine are trained, trusted, and prepared to lead care during critical moments.
Don't wait until an emergency to ask questions. Take a few minutes today to find out whether the emergency departments near you are staffed with ABEM board-certified doctors.
Click here to learn how to check if your local hospital is staffed by physicians board-certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine, and to download a simple emergency preparation sheet.
For more information:
- Delivery of Emergency Care is Best Led by ABEM-certified Physicians
- Do You Know Who Would Treat Your Family in an Emergency?
- Continuing Certification: Upholding our Commitment to Patients Through Lifelong Learning
- Value of ABEM-Certified Physicians
- RAND: Strategies for Sustaining Emergency Care in the United States
- Association Between American Board of Emergency Medicine Certification Performance and Severe State Medical Licensure Actions
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