Emergency care

Abstract

Patients with chronic illness are frequent users of the emergency health system in the United States. It is important that this population and those responsible for the health maintenance of these patients understand the process of seeking emergency care, the flow through the emergency department, expectations of an emergency visit, and disposition planning. There are several emergency care providers with whom the patient will interact during an emergency visit, and the resources available and capabilities of the emergency care center will vary considerably depending on location and type of facility. The goal of an emergency care visit is to take care of an acute complaint or an exacerbation of a chronic condition. Emergency medicine providers are well equipped to do just that.