Patients who are unable to see their primary physician are treated an emergency room (ER) doctor. These patients are usually in the emergency room because they were unable to schedule an appointment with a regular doctor due to the severity of a wound, the time of day, or the unavailability of other doctors. Doctors in emergency rooms must be able to diagnose and treat a wide range of illnesses and wounds while working with limited information about the patient’s medical history. One patient may have the flu and require fluids and a decongestant, while another may be near-death as a result of a workplace accident. A doctor in an emergency room moves from room to room, diagnosing patients in descending order of severity.
Normally, emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When a person is unable to see his or her primary physician and requires immediate medical attention, he or she can go to an emergency room. Patients are assisted in checking in and vitals are taken receptionists and nurses to ensure that no one is in immediate danger. Patients are seen an emergency room doctor in order of severity, so those with minor issues will likely have to wait much longer than those who are experiencing life-threatening symptoms right away. When the patient is taken to an exam room, a nurse examines him or her and gathers information about the patient’s symptoms and pain levels to relay to the ER doctor.
Because of a nurse, when the emergency room doctor moves to examine a new patient, he or she is already up to date on what is wrong. The doctor usually examines the patient to confirm the information gathered the nurse before making a diagnosis. An electrocardiograph (EKG), urine culture, or blood test may be required to confirm this diagnosis. In this case, the doctor instructs a nurse to have the test performed the appropriate staff member, and then leaves to see another patient while the test is in progress. The emergency room doctor examines the results to confirm the diagnosis before returning to the patient to lay out a treatment plan.
Some patients enter an emergency room but never leave due to the nature of the facility. On a daily basis, emergency room doctors must deal with death. Because of this, and because of the long hours they work, emergency room doctors are prone to depression. However, many doctors find their work to be both rewarding and exciting.