Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Objective

Emergency Medicine as an independent medical specialty has a history of only about 30 years. However, emergency medical care has been practised ever since human civilization. As emergency physicians, it is necessary to know the evolution of Emergency Medicine throughout the centuries and its development in different parts of the World. Lessons learned in the past may guide our future development.

Methods

Medical literature on evolution, development and history of Emergency Medicine were searched from the Medline, HealthSTAR and EMBASE. Relevant full text articles were retrieved through hospital library network. Information was also obtained through Internet and books on history of medicine.

Results

Most of the articles were contained in the International Report Section of the Annals of Emergency Medicine. The historical development, the catalysts for change and the different models of modern emergency care were found to be interesting and enlightening.

Conclusion

Emergency Medicine is still at its formative stage. Different models exist in different parts of the World. The specialty is rapidly changing and moving in different directions, both locally and internationally.

Keywords

Development emergency medical services emergency medicine evolution history of medicine

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Dykstra

E.H.

International models for the practice of emergency care [Editorial].

Am J Emerg Med 1997; 15(2): 208–9.

Hussein

M.K.

The Edwin Smith Papyrus – the oldest surgical treatise in the world.

Egyptian Orthopaedic Association website: http://www.eoa.org.eg/oldest.htm.

Parker

The Roman empire. In: Eyewitness guides – medicine. London: Dorling Kindersley, 1995: 19.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan. In: Bible: The New Testament; Luke 10.

The voluntary aid societies. In: Caring for the sick. 2nd ed. London: Dorling Kindersley, 1990: 8.

Parker

Emergency treatment. In: Eyewitness guides – medicine. London: Dorling Kindersley, 1995: 58.

Parker

Caring for the sick. In: Eyewitness guides – medicine. London: Dorling Kindersley, 1995: 56.

Sefrin

, Weidringer

J.W.

History of emergency medicine in Germany.

J Clin Anesth 1991; 3(3): 245–8.

Moecke

Emergency medicine in Germany.

Ann Emerg Med 1998; 31(1): 111–5.

10.

A short history of BASICS. The British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS) website: http://www.basics.org.uk/informat.htm.

11.

Rutherford

W.H.

, Evans

R.C.

Accident and emergency medicine in the United Kingdom.

Am J Emerg Med 1983; 1(1): 107–9.

12.

Liggins

Inappropriate attendance at accident and emergency departments: a literature review.

J Adv Nurs 1993; 18(7): 1141–5.

13.

Pantridge

J.F.

, Geddes

J.S.

A mobile intensive care unit in the management of myocardial infarction.

Lancet 1967; 2(7510): 271–3.

14.

Sklar

D.P.

Emergency medicine and the developing world.

Am J Emerg Med 1988; 6(4): 390–3.

15.

Crowell

, Shao

, Cummins

R.O.

Emergency medicine in China 1987.

Ann Emerg Med 1988; 17(10): 1069–73.

16.

Gaitan

, Mendez

, Sirker

N.E.

Growing pains: status of emergency medicine in Nicaragua.

Ann Emerg Med 1998; 31(3): 402–5.

17.

Alagappan

, Cherukuri

, Narang

Early development of emergency medicine in Chennai (Madras), India.

Ann Emerg Med 1998; 32(5): 604–8.

18.

PoSaw

L.L.

, Aggarwal

, Bernstein

S.L.

Emergency medicine in the New Delhi area, India.

Ann Emerg Med 1998; 32(5): 609–15.

19.

Arnold

J.L.

, Song

H.S.

, Chung

J.M.

The recent development of emergency medicine in South Korea.

Ann Emerg Med 1998; 32(6): 730–5.

20.

Church

A.L.

, Plitponkarnpim

Emergency medicine in Thailand.

Ann Emerg Med 1998; 32(1): 93–7.

21.

Paraskos

J.A.

History of CPR and the role of the National Conference.

Ann Emerg Med 1993; 22(2): 275–80.

22.

Kirsch

T.D.

, Holliman

C.J.

, Hirshon

J.M.

The Development of international emergency medicine: A role for US Emergency Physicians and Organizations.

Acad Emerg Med 1997; 4(10): 996–1001.

23.

Beveridge

R.C.

Emergency medicine: a Canadian perspective.

Ann Emerg Med 1995; 26(4): 504–7.

24.

Abbadi

, Abdallah

A.K.

, Holliman

C.J.

Emergency medicine in Jordan.

Ann Emerg Med 1997; 30(3): 319–21.

25.

Arnold

J.L.

International emergency medicine and the recent development of emergency medicine worldwide.

Ann Emerg Med 1999; 33(1): 97–103.

26.

Lim

S.H.

, Anantharaman

Emergency medicine in Singapore: past, present, and future.

Ann Emerg Med 1999; 33(3): 338–43.

27.

Lee

E.F.T.

, Chan

K.H.

, VanRooyen

M.J.

Emergency medicine in Hong Kong.

Ann Emerg Med 1998; 32(1): 83–5.

28.

Wong

T.W.

The development of emergency medicine in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong J Emerg Med 1994; 1(1): 79–84.

29.

Berk

W.A.

Emergency medicine in the third world: two years as director of the Kingston, Jamaica, Public Hospital Casualty Department.

Ann Emerg Med 1989; 18: 567–72.

30.

Nikkanen

H.E.

, Pouges

, Jacobs

L.M.

Emergency medicine in France.

Ann Emerg Med 1998; 31(1): 116–20.

31.

Pantridge

R.A.

Emergency medicine in West Kazakhstan, CIS.

Ann Emerg Med 1998; 32(4): 493–7.

32.

Townes

D.A.

, Lee

T.E.

, Gulo

Emergency medicine in Russia.

Ann Emerg Med 1998; 32(2): 239–42.