Guidelines for the Provision of Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Medicine Services (EMS) have undergone a significant expansion to meet the needs of a changing healthcare system.
As services have adapted organically to the demands put on them, they have been placed under increased strain, which in many cases has compromised the primary function of Emergency Medicine – the initial assessment and stabilisation of emergency patients.
The Guidelines for the Provision of Emergency Medical Services (GPEMS) addresses this problem by outlining the best practices within EMS, establishing standards for service delivery, and providing practical, and patient-centred recommendations.
The document – linked to below – is intended to be a comprehensive guide and will be updated regularly to ensure it is contemporary.
If you have any comments or suggestions re the document and its content, please contact policy@rcem.ac.uk.
Work Force and Department Management
Culture
Emergency Department Crowding
Emergency Medicine Workforce
Job Planning
Staff Wellbeing
Clinical Care and Services
Care of Older People in the Emergency Department
Care of patients with Mental health Problems in the Emergency Department
Care of Vulnerable patients and those likely to experience Health Inequalities in the Emergency Department
Children in the Emergency Department
Clinical Responsibility for Patients within the Emergency Department
Initial Assessment
Minor Injuries
Observation Units as part of the Emergency Department
Pharmacists & Pharmacy Services in the Emergency Department
Psychiatric Assessment Rooms
Same Day Emergency Care and the Emergency Department
Screening in the Emergency Department
Infrastructure and Operational Standards
Clinical Information Systems
ED interface with prehospital services
Emergency Department Estate Standards
Emergency Preparedness and Resilience and Response
High Intensity User and Frequent Attender Services
Patient Care and Experience
Discharge to General Practice
Management of Investigation Results in the Emergency Department
Patient Information in the Emergency Department
Patient Experience
Quality, Research and Sustainability
Environmental Sustainability in Emergency Medicine
Metrics in Emergency Medicine
Quality Improvement, Assurance and Audit in the Emergency Department
Referral for Inpatient Care Standards
Research
