Professionalism in emergency medicine

The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), with the support and pa rticipation of the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), the Council of Residency Directors (CORD), the American College of Emergency Physician s (ACEP), the Emergency Medicine Residents Association (EMRA), the American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM), and the Association of Academic Chai rs of Emergency Medicine (AACEM), initiated a project entitled Professional ism in Emergency Medicine. Its concepts were developed by the SAEM Ethics C ommittee, and are intended to describe proper behaviors and attitudes of th e successful practitioner of emergency medicine. The behaviors described ar e not primarily scientific or technical, since those are defined by the cor e curriculum for residency training and are tested through certification ex aminations. This document identifies attitudes and behaviors that enhance t rust by placing the patient's interest above other interests. This concept serves as the operative definition of professionalism. The purpose of this article is to clarify the professional attitudes and knowledge that are imp ortant to the emergency physician (EP). While no physician is likely to mee t idealized standards, all EPs must meet basic standards while striving for the ideal. Awareness of these standards must begin early in the socializat ion process of emergency medical professionals. The standards must be integ rated into residency training as well as the clinical practice of all EPs.