Emergency medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Emergency medicine became the twenty-third specialty by the American Board of Medical Examiners in 1979. Emergency physicians are specialists in the s tabilization and resuscitation of medical and surgical emergencies in patie nts of all ages; they are experts in triage and in prioritization of resour ces. Emergency physicians provide the "safety net" for the American health care system, and they are the facilitators between the community and health care systems, and between primary care physicians and specialists. The eme rgency department is an ideal environment in which to teach the assessment and management of patients presenting with undifferentiated processes. Emer gency physicians possess a unique set of clinical and research skills that have made them valuable members of the medical school academic community. P resented is a historical perspective on the specialty of emergency medicine and its evolving role at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Included are discussions on innovations in teaching developed by the emergency medicine faculty including applications of computer-assisted instruction and the Int ernet.