Emergency Physician

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention over 136 million people will visit the emergency room this year. Of those 136 million, over 40 million will be injury related and the rest either disease or illness related. Emergency room physicians are the only doctors who see everyone – every age, every background, every income level, and every ailment.

An ER doctor may see a homeless person with injuries and no resources in the same hour a wealthy individual with a heart attack and full insurance coverage. No matter what, the Emergency Room is open and no one is turned away. And it's due to the diversity in patients and highly stressful nature of this profession that the path of learning how to become an ER doctor can be challenging for many potential candidates.

What is an ER Doctor?

An ER doctor treats the physical injuries and sicknesses of patients who are admitted to the emergency room, usually with acute (severe or critical) medical problems. ER doctors can administer medicine and are trained to use various medical devices in the care of the patients. They work closely with support and ancillary staff in order to provide patients with the care and attention they need in their most critical moments.

ER doctors may do any number of tasks relating to patient care including:

• Initial patient evaluations and examinations
• Ordering tests and blood work to be done to understand a patients condition more thoroughly
• Ordering medication for patients based on their current condition as well as their medical history, current medications, and allergies
• Perform consultations with other doctors, nursing staff and support staff in order to determine the best course of action for a patient
• Explain procedures, diagnoses, tests and treatments to patients and their family members
• Complete phone consultations with primary care doctors, surgeons, and other physicians depending on patient conditions and needs
• Work closely with specialists who can offer further care to patients and continue care once the patient leaves the emergency room either to return home or to be admitted to the hospital
• Read various test results and x-rays throughout the course of patient care

Emergency room physicians experience great stress along with their opportunity to help people. One of the main qualifications of an ER doctor is that they be able to handle the burden of making major, potentially life changing decisions for the patients that they see. It is important for anyone who is considering specializing as an ER doctor to fully consider the pressure of the position and the real gravity of the situations that they will encounter.

Educational Requirements for Becoming an ER Doctor

The minimum educational requirement for an ER doctor is a medical degree. The specialty is highly competitive and it is advised that aspiring ER physicians work hard to maintain high grades throughout their education as well as high scores on all exams in order to be accepted into emergency room programs.

Step-by-Step Educational Path to Becoming an ER Doctor

Bachelor’s Degree

Students who aspire to attend medical school have a lot of options when it comes to undergraduate education. However, no matter what degree they choose to pursue, there are specific requirements and pre-requisites in order to take the MCAT and get into medical school. Because many of the pre-requisites are science based, some undergraduate students choose to major in a science-based undergraduate program like biology, which will automatically ensure their coursework and lab credits are complete.

ER doctor’s who excel during their residency and fellowship often have patient-care experience that was received during their undergraduate work. This may include volunteering at a hospital, becoming and working as an EMT or finding a position in a clinic. Undergraduate students who take the time to get patient care experience will find that it helps with their confidence, interaction and decision making skills as they move throughout their education and into their career.

See our Tips for Success below for more information about obtaining experience.

MCAT

The Medical College…