title: Patient perceptions of the specialty of emergency medicine.
abstract: The study objective was to determine emergency department (ED) patients' perceptions of the specialty of emergency medicine. We surveyed a convenience sample of adult ED patients regarding their knowledge of the specialty of emergency medicine. Responses included: 22% believing that ED physicians have their own practice outside the ED; 26% of patients with primary care physicians expected to be seen by their primary care physician in the ED; 19% thought ED physicians care for patients after admission; 26% thought that ED physicians perform surgery, 62% perceived emergency medicine to be a specialty; 15% have heard of the American College of Emergency Physicians; 71% thought that ED physicians are board certified and 15% thought paramedics were ED physicians. Patients estimated ED physicians' mean annual mean salary to be $100,000 and 61% believe that ED physicians are hospital employees. In conclusion, the specialty of emergency medicine is not well understood by our patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL, USA. Jon.Olsen-MD@advocatehealth.com
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Levinson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002568:Certification; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television