Proud to Provide your Emergency Care

Emergency Medicine (EM) is a medical specialty  concerned with the care of illnesses or injuries requiring immediate medical attention. However, in some countries, it is still not recognised as a specialty; instead, it is viewed as part of primary care or as a supraspecialty. This situation leads to confusion for both, users of emergency medical services and medical professionals. Emergency Medicine demands a specialised skill set, as it involves providing high-quality care in high-pressure scenarios. Hence, Emergency Medicine workers must be trained in Emergency Medicine in order to be able to perform as needed. 

The EM Day 2025 campaign aims to raise awareness of the numerous challenges Emergency Medicine professionals encounter in their daily responsibilities. These challenges affect the quality of their work, directly influencing patient outcomes and hindering the overall efficiency of the emergency medical system. It also emphasises the importance of addressing the challenges faced by emergency care responders and all Emergency Medicine professionals. Additionally, it underscores why it is essential to provide them with the right conditions, support, and ongoing training to enable them to perform at their best.

This campaign will address the following key points:

1. Emphasise the importance of recognising Emergency Medicine as a distinct medical specialty and acknowledge the expertise of professionals working in the Emergency Department and emergency medical system professionals.
2. Encourage public awareness about appropriately using the Emergency Department. If you have pain or another symptom that occurs acutely, first ask for help to be sure it is a medical emergency. You may ask your family doctor, go to the nearest Emergency Department, or if you are really unwell, call your Emergency Number (112, 911, 999, 119, 000, 100) depending on your location.
   • This aims to reduce patient waiting time and allow Emergency Department workers to focus on patient care and deliver quality care at their best.
   • In addition, this will ensure that Emergency Department workers are available to respond to real medical emergencies.
3. Promote the 24/7 availability of the Emergency Department for emergency medical care. 
4. Raise awareness of the difference between primary and emergency medical care and clarify when to effectively utilise each service. 
5. Urge policymakers to support emergency medical system workers by implementing programmes to improve their working conditions, enabling them to perform their duties to a high standard. This will ultimately improve the functioning of the entire healthcare system, particularly in Emergency Departments.
6. Raise awareness of the need for public understanding of the challenging environment in which Emergency Medicine professionals work.
7. Advocate for reforms, legislation, and regulations to improve working conditions for Emergency Department workers and the overall efficiency of healthcare systems.

The campaign seeks to encourage greater appreciation and stronger support for the dedicated professionals in Emergency Medicine. By highlighting the critical aspects and challenges of their work, we aim to emphasise the importance of valuing and addressing the issues that affect both Emergency Medicine practitioners and the overall functioning of Emergency Medical systems.

Developing strategies and initiatives to reduce burnout and stress levels among Emergency Medicine professionals is essential for ensuring high job satisfaction. Taking into consideration that their overall performance hinges on their well-being and intrinsic motivation to provide care. This has been previously addressed by the EM Day 2022 campaign about the levels of burnout among emergency care workers, follow the link and watch the video from the campaign https://vimeo.com/714013102?share=copy#t=0

Implementing strategies to improve Emergency Department worker’s conditions is a necessary step. Focusing on staffing, mental health support, efficient workflows, communication, public education, and creating a supportive work environment can significantly help emergency medical system workers stay focused and function more effectively. It’s a team effort involving both the workers and the broader community to ensure that they can provide the best care possible to those in need.