Emergency Department Treatment Terminology

Emergency Department care may include rapid assessment, diagnostic testing, medication, procedures, monitoring, and follow-up planning. The treatment a person receives depends on their symptoms, condition, medical history, and level of urgency.

Assessment and prioritization

Emergency Department (ED): A hospital department that provides immediate assessment and treatment for sudden illness, injury, or a serious change in a person’s condition.
Emergency room (ER): A common term for the Emergency Department.
Triage: The clinical process of assessing patients and prioritizing care according to urgency. Patients with the most serious or time-sensitive conditions may be seen before people who arrived earlier.
Acuity: The severity of a person’s condition and how quickly they need assessment or treatment.
Initial assessment: The first clinical evaluation after arrival. It may include a brief history, vital signs, a review of the main concern, and identification of immediate treatment needs.
Rapid assessment and treatment: A process that combines early assessment with the prompt start of diagnostic tests and treatment, often involving a senior decision-making clinician.
Resuscitation: Immediate treatment to support or restore essential functions such as breathing and circulation.
Reassessment: A repeat evaluation to check whether symptoms, vital signs, or the response to treatment have changed.

Monitoring and diagnostic tests

Vital signs: Measurements such as temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.
Patient monitoring: Ongoing observation of a person’s condition, which may include heart rhythm, blood pressure, breathing, and oxygen levels.
Pulse oximetry: A noninvasive test that estimates the oxygen level in the blood using a sensor placed on a finger, toe, or earlobe.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): A test that records the heart’s electrical activity and can help identify certain heart rhythm or circulation problems.
Blood test: Laboratory testing of a blood sample to evaluate factors such as infection, inflammation, blood counts, electrolytes, or organ function.
Urinalysis: Testing a urine sample for signs of infection, blood, dehydration, kidney problems, or other conditions.
X-ray: An imaging test that uses a small amount of radiation to create pictures of bones and certain organs or tissues.
Computed tomography (CT) scan: An imaging test that uses X-rays and computer processing to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body.
Ultrasound: An imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of internal organs, blood vessels, or developing tissue.
Contrast material: A substance used during some imaging tests to make certain organs, blood vessels, or tissues easier to see.
Consultation: Evaluation or treatment recommendations from a specialist or another clinical service.

Medicines and supportive treatments

Analgesic: A medication used to relieve pain.
Antiemetic: A medication used to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting.
Antibiotic therapy: Treatment with medication used to treat certain bacterial infections. Antibiotics do not treat viral infections.
Anti-inflammatory medication: Medication used to reduce inflammation and related pain or swelling.
Intravenous (IV) access: A small, flexible tube placed in a vein so healthcare professionals can give fluids, medication, or blood products.
IV fluids: Fluids given through a vein to support hydration, circulation, or replacement of fluid losses.
Oxygen therapy: Supplemental oxygen provided through a nasal cannula, face mask, or another breathing device.
Nebulizer treatment: A treatment that turns liquid medication into a mist that can be inhaled into the lungs.
Blood transfusion: The administration of blood or a blood component through an IV to replace blood loss or treat a blood-related condition.
Anticoagulant: A medication that reduces the blood’s ability to form clots. The treatment may be used to prevent or treat certain blood clots.

Procedures and emergency treatments

Local anesthetic: Medication applied or injected to numb a specific area and reduce pain during a procedure.
Sedation: Medication used to reduce anxiety, discomfort, or awareness during a procedure. The level of sedation and required monitoring depend on the medication and procedure.
Wound irrigation: Rinsing a wound with a fluid to remove dirt, debris, or other contaminants.
Laceration repair: Closing a cut or tear in the skin with stitches, staples, adhesive strips, or medical adhesive.
Sutures: Stitches used to close a wound or incision and support healing.
Incision and drainage: A procedure in which a clinician opens and drains a collection of pus, such as an abscess.
Splint: A support used to protect an injured body part and limit movement. A splint may allow room for swelling.
Cast: A rigid support used to hold an injured bone or joint in place while it heals.
Reduction: A procedure to move a dislocated joint or a broken bone back toward its normal alignment.
Catheterization: Inserting a flexible tube into the body to drain fluid, deliver treatment, or monitor a condition. A urinary catheter drains urine from the bladder.
Intubation: Placing a breathing tube into the trachea to help keep the airway open and support breathing.
Mechanical ventilation: Use of a machine to assist or control breathing when a person cannot breathe adequately on their own.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): Emergency chest compressions, with rescue breaths when appropriate, to help maintain circulation and breathing during cardiac arrest.
Defibrillation: Delivery of an electrical shock to treat certain life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms.
Cardioversion: Use of a synchronized electrical shock or medication to help restore a regular heart rhythm.

Next steps after treatment

Observation: Continued monitoring and treatment for a limited period to determine whether a person improves, needs more care, or can safely leave.
Discharge: Leaving the Emergency Department after evaluation or treatment, usually with instructions, medication guidance, follow-up recommendations, and return precautions.
Discharge instructions: Written or verbal information about home care, medications, activity, follow-up appointments, and symptoms that require additional medical attention.
Return precautions: Specific warning signs that mean a person should contact a healthcare professional or return for urgent care.
Admission: The decision to keep a person in the hospital for continued treatment, monitoring, or evaluation.
Transfer: Moving a person to another hospital, facility, or specialized unit for services that are not available in the current location.
Referral: A recommendation or arrangement for evaluation or treatment by another healthcare professional or service.
Follow-up: Additional evaluation or care after the Emergency Department visit, such as an appointment with a primary care professional or specialist.