Department of Medicine

Section of Emergency Medicine

The section of Emergency Medicine provides immediate, high quality emergency care to all patients regardless of sex, age, caste and financial status. The section handles all sorts of adult and paediatric emergencies including level one trauma and acute medical, surgical, gynaecological and psychiatric emergencies. The section is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.

Services

Emergency Medicine faculty supervises the section. Well-trained emergency physicians look after patients along with a team of interns, Emergency Medicine residents and senior medical officers. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including public holidays.

The facility includes a total of 28 beds including a mini-theatre (for minor wound suturing and dressings), a resuscitation room and a cardiac/critical care and observation area. There is an established "Triage" and "Fast Track" system through which critically ill patients are directed immediately to the concerned clinical area while patients with minor problems are sent to the Fast Track where they receive prompt medical attention and are discharged after receiving the treatment usually within an hour.

Upcoming Services

Currently the section of Emergency Medicine is undergoing expansion (the services of the existing Emergency Section are in any case continuing). The new premises are expected to be completed and fully operational by the end of year 2009. This expansion will double the number of beds currently available for emergency care.

Research Activities

The section of Emergency Medicine is very active in research work and its faculty is involved in various projects. There are a number of grants which have been secured by the Section of Emergency Medicine which provides funding for higher training and research by the section. Currently two of our faculty are in Johns Hopkins University, USA for furthering their expertise in research.

Educational Programmes/Undergraduate and Postgraduate Training

The section has an established Emergency Medicine Residency Programme which inducts two residents every year. There is no exit exam in Pakistan in Emergency Medicine at the moment, but deliberations on the same are underway with the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan. The final year medical students’ rotation comprising of four weeks in ER is another important aspect of our educational activities. This serves as an important rotation in their curriculum.

Special Courses

The Section also conducts Basic Life Support and First Aid courses for various multi-national and national companies. In addition, the Section also contributes to various groups of doctors at national level for providing training in Paediatric Life Support and Primary Trauma Care.

Section of Emergency Medicine, Aga Khan University