New guidelines for Level IV trauma centers released by the American College of Surgeons-Committee on Trauma include a new requirement for 24/7/365 coverage by an emergency physician.
ACEP took a clear and definitive stand on this foundational issue and established a collaborative dialogue with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) to advocate that ALL emergency departments be staffed by a physician.
“We made it clear that ALL patients, regardless of whether you're cared for in a Level I academic urban trauma center or a Level IV rural one, deserve to have an emergency physician taking care of them,” said ACEP President L. Anthony Cirillo, MD, FACEP.
The ACS guidelines evolved as ACEP reinforced that there is no substitute for emergency physician training and expertise.
Hear more from Dr. Cirillo in the latest ACEP News Alert.
