Excerpt from the emergency guidelines in family medicine

Abstract:

Family Medicine (FM) is the most accessible part of health care, and often needs to respond in various emergencies. It is the responsibility of the physician as a team leader to assess the need for immediate intervention, a degree of urgency, his/her own abilities in certain conditions, use of available diagnostics, activation of emergency services, the need for transportation and possibly providing a professional escort (sometimes the FM doctor is required). In case there is a need for an urgent intervention, the FM usually has limited diagnostic possibilities In such circumstances it is necessary to make decisions with short- and long-term outcomes. The procedures may afterwards prove as justified or not justified urgencies. In addition to professional dilemmas, there are a number of technical, administrative legal, ethical and social elements and obstacles that affect the approach to the potentially urgent patient. Continuous education, renewal of knowledge and skills in emergencies build up an individual’s personal strength to act based on the best knowledge and experience. 

Key words:
emergency situations; family medicine