Emergency medical condition - Glossary (2024)

FAQs

What qualifies as an emergency medical condition? ›

Your condition is a medical emergency when your life, body parts or bodily functions are at risk of damage or loss unless immediate medical care is received.

An illness, injury, symptom or condition so serious that a reasonable person would seek care right away to avoid severe harm.

According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, these are the warning signs of a medical emergency: Bleeding that will not stop. Breathing problems – difficulty breathing, shortness of breath. Change in mental status – confusion, unusual behavior, difficulty waking.

​Situations that warrant care for illness or injury, but not emergency care: Minor burns. Earache or ear infection.

The law says that it is an emergency if you reasonably believe that it is an emergency. It is an emergency if waiting to get care could be dangerous to your life or a part of your body. A bad injury or a sudden serious illness can be an emergency.

Patients with non-urgent problems may be referred to the Family Health clinic or Pediatric Clinic for evaluation and treatment. Examples of a non-emergency include: sprained knee, ankle, arm, minor headache, pulled muscle, controlled nose bleed and small cuts.

A serious health condition is an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves (1) inpatient care; (2) incapacity for more than three full days with continuing treatment by a health care provider; (3) incapacity due to pregnancy or prenatal care; (4) incapacity due to, or treatment for, a ...

For the purpose of this article, we'll consider urgent as a patient who should be seen within 24 to 48 hours and emergent as a patient who should be seen immediately in the office or referred to the nearest emergency eye care facility.

What is considered an emergent situation? ›

Emergent Situation . Means a situation which calls for immediate action which could not be reasonably predicted nor preplanned.

According to Mount Sinai Health Systems, some examples of conditions that require emergent care are: Severe chest pain or difficulty breathing. Compound fracture (bone protrudes through skin) Convulsions, seizures or loss of consciousness.

Concerning the term "emergency medical condition," this is defined according to EMTALA legislation as follows [see Federal statute 42 USCS § 1395dd section e(1)(A)]: "A medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain).

An emergency medical condition is defined as "a condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that the absence of immediate medical attention could reasonably be expected to result in placing the individual's health [or the health of an unborn child] in serious ...

An emergency medical condition occurs when individuals present with acute symptoms of great severity, which require immediate medical treatment. Examples of emergency medical conditions include heart attacks and emergency labor and delivery.

Examples: Altered mental status, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, chest pain or discomfort, inability to move, potential head, neck, or spinal injuries, large broken bones, uncontrollable bleeding, stroke, etc. If unsure if it is life threatening treat as if it is. Call 911 immediately.