Physicians specializing in emergency medicine provide care for adult and pediatric patients in emergency situations. These specialists provide immediate decision making and action to save lives and prevent further injury. They help patients in the pre-hospital setting by directing emergency medical technicians and assisting patients once they arrive in the emergency department.
Emergency medicine is also home to several subspecialties, including the following:
- Anesthesiology critical care medicine
- Emergency medical services
- Hospice and palliative medicine
- Internal medicine / Critical care medicine
- Medical toxicology
- Pain medicine
- Pediatric emergency medicine
- Sports medicine
- Undersea and hyperbaric medicine
(definition from here)