Division of Emergency Medicine

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What is Emergency Medicine?

Emergency Medicine (EM) is a distinct specialty that focuses on the initial evaluation, diagnosis, and stabilization of patients with acute illness and injury. In addition, the EM physician initiates treatment, involves consultants, makes disposition decisions and appropriate follow-up arrangements for patients discharged from the emergency department. Emergency Medicine became the 23rd recognized specialty in 1979. There are at least seven recognized areas of specialized expertise separating the EM specialist from other disciplines:

1. Resuscitation
2. Toxicology
3. EMS systems design and supervision
4. Disaster management / Mass Gathering
5. Environmental emergencies
6. Acute Pain Management
7. Wound Care

Mission: The mission of the Division of Emergency Medicine at UTHSCSA is based on the partnership of the compassionate tradition of working to make lives better at UT Health Science Center and the vibrant enthusiasm of the specialty of Emergency Medicine. We strive to be leaders in Emergency Medicine by advancing the understanding and practice of Emergency Medicine through the development of a premier Emergency Medicine residency program, provision of the best possible emergency care and promotion of research predicated on clinical need.

The Division of Emergency Medicine provides care to patients and their families from the newborn population to the elderly at UH Emergency Center. All physicians are board certified.

The Division of Emergency Medicine includes physician assistants who provide clinical care to our patient population. The UH Emergency Center area has been designated an underserved area because of our high percentage of indigent patients. Midlevel providers provide care for patients at a level consistent with physician-guided midlevels in rural health care areas. The Emergency Medicine PAs at UH help expedite our patient care.

Emergency Medicine faculty instruct medical students, physician assistant students, physician assistant fellows and residents in the UHS Emergency Center. Military Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants also rotate through the Emergency Center.

Claire Escamilla, MD, appointed as Interim Chief of the Division of Emergency Medicine: Dr. Escamilla attended medical school at both the University of Texas Health Science Centers – Houston and San Antonio, completing her emergency medicine residency at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia. As an independent contractor with Emergency Physicians Affiliates, Dr. Escamilla worked with five Baptist Health System Emergency Departments. Most recently, she was Chief of Service, Emergency Medicine at St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital and Chair of the St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital Chest Pain Committee. | More about Dr. Escamilla (1-15-09)