Emergency Services
Frequently Asked Questions
 Benjamin
Walker, MD, is chairman of emergency medicine at Newport Hospital.
He has been with the hospital since 1994 and has been department
chairman since 1997. Below, Walker answers frequently asked questions
about emergency medicine.
- How does an emergency medicine specialist differ from a generalist,
such as a family practitioner, who also handles emergencies?
Emergency medicine physicians typically have greater training
and experience in dealing with emergencies of all kinds (medical,
pediatric, traumatic, gynecologic, orthopedic, ophthamologic,
toxicologic, etc.). On the other hand, emergency medicine physicians
have less training and experience in dealing with chronic stable
conditions (e.g., non-emergent diabetes, arthritis, or hypertension
management).
- Are all emergency department physicians emergency medicine
specialists? Are nurses trained specifically in emergency medicine?
Yes. Six of seven are residency trained and board certified in
the specialty. The other has many years of experience in emergency
medicine. All our nurses are trained as emergency nurses and many
have completed certification exams as certified emergency nurses.
- What are the most common injuries and illnesses seen in the
ER?
The list is long. Examples include abdominal pains, chest pains,
lacerations, extremity injuries, car accidents, altered mental
status, and shortness of breath.
- How do I know whether a trip to the ER is necessary or if
I should wait to see my doctor?
That is a hard one. Often one cannot say for sure whether an emergent
evaluation and treatment is necessary until the patient has been
examined. However, in general, if the condition has been present
for several days and is not worsening, then it is safe to arrange
to see your doctor. If you can reach you physician on the phone,
often he or she can help in guiding you in such matters. In general,
when in doubt, it is wisest to err on the side of caution and
go to the ER.
More about Walker
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