NigCareers

Are you searching for an ER doctor job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of an ER doctor. Feel free to use our ER doctor job description template to produce your own ER doctor job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as an ER doctor.

 

Who is an ER Doctor?

Emergency room (ER) Doctors are highly skilled medical professionals with the capacity to see multiple patients concurrently and in emergencies. They are also referred to as emergency medicine physicians or emergency physicians. The medical specialty known as emergency medicine deals with treating illnesses and injuries that need to be treated right away. Emergency room doctors are constantly learning new techniques for treating all age groups of unplanned, undifferentiated patients. They are the primary resuscitation and stabilization initiators, working alongside emergency medical services to carry out the early investigations and procedures required to identify and treat illnesses or injuries in the acute phase.

To be admitted to the hospital and treated by other qualified medical professionals including cardiologists, neurologists, and surgeons, who specialize in treating and stabilizing patients with acute ailments. They primarily operate in the Emergency department (ED), where they evaluate, prioritize, and treat patients by the seriousness of their medical conditions. Patients with the most serious or life-threatening conditions are treated first. An emergency room physician attends to sick patients there. The emergency physician is an expert in advanced cardiac life support, resuscitation, and trauma care, including the management of fractures and soft tissue injuries, and other life-threatening conditions. Disaster medicine, medical toxicology, point-of-care ultrasonography, critical care medicine, emergency medical services, hyperbaric medicine, sports medicine, palliative care, or aerospace medicine are some subspecialties of emergency medicine.

Patients who arrive in an emergency room at a hospital are evaluated and cared for by ER Doctors. Any wounds, infections or other conditions are treated right away to stabilize patients. Patients’ medical tests are ordered by ER Doctors, who also develop treatment plans and refer patients to the right specialists. Patients are evaluated and treated in the emergency room by ER Doctors. Emergency medicine doctors are the first line of care for acute illnesses or injuries, regardless of the sickness or injury. A doctor working in an emergency room must prioritize stabilizing patients as soon as possible and determining the best course of action.

ER Doctors treat a wide range of injuries and diseases from patients from all walks of life, from children to geriatrics, in this fast-paced and constantly-evolving work environment. The diseases and ailments that emergency room physicians see the range in severity. The only thing they all have in common is that they need immediate medical attention since the injury or disease has gotten bad enough. This means that patients with serious trauma, those exhibiting symptoms of illnesses like a stroke or a heart attack, and unconscious people are frequently treated by ER Doctors. Any emergency care physician must have the ability to diagnose and treat patients quickly. Since emergency medicine doctors frequently treat numerous patients at once, flexibility is also essential. As patients arrive, ER Doctors are supposed to promptly assess them based on their symptoms, giving life-threatening diseases a primary priority.

A Medical Doctor (M.D.) or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree is required to practice as an ER Doctor after completing medical school. Many medical schools provide emergency medicine programs that include practical practice in real emergency rooms and residencies. Here, you learn how to react quickly, manage trauma injuries, stabilize patients, diagnose illnesses or injuries, and spot chemical overdoses. Through clinical practice, a three- or four-year emergency room residency helps you get ready for a future in emergency medicine. You learn what it takes to treat trauma injuries by making quick decisions and applying your newfound medical knowledge. You’ll play rounds and attend lectures for learning.

Many universities also require students to gather information for a medical paper. As an ER physician, it is your responsibility to make sure that new patients are stabilized and not in any immediate danger due to their current circumstances. To ensure that each treatment is successful, you will conduct a variety of tests and follow-ups. Your capacity to resolve patient cases and discharge patients without incident will serve as a testament to your success in your position. The ideal applicant should possess exceptional interpersonal and communication skills as well as sound judgment to succeed in this extremely pressured workplace.

 

ER Doctor Job Description

What is an ER doctor job description? an ER doctor job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of an ER doctor in an organization. Below are the ER doctor job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write an ER doctor job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.

Emergency room doctors’ duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Perform physical examinations, request lab testing, make diagnoses, and prescribe medications for patients who have recently sustained an acute sickness or injury.
• Share information about patient status and care plans with other members of the healthcare team.
• Perform surgery when necessary to treat significant injuries or diseases that are not responding to alternative treatments in some circumstances.
• Prescribe medication and give patients who have been treated and discharged from the ER or clinic follow-up care.
• Carry out research, publish your findings in peer-reviewed publications, attend conferences, and share your discoveries with colleagues.
• Identify and treat acute injuries and diseases.
• Examine the medical history and physical condition of the patient to identify the underlying cause of their symptoms and the best course of action.
• Obtain thorough histories from the patient’s relatives to assist in determining the cause or genetic basis of the patient’s injuries or illnesses.
• Take part in continuing education courses to stay up to date on the newest medical procedures and treatments.
• Cooperate with various ER Departments and compliant facilities.
• Consult emergency room consultants as necessary to implement HIPAA rules.
• Make sure to finish all required documents.
• Create requisite physical examination, medical history, analysis, and planning, and a treatment plan for every patient.
• Make use of paraprofessionals as necessary.
• Act appropriately in all cases of cardiopulmonary arrest.
• Make the necessary arrangements for EMS backup and interpret electrocardiograms.
• Perform initial interpretation of all radiographs and coordinate medical care with the appropriate ambulance via radio.
• Provide rapid sentence intubation, discharge instructions, and all necessary papers.
• Make sure to assess everyone eligible for emergency medical care from the healthcare system to provide a medical evaluation of their condition and take appropriate action.
• Examine and handle emergency patients as soon as they arrive for care.
• Endeavour to see attend to over 2 patients every hour on average when caring for both urgent and non-urgent patients.
• Provide the best medical care possible to reduce emergencies and to allow the patient to carefully continue their care as an outpatient with any necessary follow-up care.
• Review all laboratory and x-ray reports every day, and let the ordering doctor know what needs to be done.
• Keep all of your medical records up to date.

 

Qualifications

• A degree in medicine from an accredited medical institution is required.
• A minimum of 3 years in a residency program is required.
• Must have acquired the license to practice medicine.
• Possession of certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS).
• In-depth knowledge of recent medical treatments, practices, procedures, and equipment is required.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent analytical and attention to detail skills.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills.
• Applicants for this medical position must be able to think and act quickly in a stressful environment.

 

Essential Skills

• Time management skills: Time management skills assist emergency department physicians to prioritize their work and guarantee they satisfy the demands of their patients. For example, they might make sure they have enough time to examine each patient, carry out any required procedures, and respond to any queries the patient might have.
• Medical knowledge: The capacity to use your education and experience to diagnose and treat patients is known as medical knowledge. To treat a range of medical illnesses and scenarios, emergency room doctors need to have comprehensive medical expertise. This includes being aware of the various ailments’ most prevalent symptoms as well as the best ways to treat them.
• Communication skills: Information transfer to another individual is referred to as communication. Physicians in an emergency room must interact with patients, other medical personnel, and family members. To make sure patients receive the care they require, they must also engage with insurance providers and other healthcare organizations. Emergency room doctors may adjust their communication approach to the variety of persons they speak to, all of whom have different levels of medical understanding.
• Risk tolerance skills: A patient’s health and the best course of therapy may be quickly decided by ER Doctors. If they are unsure of the full diagnosis or the person’s medical history, they may need to take risks. Risk tolerance can enable emergency medical professionals to quickly weigh all potential treatment options before selecting the most suitable one. Knowing they are providing a patient with the finest care available in an emergency, the majority of emergency physicians can deal with risk in a reasonable manner.
• Critical thinking skills: The ability to quickly decide based on the information available requires critical thinking skills. In an emergency department, doctors must decide on patient care quickly. They must be able to evaluate a patient’s condition and choose the most appropriate course of action.
• Leadership skills: Leadership skill is the ability to guide and motivate others. Since emergency physicians frequently collaborate with other medical specialists in teams, effective team leadership can be facilitated by strong leadership skills. This competence also aids ER Doctors to be good lecturers for students who are learning how to become ER Doctors.
• Empathy: Empathy is the ability to be sensitive enough to understand and share the feelings and emotions of another person. As an ER Doctor, empathy is an essential skill to have when interacting with patients. You can utilize empathy to make patients feel more comfortable and relaxed during their time in the emergency room.
• Flexibility: ER Doctors must be flexible in their work schedules’ responsibilities and duties. If they get a call for an emergency, they might have to change their shifts or postpone their appointments. They can also navigate the hospital system more easily if they are flexible, as they may switch between different departments based on which one needs them most at any given time.
• Decision-making skills: This is the capacity to make quick but suitable decisions. A quick decision-making process is necessary for ER Doctors. Emergency room doctors frequently have to choose the best course of action for a particular condition, as well as whether the patient needs immediate care or can wait until they get to the hospital. Choosing whether to perform CPR or intubate a patient is a critical decision that emergency room doctors must make.

 

How to Become an ER Doctor

Step 1. Earn a bachelor’s degree

To become a doctor, you must first complete your bachelor’s degree in a field that is relevant before enrolling in medical school. You can select a major or enrol in a pre-med program. Preparing for medical school through courses and prerequisites is made easier by enrolling in a pre-med program. Courses in biology, biochemistry, physics, calculus, general chemistry, and organic chemistry are frequently offered in these programs. You should continue to enrol in the aforementioned curriculum to get ready for the Medical College Admissions Test even if you decide to pursue a different major.

Step 2. Go for the MCAT

As part of the application process for medical school, you must take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) after receiving your bachelor’s degree. This standardized test evaluates a wide range of abilities, including critical thinking, writing, problem-solving, and scientific knowledge. Medical schools have varied prerequisites and evaluate applicants based on their test results. Students frequently enrol in MCAT classes to learn about the subjects covered on the exam as well as efficient study techniques. An MCAT tutor may be able to provide you with one-on-one assistance if necessary. This choice could give you more individualized advice based on your current know-how and abilities.

Step 3. Enrol in medical school

Er, doctors must obtain a medical degree, such as a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.). It is possible to apply to medical schools after passing the MCAT. The academic standing, relevant experience, and reference letters of applicants are frequently taken into consideration by these colleges. Some institutions can be looking for candidates with experience in volunteer work, research, or certain extracurricular pursuits. You can frequently research your preferred medical school to learn about their standards and evaluate your credentials. Medical school is normally completed in four years. The first two years are devoted to education and obtaining lab expertise in complex biological and chemical principles. The next two years are spent developing clinical expertise. Students that are accepted study subjects like anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and medical ethics for four years in medical school. Through clinical rotations, you can get real-world experience while being watched over by doctors and residents at teaching hospitals. You could also be able to obtain internship opportunities during this time in emergency rooms to gain more specific expertise for this position.

Step 4. Enrol in a residency program

Additionally, you need to complete an emergency medicine residency to become an ER Doctor. These programs resemble internships in that you learn clinical and laboratory skills to get ready for your full-time position. Depending on your specialization, residency lengths might range from three to four years for emergency medicine. You take part in training that mimics actual emergency care and trauma settings to hone your abilities. As part of these programs, you get to practice on actual patients as professionals watch over you. After completing your residency, you might also think about taking part in a fellowship program. These lengthy programs, which can last several years, provide more intensive training in particular fields of medicine. You can select a fellowship program based on your interests in emergency medicine, such as trauma and critical care, pediatric emergency medicine, pain management, and disaster medicine.

Step 5. Obtain medical license

To start working in this field, you must first receive a medical license after finishing your education and residency training. Review the rules for the location you want to go to because different states may have different license requirements. However, the United States Medical Licensing Examination, a three-part national standardized test, is required of all medical professionals before they can practice. The first step resembles a one-day exam that gauges how well you comprehend and apply your medical information. Another one-day exam, the second level assesses your clinical knowledge and application abilities. The third and final step is a two-day exam that evaluates your expertise in patient management and ambulatory services. Once you get your license, you can practice emergency medicine and start looking for jobs in the state of your choice.

 

Where to Work as an ER Doctor

ER Doctors are found in nearly all facets of medicine. They work in hospital emergency rooms, where they treat patients with serious illnesses or wounds. They are typically employed in intensive care units, pre-hospital settings served by emergency medical services, and hospital emergency rooms. However, they could also work in primary care facilities like urgent care centres. ER Doctors also practice neurology, toxicology, obstetrics, sports medicine, counselling, paediatrics, geriatrics, burns, trauma, and general internal medicine. They work extra time, usually exceeding 60 hours a week, and are available 24 hours a day.

 

ER Doctor Salary Scale

The average salary for ER Doctors in the United States is $342,214 and the range typically falls between $288,755 and $386,227, according to salary.com. A person working as an ER Doctor in Nigeria typically earns around 9,000,000 NGN per year. Salaries range from 4,860,000 NGN to 13,560,000 NGN. The average pay for an ER Doctor in the UK is £212,081 annually. In India, the average salary for an ER Doctor is ₹1,055,629. In Canada, ER Doctors’ average salary is $296,491 per year.

Health and Safety

Tags: ER Doctor, ER Doctor Job Description, ER Doctor Qualifications, ER Doctor Salary, ER Doctor Skills, How to Become an ER Doctor, Job Description, Who is an ER Doctor