Emergency Medicine

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Roger L. Humphries, MD

The Department of Emergency Medicine is actively involved in patient care, education, and research. Patient care is centered around the Emergency Department of the University of Kentucky Hospital where the initial assessment, resuscitation, and treatment of acute and urgent conditions is provided. The EM residents, under the supervision of attending emergency faculty evaluate the patient and initiate life saving and supporting interventions on a 24-hour a day basis. The EM resident and attending faculty also direct the pre-hospital care of patients brought to the Emergency Department by the Fayette County EMS Service. The Emergency Department sees over 45,000 adult and pediatric patients annually and over 9,400 are admitted to the hospital after evaluation and treatment.

The Department of Emergency Medicine directs the Hyperbaric Oxygen Service at the University of Kentucky Hospital. The monoplace treatment chamber is located adjacent to the Emergency Department and is available 24-hours a day for emergent referrals and throughout the week for scheduled treatments. Currently, we are providing over 400 hyperbaric treatments per year. This program is described in detail further in this website.

The Department of Emergency Medicine provides medical direction and supervision to the UK Hospital Air Medical Service. This service transports over 700 patients per year using two Bell 230 helicopters. Our service area extends a radius of approximately 150 nautical miles around Lexington, Kentucky. This program is described in detail further in this home page.

The major educational programs of the Department include the Emergency Medicine Residency and the required 4th year clinical clerkship in Emergency Medicine for the UK College of Medicine students. Each of these programs is described in detail further in this home page. The Department faculty and residents provide medical care to the Kentucky Speedway - a NASCAR track located in Sparta, KY - and UK football and men's basketball games. The Department also provides medical care to other mass gatherings on an episodic basis.

Research activities of the department in the past have included injury surveillance, pre-hospital trauma and cardiac care, educational methodology and medical education. Current research projects include the use physician directed ultrasound, techniques for airway management, pediatric injury prevention and neurological emergencies.

In summary, the Department of Emergency Medicine is a vibrant program with a fully accredited and established residency program, involved and interested faculty, offering a diverse clinical and research experience.