Emergency Medicine at UVA

A Valuable Community Resource

Emergency Medicine reaches out into the community through a variety of related services that enhance emergency medical care in Central Virginia. The department operates Pegasus, the hospital's critical care helicopter and ground transport system. Emergency Medicine also administers the Chest Pain Center, the Blue Ridge Poison Center, the Pediatric Emergency Department, the Minor Emergency Area - Express Care, and the SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners) team. The University of Virginia Prehospital program, which provides medical direction to rescue squads and training to EMT-Basics, Shock Trauma Technicians, Cardiac Technicians and Paramedics in Central Virginia and throughout the state, is also administered by Emergency Medicine. The Department trains young doctors to become board certified emergency physicians. There are 27 Emergency Medicine Residents, 9 per year in a three-year program and 5 fellowship training programs offered in Cardiovascular Emergencies, Emergency Medical Services, Medical Education, Medical Toxicology, and Trauma Biomechanics.

In addition, ED physicians and residents are active volunteers in the local and surrounding communities. Emergency Medicine provides trained personnel for UVA home football and basketball games, UVA graduation, and other mass gatherings. The ED nurses have also developed a program called "Trauma Nurses Talk Tough," which is an educational program focused on prevention of trauma in youth. Pegasus also participated in "Prom Promise" programs with the local high school to promote responsible behavior against drinking and driving, at prom and graduation time.     return to top