Emergency Medicine

It is the mission of the Tel Aviv Souraski Medical Center Emergency Medicine Department (TASMC-ED) to provide compassionate, state of the art patient care, to commit to academic excellence in teaching and research, and to be leaders in the specialty of Emergency Medicine. We strive to work towards our mission in an environment that fosters personal and professional pride, satisfaction and growth.

The TASMC-ED is the only ED within the City of Tel Aviv. As such, it has sole responsibility for 24 hour-a-day medical and disaster care for a population of some 400,000 permanent inhabitants of the city and some 1 million daily transients. The annual census of the ED is 130,000 adults. Admission causes include approximately 40% medical cases, 30% surgical and 30% trauma/orthopedics. The department is permanently staffed by emergency medicine, medical, surgical and intensive care specialists. At any given moment in time, there are up to 10 physicians in the ED, usually 5-6 (and always at least one) of them at attending level.

• Medical Section: Chief, 7 attending-level medical specialists, 2 neurologists
• Surgical Section: Chief, 2 attending-level and 2 resident level surgeons
• Trauma and Intensive Care Unit
• Ambulatory Section
• Radiology Section: CT scanner, two fully equipped radiology rooms, two ultrasound machines, one portable X-Ray machine. The radiology section performs more than 130,000 procedures per year, including all types of radiology and portable x-rays performed at the bedside of severe trauma or severely ill patients in the trauma and shock rooms.

The current ED was inaugurated on September 1998. It is a state-of-the art facility, of some 3,000 square meters, 55 treatment beds, 5 intensive care beds, fully equipped ophthalmologic and gynecologic examination rooms, an operating theater and a fast track unit. The ED is built to modern standards, including its ability to withstand blast/chemical/biological attacks, internal computer communications etc. Enormous effort, funds and thinking have gone into making the environment of the ED as friendly to both patients and staff as practical. Details such as lighting, floor texture, air conditioning, wall color mixes, spacing, waiting areas etc have all been looked at in detail. A team of board-certified emergency physicians, as well as board-certified internists and surgeons provides medical coverage. Physicians from all medical and surgical specialties are available on a 24hr basis. Imaging capabilities such as CT, MRI, angiography, CT-angiography, ultrasound, nuclear medicine etc. are also available around the clock.

 

The TASMC-ED is comprised of a dedicated team of physicians, nurses and other health professionals to dedicated providing the highest level of knowledge, skill and compassion to every patient we serve at the Tel Aviv Medical Center. The Emergency Department is prepared and equipped to provide comprehensive emergency care to patients presenting with all types of medical and surgical problems, in consultation with the Tel Aviv Medical Center medical and surgical specialties. Services for patients with minor illnesses or injuries are provided in the Fast Track section of the Department. The Tel Aviv Medical Center is a designated Level I Trauma Center and serves as a regional trauma center for Tel Aviv City and its environs. As such, it is staffed by fellowship-trained trauma surgeons, anesthesiologists and intensivists, as well as by specially trained nurses

Currently, 3 residents are in training in the department. Training is delivered by Israeli Board certified Emergency Physicians as well as by specialists in the respective relevant specialties, such as ophthalmology, orthopedics, ENT, psychiatry, dermatology etc. Clinical exposure is extensive, because of the heavy and varied patient load. Opportunities for gaining procedural skills are multiple, and a high degree of awareness among senior staff exists regarding teaching of students and residents. Journal clubs are weekly, a well-stocked library, internet access and computer facilities are available. Research is actively encouraged.

The Staff of the TASMC-ED and other TASMC staff have been actively involved in International EM for the past 5 years.

1. An International Fellowship in EM has been active, with 12 fellows from Asia, Africa and South America participating in 3-month long clinical and management training. Organization and funding is through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Tel Aviv University Faculty of Medicine Foreign Support Program.
   
   
2. Teams from the ED have conducted training, site assessment and consultation to health authorities in countries such as Ethiopia, Congo, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Ukraine, Jordan, Mexico and others. Excellent, ongoing cooperation with some of these countries has ensued.
   
   
3. Extensive teaching and lecturing about International EM at various international meetings.