Clinical Standards
The clinical standards for Emergency Departments (EDs) below have been produced by the Clinical Effectiveness Committee of the College of Emergency Medicine (CEM). The standards are developed by consensus from emergency physicians with relevant expertise and with input from other relevant stakeholders. The standards are regularly reviewed and provide the criteria for CEM audits.
Current CEM Clinical Standards - Download all the current standards
The standards defined are for the management of the following conditions in the ED:
- Advanced Life Support
- Asthma in Adults and Children
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Feverish Children
- Fractured Neck of Femur
- Head Injury in Adults
- Major Trauma
- Myocardial Infarction
- Pain
- Paracetamol Overdose
- Pneumothorax in Adults
- Radiology
- Recording of Adult Vital Signs in the Majors and Resuscitation Areas of the ED
- Renal Colic
- Retention of Urine
- Safeguarding Children
- Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock in Adults (Follow link for more resources about sepsis)
Additional reference documents regarding clinical standards are available to download below:
- Standards for Children and Young People in Emergency Care Settings, [third edition] 2012
- Consultant Sign-Off (2010)
- Unscheduled Care Facilities (2009) - Minimum requirements for units which see the less seriously ill or injured
Review
All the clinical standards listed above are being comprehensively reviewed in 2011. The revised standards will be published in early 2012.
New Standards
The following clinical standards are currently being developed:
- Bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia in children (Based on NICE guideline CG102) - Expected publication date: 2012
- Elderly Care - Expected publication date: 2012
- Hand injuries - Expected publication date: 2012
- Mental Health - Expected publication date: 2012