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 the clinical standards
A comprehensive review of existing standards was undertaken in 2011/12. Mental Health standards have been added in Feb 2013.The clinical standards are for the management of the following conditions in the ED:
- Asthma
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Feverish Children
- Fractured Neck of Femur
- Head Injury in Adults (under review)
- Hand Injury
- Mental Health (follow link for more resources)
- Pain
- Paracetamol Overdose (under review with the MHRA)
- Spontaneous Pneumothorax in Adults
- Radiology (uder review)
- Recording of Adult Vital Signs in the Majors and Resuscitation Areas of the ED
- Renal Colic in Adults
- Retention of Urine in Adults
- Safeguarding Children
- Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock in Adults (Follow link for more resources about sepsis)
- Sepsis and Meningitis in Children
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
New Standards
The following clinical standards are currently being developed:
- Elderly Care - Expected publication date: late 2013