Medical Professionals Who Will Treat You After a Car Accident

Following a car accident, you might see a range of medical professionals depending on the type of injury sustained. For example, a victim with a minor head injury might just see an emergency room doctor, while a victim with a spinal cord injury might need the assistance of a trauma surgeon, neurologist and psychiatrist.

Table of Contents

Here is a list of medical professionals who treat accident victims along with a brief description of their duties:

EMTs and Ambulance Personnel  

These medical professionals are considered first responders, meaning they are sent first to the scene of an accident by emergency medical dispatch (EMD). EMD is a local system of prioritizing and sending roadside emergency assistance such as ambulances, firefighters and local law enforcement.

The job of an EMT team is to assess the situation, provide first aid, and transport any injured people to the hospital. Here is a more detailed overview of their responsibilities: 

• Scene safety: EMTs assess whether or not it is safe to approach crash vehicles and victims. This includes checking for traffic hazards such as downed power lines or trees, vehicle fires, and blocked exits or ramps.
• Triage: Once a scene is deemed safe, EMTs will triage crash victims, meaning they take vitals and assess injuries in order to prioritize care and transport. Seriously injured patients are usually treated or transported first.
• First aid: EMTs provide first aid to victims, especially those who require splints, cervical collars, oxygen, hemorrhage control or shock management.
• Transport: EMTs will then transport the injured patients to the hospital for further care. 
• Other Emergency Services: In some cases, EMTs may have to perform more advanced medical procedures, such as CPR or intubation. However, this is only done if there is no time to transport the patient to the hospital or if the patient’s condition is critical. 

Emergency Room Doctor 

Emergency room (ER) doctors play a vital role in accident response. They guide the care of patients with a wide range of illnesses and injuries, and often make split decisions under pressure. ER doctors are highly skilled professionals dedicated to saving lives and improving the health of their patients.

ER physicians are trained to provide immediate care to patients with life-threatening injuries. They usually are the first medical professionals to see accident victims and assess the severity of their injuries. They can stabilize patients and order tests and imaging studies to determine what level of care is required.

Once accident victims reach the hospital emergency room by ambulance or other means of transportation Emergency room (ER) doctors prioritize their work in the ER using a system called triage. Triage is the process of assessing patients’ injuries or illnesses and prioritizing their care based on the severity of their condition. The goal of triage is to ensure the most critically ill or injured patients are seen first. 

ER doctors use a variety of factors to triage patients, including: 

• Vital signs: This includes checking patient heart rate, blood pressure and respiration rate.
• Level of consciousness: This includes whether or not the patient is alert and verbally responsive, confused or unconscious.
• Airway, breathing and circulation: This includes checking the windpipe for obstruction or damage and making sure the patient can breathe on his or her own.
• Pain level: This involves assessing patient pain, how severe it is and what makes it better or worse.
• Medical history: This includes things like the patient’s past medical conditions, any allergies they have, and any medications they are taking. 

Once a patient is triaged, he or she is assigned a priority level. The most common priority levels are: 

• Level 1: Emergent. These patients are in immediate danger of death or severe injury. 
• Level 2: Urgent. These patients have serious injuries or illnesses, but they are not in immediate danger of death. 
• Level 3: Non-urgent. These patients have scrapes, contusions or abrasions, minor bleeding or simple fractures or strains.
• Level 4: Self-care. These patients have mild conditions that can be self-treated at home.