History
Entrance to 1350
Gail V. Anderson, MD, Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at LAC+USC Medical Center, was asked to head up the Emergency Department and petitioned the USC Medical School for academic department status. To his surprise, this was granted, and Anderson became the first Chairman of the FIRST Department of Emergency Medicine in a U.S. medical school in October of 1971. A residency started here at the same time.
The department has the responsibility for initial triage, evaluation, management, and disposition of up to 500 patients daily, including pediatric trauma, as well as those who present with the complete spectrum of adult medical and surgical problems. Non-emergent OB/GYN patients, pediatric non-trauma patients, and medically uncomplicated psychiatric patients are seen in the Emergency areas of the Women's and Children's Hospital (WCH) and the Psychiatric Evaluation Area located in General Hospital.
The Department of Emergency Medicine is also responsible for an active Paramedic Base Station, the Hyperbaric Treatment Chamber on Catalina Island, the Center for Life Support Training and Research, the Emergency Evaluation Area of the Los Angeles County Jail Service, and a six bed Chest Pain Unit.