Emergency medicine is a branch of medicine that is practiced in a hospital emergency department, in the field (in a modified form; see EMS), and other locations where initial medical treatment of trauma and illness takes place.

Emergency medicine focuses on situations where care is required immediately or urgently. While not usually providing long-term care, EM physicians and pre-hospital personnel still provide care with the aim of improving long-term patient outcome.

International Emergency medicine is a dicipline that evalutes current standards and development of emergency medicine in various countries throughout the world. Studies have been conducted and publications have been released which outline necessary steps in the development of emergency medicine as a specialty. Some of these studies reveal the mortality rate changes in (these) developing countries.

See medical emergency for specific lists of medical emergencies and how best to respond.