The Ronald Reagan Institute of Emergency Medicine at The George Washington University Medical Center was established in 1991, in recognition of both the undisputed excellence of the Medical Center's Department of Emergency Medicine and its role in saving the life of President Reagan after a 1981 assassination attempt. The programmatic efforts of The Reagan Institute reflect the themes expected to dominate emergency medicine in the early 21st century globalization of services, use of telecommunications and informatics technology, focus on disaster medicine, concentration on brain trauma, and addressing the causes and results of violence and injury.
Emergency medicine is a uniquely American field.
Its core principle is the initial assessment, evaluation, and care of all patients, without regard to medical problem, age, location, or treatment required. Its distinguishing themes are the simultaneous care of more than one patient, the making of decisions with incomplete information, and the practice of medicine in uncontained and remote environments.