European Curriculum for Emergency Medicine

Mateos Rodríguez AA

The essential features of a clinical specialty include a unique field of action, a defined

body of knowledge and a rigorous training programme. Emergency Medicine has a

unique field of action, both within the Emergency department and in the community.

The European Society for Emergency Medicine (EuSEM) first published a European Core

Curriculum for Emergency Medicine in 2002. The present paper presents the new

and expanded version of the Curriculum. The document was developed by a Curriculum

Task Force of EuSEM (which included representatives of 17 National Societies), has

been reviewed by the Multidisciplinary Joint Committee of the Union Européenne des

Médecins Spécialistes (MJC-UEMS), and finally approved by EuSEM on May 2009. This

curriculum document not only incorporates the relevant body of knowledge and associated

competencies but also establishes the essential principles for a rigorous training

programme and should constitute a guideline for the development and organisation of

recognised training programmes of comparable standard across Europe. The recommended

minimum period of training for the specialists in Emergency Medicine is five

years even though it is now accepted that the duration of a training programme

should be determined more by the length of time needed to acquire the necessary

competencies. European countries are encouraged to adopt this curriculum and to

train Emergency Physicians to a European standard which will enable them to transfer

their skills across national borders.

Mateos Rodríguez AA