emergency department (ED), (in a health care facility) a section of an institution that is staffed and equipped to provide rapid and varied emergency care, especially for those who are stricken with sudden and acute illness or who are the victims of severe trauma. The emergency department may use a triage system of screening and classifying clients to determine priority needs for the most efficient use of available personnel and equipment. The terms Emergency Department (ED) and Emergency Room (ER) are used interchangeably in Canada.
