American Journal of Emergency Medicine (2013) 31, 383

Editorial

As emergency medicine research continues to grow, so must its literature

The report in the February issue by Jones et al [1] certainly bears witness to the current vigor as well as the growth of Original research in the specialty of emergency medicine over the past decade. Randomized trials recently published in emergency medicine journals now address a wide range of clinical topics and present sophisticated statistical analyses. Emergency medicine is also rapidly establishing itself as an international specialty, and half of published randomized trials now originate outside the United States. This is a remarkable development given the relatively recent recognition of emergency medicine as an independent Medical specialty overseas and the relative lack of infrastructure for emergency medicine-related research and Clinical training compared with North America.

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine alone received more than a thousand submissions in 2012 to consider for publication. Although the editorial and review filter grows ever more stringent, we will, nonetheless, be expanding to a monthly publication schedule in 2013 to accommodate this dramatic increase in the number of high- quality submissions from around the globe.

Much remains to be done, however. Many of studies conducted by emergency physicians still lack extramural

funding of any sort, let alone from the National Institutes of Health or other governmental agencies. Moreover, the important field of geriatrics remains relatively neglected. So long after the self-congratulatory statements wane, we still have our work cut out for us. Emergency medicine, though, has always been an ambitious specialty. We can all be confident that the progress achieved since 1979 will continue unabated, and The American Journal of Emergency Medicine remains committed to support the efforts of researchers who provide the intellectual justification for this specialty with the same enthusiasm as it has for more than three decades.

J. Douglas White MD, MPH

Editor-in-Chief

E-mail address: [email protected]

Reference

[1] Jones CW, Hunold KM, Issacs CG, Platts-Mills TF. Randomized trials in emergency medicine journals, 2008 to 2011. Am J Emerg Med 2013;31:231-5.

0735-6757/$ - see front matter (C) 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2012.12.001