The ED medical abbreviation most often means emergency department, the part of a hospital that treats sudden illness and injury at any hour. Many people still say ER, for emergency room, but ED is the term most hospitals now use in their notes and signs.
ED has two other standard meanings: erectile dysfunction in urology and primary care, and eating disorder in mental health care. Nearby words nearly always settle which is intended. Below you will find how a typical ED visit is recorded, how triage works, and how to read the other meanings when they appear.
At a glance
Stands for
Emergency department; erectile dysfunction; eating disorderAlso called
ER or emergency room for the departmentWhere you see it
Hospital notes, discharge papers, referral letters, problem listsUsed in
Emergency medicine, urology, primary care, mental healthRelated terms
Specialty
Emergency medicine for the department meaning
ED medical abbreviation emergency department basics
An emergency department is staffed around the clock by emergency physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, technicians and others. It handles everything from sprained ankles to heart attacks and strokes. Most hospital admissions in the United States begin with an ED visit.
A federal law requires hospitals with emergency departments that take part in Medicare to give anyone who arrives a medical screening exam and, if needed, treatment to stabilize an emergency condition, whether or not the person can pay.
How triage sets the order of care
Patients are not seen strictly in the order they arrive. A triage nurse checks symptoms and vital signs and assigns an acuity level. Many US emergency departments use a five level scale, often called ESI, where level 1 is the most urgent.
| Level | General meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Needs immediate life saving care | Not breathing, no pulse |
| 2 | High risk, should not wait | Chest pain that may be cardiac |
| 3 | Stable but needs several tests or treatments | Belly pain needing labs and imaging |
| 4 | Needs one resource | Simple cut needing stitches |
| 5 | Needs no tests or procedures | Prescription refill |
Reading an ED note line by line
From an emergency note: "68M BIBA from home, CC SOB x 2 days, ED course: neb x3, CXR c/w pneumonia, admitted to medicine." In plain words, a man aged 68 came by ambulance from home, and his chief complaint was shortness of breath for two days. In the emergency department he received three breathing treatments, a chest X-ray was consistent with pneumonia, and he was admitted to the hospital.
The phrase "ED course" is the part of the note that tells the story of the visit. The disposition at the end says where the patient went: admitted, transferred, discharged home, or left against medical advice.
ED as erectile dysfunction
On a problem list or in a urology note, ED means erectile dysfunction, ongoing trouble getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex. It is common, especially with age, and it can be linked to blood vessel disease, diabetes, nerve problems, medicines or stress. Clinicians may ask about it as part of a heart health review because the causes overlap. A line such as "PMH: HTN, DM2, ED" lists it alongside other long term conditions.
ED as eating disorder
In mental health and some pediatric records, ED can mean eating disorder, a group of conditions that includes anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Treatment teams often include a therapist, a dietitian and a medical clinician. Notes in this setting may refer to an ED program or ED team. Because the letters are shared, a note that sends a patient to an ED program is not sending them to the emergency room.
Keeping the meanings straight
Places and movements point to the department: arrived in ED, ED to floor, seen in ED. Problem lists, sexual health and urology point to erectile dysfunction. Therapy, nutrition and weight point to eating disorder. Other settings, such as an outside hospital written OSH, sit alongside unit names in the care settings and credentials list.
This explains the abbreviation only. If you think you or someone near you has an emergency, dial 911 or the local emergency line, and for other health questions speak with your own clinician.
Frequently asked questions
What does ED stand for in hospital notes?
Within hospital notes, ED almost always means emergency department, the area that treats urgent illness and injury. It is the same place many people call the ER.
Is ED the same as ER?
Yes, for most purposes. ER means emergency room and ED means emergency department. Hospitals prefer ED because the service is a full department, not one room.
What does ED mean on a problem list?
On a problem list, ED usually means erectile dysfunction. In mental health records it may mean eating disorder, so check the specialty of the note.
What does ED course mean in a note?
It is the part of an emergency note that describes what happened during the visit, such as tests, treatments, response and the final plan.
Why are some people seen before others in the ED?
Triage sorts arrivals by medical urgency rather than by the clock. A person who may be having a stroke goes ahead of someone with a twisted ankle.