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emergent basis

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mm - 29 Dec 2009 21:20 GMT
It seems to be the fad these days, in medical circles and public
security circles, to use terms like "emergent care " instead of
"emergency care" and "emergent basis" instead of "emergency basis".

Maybe it makes them happy that they use an adjective like "emergent"
instead what is perceived as a noun "emergency", but the problem is
that "emergent" calls up ideas of a butterfly emerging from a
chrysalis and has for most people, I believe, no connotation of
emergency.  

What should we do about this?
Signature

Posters should say where they live, and for which area
they are asking questions. I was born and then lived in
Western Pa.   10 years
Indianapolis   7 years
Chicago          6 years
Brooklyn, NY 12 years
Baltimore       26 years

Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 29 Dec 2009 22:36 GMT
>It seems to be the fad these days, in medical circles and public
>security circles, to use terms like "emergent care " instead of
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>chrysalis and has for most people, I believe, no connotation of
>emergency.  

I have not met this use of emergent.

Online dictionaries say of "emergent":

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/emergent

   emergent /emer·gent/ (e-merґjent)
   1. coming out from a cavity or other part.
   2. pertaining to an emergency.
   
   Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. © 2007 by
   Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

Also Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers at:
http://tinyurl.com/y9mpopw

WordNet 3.0 Vocabulary Helper: emergent
http://poets.notredame.ac.jp/cgi-bin/wn?cmd=wn&word=emergent

   * 1. emergent -- (occurring unexpectedly and requiring urgent
        action; "emergent repair of an aorta" )
   * 2. emergent, emerging -- (coming into existence; "an emergent
        republic" )

This pdf file contains images of a PowerPoint presentation on "Best
Practices for Emergent Care". It is dated May 24, 2007:
http://www.qualidigm.org/uploadedFiles/Professionals/Setting/HomeHealth/Handouts
-Emergent%20Care%20-Qualidigm%2005.24.07.pdf


>What should we do about this?

Avoid situations requiring "emergent care".

Signature

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)

John Dean - 29 Dec 2009 22:53 GMT
> It seems to be the fad these days, in medical circles and public
> security circles, to use terms like "emergent care " instead of
> "emergency care" and "emergent basis" instead of "emergency basis".

Never met it. Cites?
Signature

John Dean
Oxford

Dr Peter Young - 30 Dec 2009 08:46 GMT
>> It seems to be the fad these days, in medical circles and public
>> security circles, to use terms like "emergent care " instead of
>> "emergency care" and "emergent basis" instead of "emergency basis".

> Never met it. Cites?

I can't give you a written citation, but I certainly heard this ugly
usage when we had American an(a)esthesia trainees in Gloucester; this
was 15-25 years ago.

Maybe it's just my limited exposure to AmE, but it does seem to me
that the world of medicine is a fertile breeding-ground for such
mangled English. One of my favourites occurs in an American textbook
on complications of an(a)esthesia. One of the chapters concerns slow
recovery from an(a)esthesia, and has the title, "Prolonged Arousal".
One can see how this happened, but this phrase means something
entirely different to me!

I just wonder if such things are the result of people who write in a
language which was not their original primary language.

With best wishes,

Peter.

Signature

Peter Young, (BrE, RP), Consultant Anaesthetist, 1975-2004.
(US equivalent: Certified Anesthesiologist)
Cheltenham and Gloucester, UK.           Now happily retired.
http://pnyoung.orpheusweb.co.uk

Pat Durkin - 30 Dec 2009 14:53 GMT
>>> It seems to be the fad these days, in medical circles and public
>>> security circles, to use terms like "emergent care " instead of
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> I just wonder if such things are the result of people who write in a
> language which was not their original primary language.

I can't say that I have heard it used in a medical environment, but
then, I manage to avoid being in that medical world.

I can't cite individual occurrences, but I hear the "emergent" term on
occasion on news reports when "the emergent situation" involves rising
fears or signs of political disruption,  or war.  It appears to be
just an alternative way of saying "breaking" or "developing" news.
The meaning is that an event rising in importance above the normal
level of affairs, or coming gradually into view, or beginning to
impinge on our consciousness is related to (COED's) "in the process of
coming into being". (Isn't it?)

Sometimes, journalists and announcers take a word and beat it to
death, but I don't think this example is particularly ugly or
difficult.  Remember "charisma"?  Now we have  "teachable moments".
mm - 30 Dec 2009 19:13 GMT
>>>> It seems to be the fad these days, in medical circles and public
>>>> security circles, to use terms like "emergent care " instead of
>>>> "emergency care" and "emergent basis" instead of "emergency
>>>> basis".
>>
>>> Never met it. Cites?

You'll have to take my word for it.   Mostly in the last 5 years
dealing with medical emergency rooms they've talked about emergent
care.  And yesterday a former director of Domestic Security in the US
referred to an emergent basis.

To me, emerging is something a groundhog does, and I'm sure I'm not
alone.

>> I can't give you a written citation, but I certainly heard this ugly
>> usage when we had American an(a)esthesia trainees in Gloucester;
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>impinge on our consciousness is related to (COED's) "in the process of
>coming into being". (Isn't it?)

I'm gld to see that some of you don't like it either.

>Sometimes, journalists and announcers take a word and beat it to
>death, but I don't think this example is particularly ugly or
>difficult.  Remember "charisma"?  Now we have  "teachable moments".

And all things iconic.

Signature

Posters should say where they live, and for which area
they are asking questions. I was born and then lived in
Western Pa.   10 years
Indianapolis   7 years
Chicago          6 years
Brooklyn, NY 12 years
Baltimore       26 years

Pavel314 - 30 Dec 2009 14:57 GMT
> It seems to be the fad these days, in medical circles and public
> security circles, to use terms like "emergent care " instead of
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> Brooklyn, NY 12 years
> Baltimore       26 years

I work in healthcare and the terms "emergent care" and "urgent care"
are common, although to me "emergent care" seems a bit contrived.
Also, the term "emergency room" is being replaced by "emergency
department", at least here in Baltimore, as they do have more than one
room for emergency treatment.

"Emergent care" is when you really need to get treated immediately to
avoid death or permanent bodily impairment; e.g., a bullet in the
chest. "Urgent care" is when you're sick or in pain and want it taken
care of quickly instead of waiting three weeks to see your primary
care physician; e.g., a painful rash on your arm.

Paul
John Varela - 30 Dec 2009 18:57 GMT
> > It seems to be the fad these days, in medical circles and public
> > security circles, to use terms like "emergent care " instead of
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
> care of quickly instead of waiting three weeks to see your primary
> care physician; e.g., a painful rash on your arm.

Could it be that, since so many people use the "emergency" room for
non-emergency conditions, a new word was needed to express a real
emergency?

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John Varela
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>> > It seems to be the fad these days, in medical circles and public
>> > security circles, to use terms like "emergent care " instead of
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
> non-emergency conditions, a new word was needed to express a real
> emergency?
mm - 30 Dec 2009 19:07 GMT
>> It seems to be the fad these days, in medical circles and public
>> security circles, to use terms like "emergent care " instead of
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
>I work in healthcare and the terms "emergent care" and "urgent care"

So is there also an urgency room?   :)

>are common, although to me "emergent care" seems a bit contrived.
>Also, the term "emergency room" is being replaced by "emergency
>department", at least here in Baltimore, as they do have more than one

Hey, I'm in Baltimore too.

>room for emergency treatment.

I never assumed the emergency room was limited to one room anyhow.
Frankly, emergency department seems not to talk about the other rooms,
but all kinds of less important things, like hiring secretaries,
arranging the desks, making out payroll, scheduling work hours and
vacations, and having the party at the end of the year.  If they want
people to think of medical care, I think maybe they should stick with
emergency room.

>"Emergent care" is when you really need to get treated immediately to
>avoid death or permanent bodily impairment; e.g., a bullet in the
>chest. "Urgent care" is when you're sick or in pain and want it taken
>care of quickly instead of waiting three weeks to see your primary
>care physician; e.g., a painful rash on your arm.

This jargon may make the hospital staff happy, but when I think of
emergent and emerge, I think of a groundhog in the spring, or in
medical terms perhaps, a brand-new doctor emerging from medical
school.  I want emergency care, not emergent care.  And I prefer to
have experienced staff, not those who just emerged.  I'm sure I'm not
alone.

>Paul

Isn't emergent a back-formation from emergency?  
Signature

Posters should say where they live, and for which area
they are asking questions. I was born and then lived in
Western Pa.   10 years
Indianapolis   7 years
Chicago          6 years
Brooklyn, NY 12 years
Baltimore       26 years

Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 30 Dec 2009 19:26 GMT
>>> It seems to be the fad these days, in medical circles and public
>>> security circles, to use terms like "emergent care " instead of
[quoted text clipped - 52 lines]
>
>Isn't emergent a back-formation from emergency?  

No. Emerge, emergence and emergent all refer to grounhog-like things.

   emerge, v.
   ....
   2. To come up out of a liquid in which (the subject) has been
   immersed. Also transf. to rise from (under the surface of) the
   earth.    
   3. a. To come forth into view; to pass out, issue, from an enclosed
   space, area of obscuration, etc.    
   b. spec. in Optics of a ray of light after passing through a lens,
   prism, etc.; in Astron. of a heavenly body after occultation or
   eclipse.
   4. fig.
   a. To rise into notice, come forth from obscurity; also, to issue
   from a state of subjection, suffering, embarrassment, etc. Also said
   of the production of a type by such a process as evolution.
   ....    

   emergent, a. and n.
   1. a. Rising out of a surrounding medium, e.g. water.    
   b. fig. with direct reference to lit. sense.    
   2. a. That is in process of issuing forth.    
   b. spec. in Astron. (see quot.); in Optics said of a ray of light
   after passing through a refracting medium; so also of a ray of heat.
c. Science. That emerges unpredictably as the result of an
   evolutionary process, spec. in emergent evolution.    
   3. fig.    a. That is in process of rising into notice.    
   b. Of a nation: that is newly independent; of a people: that is
   conscious of its national identity.    
   4. fig. That arises from or out of something prior; consequent,
   derivative.    
   5. Casually or unexpectedly arising; not specially provided for.
   arch.    
   ¶Used for ‘urgent’, ‘pressing’.    
   6. Required for emergencies.
   
   

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Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)

Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 30 Dec 2009 19:34 GMT
Continuing where I accidentally finished.

   emergence
   1. The rising (of a submerged body) out of the water.
   2. a. The process of coming forth, issuing from concealment,
   obscurity, or confinement. lit. and fig. (Cf. EMERGE v. 3, 4.) Also
   said of the result of an evolutionary process: cf. EMERGE v. 4a and
   EMERGENT B. 3.
   b. Astron. and Optics. (Cf. EMERGE v. 3b.)
   3. An unforeseen occurrence; a state of things unexpectedly arising,
   and demanding immediate attention.
     Now replaced by EMERGENCY, which Ash in 1775 notes as ‘less
     usual’.    
   ¶Pressing need, urgent want: ‘a sense not proper’ (J.).
   
   emergency
   1. The rising of a submerged body above the surface of water;
   = EMERGENCE 1. Now rare.
   .... (obs senses)
   4. concr. a. (the ordinary mod. use): A juncture that arises or
   ‘turns up’; esp. a state of things unexpectedly arising, and
   urgently demanding immediate action.
   
All these words have Latin origins. In various senses they date back to
the 1600s.
 

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Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)

 
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