| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Clinical and Medical |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Emergency Medicine Head |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 1 to 4 years in emergency or casualty duty, freshers with internship considered |
Casualty Medical Officer job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Casualty Medical Officer
Department: Clinical and Medical
Reports to: Emergency Medicine Head
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Casualty Medical Officer is the first doctor to treat patients arriving in the emergency department. The person triages cases by severity, stabilises the critically ill and injured, starts emergency treatment, and admits or refers patients fast. In an Indian hospital this MBBS role works round-the-clock shifts and handles trauma, cardiac, poisoning and acute cases under pressure. A good casualty medical officer makes quick, sound decisions, keeps patients alive in the golden hour, and documents and hands over cleanly for continued care.
Key responsibilities
- Triage arriving patients by severity and start care for the most critical first.
- Stabilise critically ill and injured patients, including airway, breathing and circulation.
- Provide emergency treatment for trauma, cardiac, poisoning and other acute cases.
- Order and interpret urgent investigations to guide immediate management.
- Perform emergency procedures within competence, such as suturing and resuscitation.
- Decide on admission, referral to specialists or discharge with clear instructions.
- Communicate with patients and relatives calmly about the condition and next steps.
- Coordinate with specialists, ICU, operation theatre and ambulance services quickly.
- Document each case accurately, including time, findings, treatment and handover.
- Follow emergency and medico-legal protocols, including for accident and assault cases.
Requirements
- MBBS from a recognised medical college
- Valid registration with the state medical council
- BLS and ACLS certification an advantage
- 1 to 4 years in emergency or casualty duty, freshers with internship considered
KRAs and KPIs for a Casualty Medical Officer
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Triage speed | Patients triaged and critical cases attended within the casualty response target |
| Stabilisation | Critically ill patients stabilised before shift-out or transfer every time |
| Documentation | Emergency case notes complete for all patients seen each shift |
| Handover quality | Clear handover given for every admitted or transferred patient |
| Protocol adherence | Emergency and medico-legal protocols followed with no lapse |
| Patient outcome | Avoidable adverse events in casualty kept at zero on the officer's shifts |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Defibrillator and monitor, Ventilator and oxygen, Crash cart, ECG machine, Hospital information system.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Emergency Medicine Resident, Senior Casualty Medical Officer, Emergency Medicine Consultant
Interview questions for a Casualty Medical Officer
- How do you triage when several serious patients arrive at once?
- Walk me through your first steps for a trauma patient in shock.
- How do you manage a suspected heart attack in the first ten minutes?
- How do you handle anxious relatives while treating a critical patient?
- What medico-legal steps do you follow for an accident or assault case?
- How do you decide between admission, referral and discharge under pressure?
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What does a casualty medical officer do?
A casualty medical officer is the first doctor to treat patients in the emergency department. They triage by severity, stabilise critical and injured patients, start emergency treatment, order urgent tests and decide on admission, referral or discharge. Working round-the-clock shifts, they handle trauma, cardiac and acute cases fast and document each one for continued care.
What is the difference between a casualty medical officer and a resident medical officer?
A casualty medical officer works in the emergency department, triaging and stabilising acute cases as they arrive. A resident medical officer is an in-house duty doctor who manages admitted ward patients and responds to ward calls across the hospital. One handles the emergency front door, while the other manages inpatients around the clock.
What qualifications does a casualty medical officer need?
A casualty medical officer must hold an MBBS from a recognised college and be registered with the state medical council. Life support certifications such as BLS and ACLS are a strong advantage and often expected. Emergency experience helps, though freshers who have completed internship are sometimes taken and trained, because the role demands calm, fast decision-making under pressure.