[Opening of an emergency center in the University Hospital Center of Vaud]

Previously decentralised, non-programmed attendances, followed or not by hospitalisation (emergency admissions) at the C.H.U.V. were seen in 7 different sectors. In the context of the opening of a new hospital building for the C.H.U.V., emergencies were concentrated in a new common area known as the "Emergency Centre". The article describes the organisation of this new sector as well as its activity during the first year of its working (7 months). The centre received approximately 1800 patients per month, 51% examined and treated in the department of surgery, 28% by the department of internal medicine, the rest being under the primary responsibility of services of otorhinolaryngology, paediatrics and paediatric surgery and dermatology. Description of the sector includes some maps to demonstrate the architectural concept and its use in case of mass casualties.