The emergency room is the hub of medical activities involving all clinical departments of the hospital. In early 1990s, representations were made for the Spanish and Philippine governments to finance the modernization of the physical structure and the provision of state-of-the art equipment and life-saving devices essential to deliver quality health care to patients coming to the Department of Emergency Medicine Services. After a decade, the modernized Department of Emergency Medicine was inaugurated on May 24, 2004. The Ambassador of Spain graced the occasion together with the Executive Secretary of the Philippines. Also present were the UP President, UPM Chancellor, UPCM Dean as well as the PGH Director. The modernized DEM is equipped with a computerized local area network.

As a teaching unit of the UP College of Medicine, the Department of Emergency Medicine serves as a venue for health professional advancement. Faculty members and DEM staff train budding physicians as to the intricacies of emergency medicine services, cope with the demands of its clientele and meet medical challenges. Faculty members are assigned teaching loads by the College of Medicine.

Collaborative efforts of the different hospital clinical departments is one of the most important factors to succeed in this otherwise insurmountable task of establishing a systematic and functional emergency medicine services. The department shares its manpower, resources and expertise to community involvements.

In the Philippines, emergency medicine is a new field of medical practice. However with the sustained and concerted efforts of the department chairman, faculty members, consultants and residency staff supported by the UPM, UPCM and PGH administrations, linkages with Asian countries have been established. Trainings and grants are offered to DEM faculty members and staff from foreign countries. The department is affiliated with Asian emergency disaster organizations, rendering consultations, training facilitator/coordinator and lecturers. In November 2004, the Philippines hosted the Asian disaster course geared to professionalize disaster model to address the inevitable calamities besetting the region.