A survey of the available emergency care facilities within the Detroit Metropolitan area was carried out in 1970 using on-site investigators and a unique questionnaire to evaluate the following parameters:​ (1) organization of the Emergency Department;​ (2) physical facilities;​ (3) available equipment;​ (4) Emergency Department staffing pat? terns;​ (5) hospital admission policies;​ (6) back-up staff for the Emergency Department;​ (7) the availability of special care units, operating rooms, laboratories, blood bank facilities, and x-ray units.

The inclusion of hospital admission policies and the evaluation of the ability of an emergency care facility to provide the full range of emergency care is perhaps unique.