Erhan Çatalbaş, MD

Erhan Çatalbaş, MD is an Emergency Service physician at Acibadem Kozyatagi Hospital in İstanbul. He graduated from Anadolu University Faculty of Medicine in 1993 and completed his Family Medicine training at Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital in 1999. He has more than 33 years in medicine and is a member of the İstanbul Medical Chamber.

Most of his career has been spent in emergency departments. After graduating, he worked as Physician in Charge at Ordu Merkez Gökömer Health Center from 1993 to 1996. Between 1999 and 2000 he completed a fellowship at Nürnberg Nord Klinikum Psychiatry Clinic in Germany and also served as a duty staff physician at Özel Marmara Hospital. He was Emergency Department Coordinator at Private Pendik Şifa Hospital from 2000 to 2001, worked in the Emergency Department of İstanbul Kızılay Altıntepe Research and Treatment Clinics in 2001, and then spent 2001 to 2005 in the Emergency Department of Acıbadem Bakırköy Hospital. From 2005 to 2006 he worked in the Emergency Department of Anadolu Health Center before joining Acıbadem Healthcare Services in 2006.

Clinical focus

Dr. Çatalbaş assesses and treats patients presenting with acute conditions in the emergency setting. His areas of expertise include trauma and emergency interventions, where the initial priorities are to identify injuries or acute problems, stabilize the patient and decide on the next steps in care. He also has a particular interest in environmental emergencies, a group of conditions caused by external factors rather than underlying disease.

Within this group, his expertise covers drowning and acute hypoxia, in which the body’s oxygen supply is suddenly reduced and rapid assessment is needed, as well as airway obstruction, where securing and maintaining breathing is the first concern. He also manages bee stings and tick bites, which can range from local reactions to more significant systemic responses that require observation and treatment in the emergency department. In each case, the approach depends on the patient’s condition at presentation, and further tests or referral to other specialties may be considered where appropriate.

How Dr. Çatalbaş works with international patients

Dr. Çatalbaş consults in Turkish and English, and interpreters can be arranged for patients who speak other languages. The international patient team coordinates the collection of prior reports and imaging, such as MRI, CT, X-ray or ultrasound reports, laboratory and pathology results, operative notes and discharge summaries, and arranges appointments and the hospital visit. A first consultation typically covers the patient’s history and symptoms, a review of existing imaging and previous treatments, a clinical examination and a discussion of the options. Video consultation is available for international patients who wish to discuss their situation before travelling.