Emergency Services
What to Expect in the Emergency Room
The Emergency Department Team includes doctors, nurses, paramedics, unit secretaries, and registration clerks. We are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you and your family if an emergency arises.
You may have experienced a minor emergency such as a cut, or a sprain, or a major emergency such as a stroke, heart attack, or serious accident.
You arrive in the emergency department perhaps by ambulance or private vehicle. You will be assessed right away. Patients with more serious problems are seen first. Unlike a doctor's office, the emergency department does not accept appointments. Instead, ill or injured patients often arrive at the same time, causing a wait for those with less serious emergencies.
Triage
The triage nurse is responsible for obtaining a brief medical history, taking your temperature, pulse, and blood pressure. For small children and infants, a rectal temperature is taken for the most accurate information. After being triaged by the nurse, you or your family should check in at the registration desk. If it is a serious situation you will be taken directly back to a bed and registration can be completed there. You may be asked to put on a hospital gown so that the doctor may examine you. You may be attached to a monitoring device so that we can continually monitor your heart and vital signs from the nurses' station. These devices are very sensitive and may sound an alarm when you move. The ED doctor will then see you as soon as possible. However, the doctor may be delayed if more critical patients arrive unexpectedly.
Tests
The doctor will order x-rays and/or blood to be drawn. Obtaining results of tests may take time. If at any time, you do not understand a specific procedure, please ask your doctor or nurse. As soon as your lab work and x-ray results are available, the doctor will explain the findings. Occasionally, an additional test may be necessary.
Treatment
Depending on your particular emergency, your treatment may be simple or complex. The treatment will be carried out by the doctor or nurse, may consist of splints, bandaged, IV's, or medications. It may take a few minutes or a couple of hours depending on your illness or injury and the need to treat other critical patients.
Determination
The doctor will determine if you are to be discharged from the emergency department or admitted to the hospital. The emergency department doctor may speak with your family doctor or other specialist about your treatment. Sometimes calls to other doctors cause delays, especially if they are unavailable to answer our calls immediately.
Discharge
If you are discharged home, the nurse will provide you with a copy of your discharge instructions and prescriptions and answer any questions about your care or treatment.
Admission
If you are admitted to the hospital, you may have to wait for another patient to be discharged. As soon as a room is prepared, we will take you to your room.