Before Visiting Emergency Services
What to Know Before Visiting the Emergency Department
Patients arriving at the hospital should use the Emergency Services entrance.
While a trip to the Emergency Department (ED) can be disconcerting, a little advance planning can go a long way toward alleviating the anxiety often associated with such visits. We're here and ready to help 24/7, 365 days a year. We treat adult emergencies in the main emergency department (ED) and pediatric emergencies in the Pediatric Center.
With a focus on rapid response, the doctors and nurses in the ED specialize in diagnosing and treating injuries and illness. Our goal is to get a patient seen as quickly as possible and either discharged or admitted, depending on the nature of the emergency. Emergency patients should generally plan on staying between two and three horus. The exception is for Fast Track-type complaints with an approximate 90 minute turn-around. It may take a little longer, about three and a half hours, before those ED patients who will be admitted to the hosptial are in a bed on the floor.
Before heading to the ED, patients and family members should take a few minutes to gather information and items that will make the visit go more smoothly and allow them to pass the time more easily.
Bring a family member or friend - you may need someone to help provide information or
receive instructions on your behalf
A list of medications - this will help the medical staff avoid prescriibing drugs that will
interact with what you're already taking. This list should include over-the-counter, herbal
and prescribed medications.
Physician and Insurance information
A book or magazine