Most people who come to the Emergency Department (ED) expect immediate attention. Patients and their families who experience a medical crisis are often anxious and want to receive care as soon as possible. We understand. The reality is that the average ED visit takes about six hours.

As a rule, sicker people are seen first. Someone who comes in by ambulance or who complains of trouble breathing, chest pain, or severe bleeding will be seen before someone whose condition is not life threatening. More stable patients are seen on a “first come first served” basis.

A medical screening nurse will quickly assess your medical needs when you come in. He or she will assign a room as soon as possible based on those findings.

Your Care in the Emergency Department

We have two main goals in our treatment: we want to find out what is causing your problem, and we want to control uncomfortable symptoms. The ED doctor will most likely need to order tests, such as blood tests, EKG, or X-rays, to help figure out the nature and extent of your problem. Nurses and technicians, both in the ED and in the hospital, help perform these tests. All of our staff members are well trained and can answer your questions at any time during your visit.

Our doctor may also decide to consult with a specialist such as a surgeon or gynecologist. Our hospital is a teaching hospital, a resident physician as well as a staff doctor may see you. It may seem like you are seeing a lot of different faces, but each one plays an important role in providing quality care.

Disclaimer
If you think you have a MEDICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY or go to the nearest hospital. DO NOT attempt to access emergency care through this web site. An emergency medical condition is a medical or psychiatric condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in any of the following: serious jeopardy to your health, serious impairment to your bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part. An emergency medical condition is also "active labor," which means a labor when there is inadequate time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery or if a transfer poses a threat to the health of the member or unborn child.

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