Emergency Department
What to Expect Once I Arrive
Upon arrival you will be seen by a triage nurse who will assess your symptoms to determine whether you need to be treated right away based on the severity of your condition. The triage nurse will obtain your vital signs,a list of your current medications, and any information pertaining to your past medical/surgical history. If your condition is not life-or limb-threatening, you may be directed to the waiting room, as the most critically ill and injured patients are treated first in an emergency department. (It’s not first come, first served and having health insurance does not mean you will be seen quicker.)
Once you are in an examination area, an emergency physician will examine you, monitor your vital signs and possibly order tests such as lab, radiology, and/or respiratory studies. During your visit, be proactive and ask questions about anything you don’t understand. If you are critically ill or require IV medications or fluids, you may be admitted to the hospital. An emergency physician will discuss your plan of care and treatment with your primary care physician before you are admitted.
The ER is Not for Routine Care
Patients sometimes come to the ER asking for a colonoscopy, a prescription refill or flu shots. This is not what the ER is for – the ER is for the treatment of new illnesses or injuries on an emergency basis. If you need routine care, you should make an appointment to see a primary care physician. If you need routine care at night or on the weekends, St. Elizabeth After Hours and other urgent care facilities provide such care. Click here for additional information about locations andst hours for St. Elizabeth After Hours. Examples of routine care are: prescription refill, chronic pain conditions, flu shots, routine physical exams, toothaches and minor aches/pain.
Medical Care Team
St. Elizabeth Hospital Emergency Department is staffed 24/7 with professionals who have received specialized training in emergency medicine. The physicians and nursing personnel are trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life support and Trauma Care.
A patient’s primary care physician will be contacted as necessary. Sometimes, the emergency physician needs to call on other specialists, such as a surgeon or a cardiologist. St. Elizabeth Hospital keeps a list of on-call specialists. Note that if a specialist is contacted to see a patient, there may be a time delay for his or her arrival but our team of experts will provide you with the most timely and complete care possible.
Laboratory & X-Ray Testing
An emergency room physician may need to order diagnostic laboratory or X-ray testing in order to make better informed treatment decisions. These tests take time to be collected, processed and interpreted. We will do our best to keep patients and families informed. While waiting for test results, it is necessary for patients to remain in the Emergency Department.
Visitors
In addition to providing the highest quality patient care, protecting patient confidentiality and minimizing wait times are very important to the staff at the Emergency Department of St. Elizabeth Hospital.
Family members and friends of patients are rightfully concerned about the condition of their loved ones. Our care team will do its best to keep them up-to-date.
Two family members or friends are allowed to accompany a patient in the Emergency Department. Those accompanying a patient must stay in the room with the patient. Be aware, however, that there are times when visitors will be asked to leave the Emergency Department.
Before Coming to the Emergency Department
Before you leave to come to the emergency room, be sure to bring a list of all medications you are taking, a list of any chronic conditions you may have, operations you have had and any allergies you have. It is also helpful to the medical care team if you can provide a copy of recent lab or test results. Providing such information may help to reduce both the cost and waiting time associated with your emergency room visit.
