Emergency Care

Our emergency room is organized and staffed to take care of all your emergency medical needs. That means finding out what brought you to us is our first concern! 

Because we see patients based on the severity of their emergency, you may see some patients who arrived after you being treated first. Even if someone else needs treatment first, we really do care about seeing and treating you as soon as we possibly can.

After you arrive at the ED, a patient care greeter will ask you to fill out a short questionnaire about your symptoms and what other medical problems you have. Next, you’ll experience the following: 

• You will be evaluated by an experienced triage nurse. They will ask brief but important questions about your medical history. You’ll also be briefly examined to check the severity of your condition. The triage nurse may even order lab tests or X-rays that have been preapproved by physician guidelines to speed up your care. 
• A registration clerk will also meet with you. They get important information for our records, including your signature on a consent form so we can provide your medical care. 
• Language translation and deaf interpretation services are available 24/7. Please ask our staff if you need assistance.

Your health and well-being are most important to us. That’s why your treatment may officially begin with our triage nurse. 

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may be taken immediately to a private treatment room or be asked to wait in our comfortable lobby until a room becomes available. Lab tests and X-rays may be done even while you're waiting for a private room. After your test results are completed, the physician will meet with you. A physician specialist may be consulted to help in your care. 

Depending on what they find, you may be treated and sent home to follow up with your regular physician. 

If you need to be admitted to the hospital, we will arrange a bed in the right department. While you’re waiting to be moved, our emergency staff will continue to take care of you.

Each patient's comfort and privacy are important. That’s why we limit how many visitors are allowed in our emergency treatment area. Learn more about our visitor policies. 

Sometimes we also must restrict visitors depending on your condition and treatment. We typically can provide phone and videoconferencing options to help you stay connected when it’s safe to do so.

As you prepare to leave the hospital, our case management team works with you, your family, and your doctors to ensure a smooth transition and continued care. We are here to support you by coordinating all aspects of your discharge and follow-up care, helping you feel confident about the next steps in your recovery. This may include: 

• Arranging transportation home. 
• Finding a place for your recovery, whether at home or a clinical setting if supervised care is needed. 
• Coordinating follow-up care with your primary care physician and scheduling rehab services like physical and occupational therapy. 
• Connecting you with social services, if needed. 
• Providing you with clear instructions about your diagnosis and treatment. 
• Helping you find a physician for follow-up care if you don’t have one.

Please do not hesitate to ask your physician or nurse if you have questions about your care or the care of your family member. Any time you’re not satisfied, speak with our nurse administrator. We’re here to help. 

After your visit, you may receive a patient satisfaction survey in the mail. We appreciate your taking a few moments to fill it out. Your input helps us improve our services and understand our community's needs.