In the event of an emergency, dial 911.
Our Emergency Department (ED) is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, caring for over 80 patients a day, an average 2,500 a month or nearly 35,000 patients each year. We have 20 treatment rooms equipped to accommodate all levels of care, from minor complaints to more serious injury and illness.
What to Expect During Your Visit to the ED
It’s nearly impossible to predict how many people will need care at any given time or moment. But we are ready when you need us most. Our team of board certified, residency trained emergency physicians, nurse practitioners, advanced certified nurses, and other specially trained ED staff share a passion for delivering state-of-the art, patient-centered medical care in our ED. You may also see lab technicians, respiratory therapists, radiology technicians, and other health care professionals during the course of your visit.
As you wait to be treated, you may notice people that arrive after you are actually seen before you. This is standard emergency “triage.”
Triage
Please note: Please do not eat or drink while waiting until you are seen by a medical provider, since this may interfere with your treatment or worsen your condition.
When you first arrive at the ED, you will be registered by a specially trained medical professional who will note your medical concern and confirm your name (we recommend bringing positive ID and insurance information with you). You will then be taken to one of our private rooms in the ED right away, unless there are no rooms available. A registered nurse will complete a brief history and physical assessment, including taking your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, temperature) and assessing your pain. Don’t minimize your symptoms. Be sure to tell the nurse about any chronic health problems, medications you are taking, allergies, or other key facts that relate to your health, since this information will help us prioritize, or triage, which patients require attention first.
You may also have an electrocardiogram or x-rays taken, have an IV inserted to start fluids or medications you need. You may also have blood or urine samples collected at this time or other testing. Blood tests can take up to 2 hours but the results are vital for the proper diagnosis and treatment of your condition.
Evaluation and Treatment
While patients waiting for treatment are routinely checked by the triage staff, please let us know if your condition worsens at any time while you are waiting. We will make every effort to keep you comfortable and informed of any results or further delays. All of our rooms are private and we will close the curtains or doors to provide you with the privacy you need while you wait, if you need.
Our entire team is committed to keeping you informed and comfortable. If you are experiencing pain, we will make every effort to control it and reassess your comfort frequently. Once your evaluation is complete, the ED provider will coordinate your care with your physician or other specialists.
Discharge / Admission
If you are being discharged, our staff will review written instructions with you before you leave, since understanding and following them is important to your recovery.
If you need to stay in the hospital, a room will be requested for you based on your diagnosis and care needs. If no room is available at the time, we will continue to care for you in the ED and make you as comfortable as possible until your room is ready.
Visitor Policy
At Peterson Health, we consider patients and their family as partners in care. We encourage you to bring a family member or friend with you. However, while there are no formal restrictions on ED visiting, there may be times that staff may need to limit the number of people in the treatment or waiting areas in the interests of patient privacy, safety, and comfort.
We Welcome Your Feedback
We care about you and your experience with us. Whether discharged from the ED or from the hospital, you will receive an automated phone call from us within a couple of days. You may also receive a brief survey asking you about the quality of your care in the ED. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey. Your feedback is very important and helps us continually improve our patient care at the hospital. Feel free to request a follow-up call from a nurse or patient representative. Our patient representative can be reached at 830.258.7630.
