Emergency Services
"What to Expect"
All patients who come to our Emergency Department will receive a medical screening exam performed by one of our qualified medical professionals.
Upon arrival, you will be greeted by our registration clerks or an emergency department technician and asked to provide some basic demographic information (name, date of birth, etc.). You may also be asked to provide some form of identification (Driver’s License or photo ID). This will allow us to begin the registration process for you to receive care in the Emergency Department.
After signing in, you will be called by the Triage Nurse. You will have an assessment made by the Triage Nurse that will include vital signs, a brief history of your current problem, current medications and allergies. It is very important that you let the Triage Nurse know all the medications you take at home. This includes any over-the-counter medications or herbal remedies. This information will be documented in your medical record.
What is Triage?
Triage is a French word that means “to sort.” The duty of the Triage Nurse is to make sure the patients with the most serious injuries or illnesses are seen first. We do not see patients according to the time that they arrive in the Emergency Department, but according to the seriousness of their injury or illness. Please be aware that patients with less urgent conditions may have longer wait times if patients arrive with life-threatening or more serious injuries or illnesses.
As soon as a room becomes available, you will be escorted to a treatment room. If you are asked to wait in the waiting room until a treatment room becomes available:
- Let the Triage Nurse, ER Technician or Registration Clerk know if there are any new symptoms or changes in your condition.
- Do not eat or drink anything before checking with the Triage Nurse.
- Check with the Triage Nurse before using the restroom in case a specimen is needed to help diagnose your condition.
How long will my visit take?
These are general guidelines of turnaround times for testing you may have while in the Emergency Department:
Blood Test: 1 hour
Urine Test: 30 minutes
X-Rays: 30 minutes – 1 hour
Ultrasound: 45 minutes – 1 ½ hours
CT Scan: 30 minutes – 2 hours
These times are not exact and may vary depending on the type and number of tests ordered and current patient volumes.
Feel free to ask questions regarding your care at any time. If you have any concerns about your visit, please feel free to ask for the charge nurse on duty, the nursing supervisor or the Director of the Emergency Department.