A Quick Guide of What to Expect:
Triage, Waiting Room, Treatment Room, Admission/Transfer/Discharge

Intake

A registered nurse will welcome you to the Emergency Department and ask you for your name, date of birth and the reason for your visit. If a room is available, you will be taken to an exam room. If a room is not available, you will be seen in triage.

Triage

Triage, staff will assess your immediate health needs. The staff will obtain a health history and vital signs. Testing may begin at this point in your visit.

· Please note that our staff are trained using the Emergency Severity Index to assign a severity level. While everyone’s reason for coming to the emergency department is important, patients who have the most serious conditions are seen first. Your mode of arrival (ambulance vs car) does not define your severity or room placement.

· A provider may also see you during the triage process and start additional tests/ treatments at this time.

· You may be taken back to the waiting area if a treatment room is not available. Your tests and medications will begin, even though you are in the waiting area.

· Some patients may not need a treatment room and will be treated and discharged by the triage staff.

Waiting  Room

While you are waiting- please know that we have not forgotten about you.

· If you begin to feel worse, please tell us.

· If you need a blanket, pillow or other comfort items, please ask us. We want to make you as comfortable as possible.

· Please DO NOT eat or drink anything. This can cause delays in your treatment. The ER provider will decide when you can eat or drink.

· If you need to leave the waiting area, or choose not to be seen after signing up, please let our staff know.

We would like to make your visit as short as possible. However, several factors will influence your length of stay. These include how busy the department is at the time of your visit, the number of patients and the severity of their conditions as well as the severity of your condition.

Most patients spend an average of 4-5 hours in our Emergency Department depending on tests and treatments.

Treatment Room

· Once you are in the emergency department treatment room, there may be an additional wait to see the provider.

· Even when we are not physically in the room, our technology allows us to monitor your vital signs.

· The provider may decide to order additional tests after speaking with you and reviewing your initial test results. If this happens, the collection and processing will extend your time in the emergency department. The additional tests will allow the doctor to provide the best care possible.

· Nursing staff will be checking on you often. Please press the nurse call button if you need anything.

Admit, Transfer or Discharge

After the provider reviews all test results and your medical history a decision will be made to admit you to the hospital, transfer you to another facility, or discharge you.

If you are admitted to the hospital:

· You will be assigned a room in the hospital.

· The emergency department nurse will contact the nurse who will be taking care of you in the hospital.

· You will be taken to your hospital room where your treatment will continue.

· If you have personal belongings, please ask those with you to take them home.  We cannot be responsible for lost or damaged personal belongings.

If you are transferred

Your condition may require a service, specialist or a higher level of care than what we can provide. The providers will reach out to the appropriate facility for continued treatment. Please note that we have no control of bed placement at the receiving facility.  There may be a delay in getting a bed, however, we will continue to provide care until departing our facility.

· The emergency department will reach out to local EMS to make transfer arrangements; we do not have control of their availability to transport. There may be an extended wait for transportation.

If you are discharged

A nurse will review your personal discharge instructions.

· This includes your diagnosis and how to care for yourself once you leave the emergency department.

· You may receive a prescription. Medications prescribed by the emergency department  provider will not be refilled.

· Please ask questions if you do not understand something.

· It is important that you follow up with your primary care provider or the provider on the discharge instructions and that you fill your prescriptions.

Thank you for choosing Anderson Hospital for your emergency care.

It was our pleasure to meet and care for you today.

We strive to deliver quality care, however, if you feel we have not met your needs, please notify our Patient Advocate at 618-391-6429 .