An emergency center is always on high alert for incoming patients with medical conditions needing immediate care and treatment.
While there are days when there is an influx of patients, there can be times when most beds are empty.
The situation in this facility can get unpredictable on a daily basis. Despite this, every staff member in the emergency room is always ready to take on a patient’s minor or severe injury.
From cases of mild headache and stomach upset to seizures and stroke, the ER team knows how to handle each case with great expertise.
This article tackles what a typical day at the facility looks like.
What is an Emergency Room?
An emergency room is a department in a hospital or a standalone medical facility that accepts patients who need urgent treatment for minor to severe injuries and conditions.
The emergency team prioritizes the most urgent and life-threatening conditions, while other cases may need to wait for minutes to be attended to by the doctor on duty.
Additionally, the facility, whether it is an on-call emergency center or a department in a hospital, has all the needed equipment and medications to treat a patient requiring urgent care.
An ER operates 24/7 and is mostly open during holidays.
Who Is in the Emergency Room Team?
An ER team consists of board-certified medical professionals who specialize in emergency medicine.
Emergency doctors, ER nurses, medical technologists, and radiologists have their specified work in handling mild to severe ER cases.
Sometimes, the team also seeks assistance from specialists who can take a severe case more expertly.
Arriving in an Emergency Room
Unlike in the outpatient department, where patients secure an appointment with their doctors before consultation, ER patients can immediately walk in and seek medical attention.
A triage nurse assesses all incoming patients and conducts an initial interview on their condition. Your temperature, pulse rate, and blood pressure will be checked.
Based on the assessment, the nurse will prioritize the severe cases and symptoms and those whose vital signs show life-threatening risks.
You have to note that waiting time is not part of the assessment. A person who arrives later than you may be accommodated first if there is a need for more urgent treatment.
Your waiting time may vary depending on the bulk of incoming patients and the severity of their conditions. However, you should also notify the triage nurse if there are changes in your condition while you wait.
During your stay
During your stay in the ER, a team of emergency medicine professionals will look after you.
Your doctor will assess your condition and ask you about your existing conditions, medical history, and current medications.
The physician may also require rapid laboratory tests. You may undergo blood tests and X-rays to detect your condition and discover what’s causing you pain and discomfort. Some ERs have on-site diagnostics facilities that can provide results in less than an hour.
While in the process, your physician may also prescribe immediate medications to alleviate any pain, which your nurse will administer.
These medications may lead you to doze for a couple of hours. Your nurse shall inform you of the medicines you will receive and explain their side effects.
You will be given a bed in the ER while you rest and wait for the results to come out. Expect an in-and-out visit from various ER staff assigned to check and monitor your vital signs and overall condition.
While the emergency team checks on you, it is always best to have someone accompany you during your ER visit who can assist you with your needs.
A friend or a relative can do errands such as talking to your health insurance company or buying supplies you may need.
Going home
Upon getting the results of your laboratory tests, your physician shall create a plan of care for you, including your medications.
If your condition is mild, your ER physician may allow you to go home and just give you aftercare instructions you have to adhere to strictly. A follow-up check-up with a specialist may be required if needed.
However, severe cases may need to be admitted to the hospital for further treatment. You may also be endorsed to a specialist or your family doctor.
Reliable emergency center
All in all, a visit to the ER may take 3-4 hours. This depends on your waiting time, the lab tests you have to undergo, and your consultation with the emergency physician.
A visit to the ER is not something all of us ever wish for. Going to the ER means a medical condition that needs urgent treatment.
Even a mild headache may be a warning sign of a severe illness, so it is better to seek medical treatment as soon as possible to reduce health risks.
A reliable emergency center with minimal waiting time is a must in your neighborhood or town so you can get immediate medical care.