Emergency Medicine

• Triage. Upon arrival to the ED, you will be seen by a triage nurse who will prioritize your care needs based on the symptoms you are experiencing and how sick you are.
• Registration. A registration clerk will take demographic information from you and ask you questions about your insurance and physician. A financial counselor may also meet with you to discuss your insurance coverage.
• Physicians/Nurses. There are a number of physicians, nurses and other patient care staff members present in the ED. You may be seen by more than one physician or nurse. Because we are a teaching hospital, residents, medical students and nursing students also work with us.
  
  

  There is always a specially trained emergency physician on duty to care for you.

  The Emergency Department Attending Physician is the senior physician in charge of all patient care in the ED. If you have any questions or concerns, your physician or nurse will be glad to help you.

  If you have your own physician, let us know. We will contact him or her, as needed, to help us give you the best care. If required, we may also call in a specialist to see you during your visit.

• Social Workers. Our social workers are available to help with your concerns, so please let us know how we can help.

Priority of Patients: Who Is Seen First?

• If you notice that other people are being seen before you, it is because we need to see the sickest patients first.
• If you think you have been overlooked, please ask someone for help. We will update you as often as possible.
• If you think your condition is worsening, and you need to be seen right away, ask to be checked by a nurse.

Treatment in the Emergency Department