Emergency Room Questions: Who Are the People Treating Me?
Emergency rooms tend to be really hectic. Research shows that more Americans, both insured and uninsured are likely to visit the ER for medical care. Patients visiting FrontLine ER in Richmond or Dallas can do so anytime as we are open round the clock. It can sometimes get very busy, and that is why knowing who you are likely to encounter during your ER visit can help you get the best care even when you are feeling anxious, and afraid.
Ambulance Paramedics
When you are involved in a severe accident or a medical emergency, a medical team can arrive at home or the scene, by ambulance or helicopter to assess your medical condition before taking you to a hospital or the ER.
They are known as the emergency medical technicians (EMT’s) or paramedics. Their work is to manage your treatment until you reach the emergency care. They can also:
- Perform several clinical procedures such as CPR
- Offer advanced life support
- Administer medicine
- Decide on your behalf, depending on the urgency, the appropriate medical facility to take you
On arrival at the ER, the paramedic’s team takes the patient to the treatment room and provides a detailed report on the patient’s condition to the nurses and physicians.
Administrative Staff at the Emergency Department
When you walk into ER’s like FrontLine ER, the first people you will meet won’t be medical personnel, but administrative registration clerks. The administrative staff ensures that all your personal, medical details and insurance provider information is correct. They also handle other administrative work related to your emergency visit.
The Triage Nurse in the Emergency Department
The next person you will often see at the emergency department is a triage nurse. The term triage originates from the days of the war. It was used to refer to a system of organizing the injured persons according to how severe and how soon they need care.
A triage nurse is a specialist ER nurse who will assess the severity of a patient’s complaint, how sick they are then set priorities on who is to receive treatment first.
During the triage, the nurse takes and records the temperature, blood pressure, and also assesses the oxygen and pain levels.
After the assessment, the nurse can direct you to wait in the waiting room or take you straight to the appropriate healthcare professional.
The Treatment Team at the Emergency Department
Once you are in the treatment area, you will be under the care of the primary emergency nurses. They possess the training, qualification, and experience required to manage and assist with various emergency situations such as sprained ankles, broken bones, and even cardiac arrest. They may also suction an airway, clean wounds and burns, administer intravenous medication and aid n neurological evaluations
Some ER’s may have a charge nurse who is an experienced nurse that oversees the dynamics and flow of the entire department and can manage complex patient cases.
Next on the treatment lineup is the emergency physician. The physicians are medical doctors who have had backgrounds in family medicine, internal medicine and surgery. Other specialist physicians may be having more training in emergency medicine, cardiology, and orthopedics. They are specialists in resuscitation, advanced life support and the management of different life-threatening situations.
In addition to triage nurses and physicians, the ER can have physician’s assistants (PA’s) and nurse practitioners (NP’s) who are qualified to practice medicine under the supervision and direction of the physician.
Visit FrontLine ER for all your emergency issues and experience skilled and professional treatment from our team of qualified health personnel.
Diagnostic Staff at the Emergency Department
As part of your treatment process, the doctor may order tests such as scans and x-rays. The technicians such as sonographers, radiographers, and radiologists work hand in hand with the ER staff to help diagnose and treat your problem. They may use the below imaging techniques, which are also available at FrontLine ER,
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan
- X-ray
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Ultrasound and nuclear medicine
The physician may also send you to the pathology service where special lab staff will do blood tests. The lab staff will then return the results to the doctor for review purposes.
Other healthcare professionals that you may need during your treatment are:
- Allied health professionals like social workers, forensic nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and ER pharmacists
- Mental health care emergency team can also help to conduct mental health assessments
Support staff that you may come into contact with may include:
- The orderlies and environmental services staff who keep the ER clean, help with the meals and help you move between areas
- The security staff that keeps the ER safe and secure. They are very beneficial especially when violent and irate patients check in for treatment.
- If you are treated and discharged, after your treatment at the ER, any prescriptions have to be filled by the pharmacist. They will also instruct you on your recovery process and outline any ongoing services you may require.
