What happens in a typical emergency room in America? This is a question that most people who have never used emergency rooms ask themselves. Emergency rooms remain a mystery to many because a good number of people have never had the chance of visiting an emergency room.
As part of demystifying whatever it is that goes on in emergency rooms, Frontline emergency room through a series of blog posts, gives the public a chance to read and understand what goes on in emergency rooms. In this latest installment of the blog post, we want to run through the process of what happens in an emergency room right from the moment one walks in, to the moment they walk out.
Remember that this blog post is based on what happens in Frontline Emergency Room and you might have a slightly different experience in other emergency rooms but in general, this is what you should expect every single time you visit an emergency room;
What happens in an emergency room
Triage
This is the first step once one get to an emergency room. Triage refers to the process of assessing each patient’s medical condition to determine how serious it is. The nurse who conducts the triage then classifies the conditions into three categories.
Depending on how serious a condition is, it is classified either as immediately life threatening, urgent, but not immediately threatening and less urgent. Priority is then awarded in order of urgency.
Recording of a patient’s medical information
Just like any medical facility, once you visit an emergency room, you will be required to provide personal information at the reception. You will need to provide personal address, insurance information and other important pieces of information.
If you are in a critical condition, this will be done by a relative. Alternatively, you will be stabilized first and then the information recorded later.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is aimed at determining exactly what the problem is and how serious your complication is. This is carried out through a serious of oral discussions and physical examination of your body. This is carried out by a registered nurse or the physician depending on availability.
Special tests
Depending on what it is that you are suffering from, there are further tests that may be required to further understand you problem. In the emergency room, expect X-rays, blood tests, CT scans, ultrasounds and many other medical aimed at fully understanding your problem and coming up with a comprehensive report on your medical condition.
Treatment and prescription of medication
Treatment and medication is offered once the nurse or physician is certain of the specific problem bothering you. The medication can be in form of an injection, tablets or therapy depending on the condition bothering you.
Surgery
Yes, emergency rooms are can conduct some minor surgeries if need be. Minor surgeries are conducted to remove foreign objects and shrapnel lodged in one’s body. You should therefore not be surprised when you are summoned to the operating room to get a minor surgery.
Referral to other high level facilities
Although most emergency rooms are well equipped, they most of the time don’t have every facility and all the required specialists to warrant comprehensive treatment. They therefore will do everything possible to make you comfortable and then send you out to a higher level institution for treatment.
Medical report
At the end of the ER visit, the physicians or the nurses will take time to inform you of your medical diagnosis and offer treatment recommendations. Your recommendations will be for discharge from the ER, admission to a specific specialty area of the hospital, or transfer to a medical facility best suited to care for your specific health need. Even without treatment, the physician can offer free advice on how you should go about your problem to avoid any further problems.
Checkout
After the treatment and presentation of the medical report, you will then be required to checkout. This is where your total bill is looked at and emailed to you. Some emergency rooms prefer instant payments after treatment while others will mail you the bill later on.
Expect variations
As earlier on mentioned, there are chances of experiences being slightly different in other emergency rooms but what is outlined above is what is experienced in most emergency rooms in America especially.
Looking for the best emergency room in Dallas, Texas?
Are you in Dallas or Richmond Texas and are looking for the best emergency room to report your emergencies and infections? Look no further than our way here at Frontline Emergency Room. Frontline Emergency Room is a no wait emergency care facility offering the best emergency services to the locals of Richmond, TX and Dallas, TX at very affordable rates.
Frontline Emergency Rooms accept most of the medical insurances on offer in Texas and you should therefore not be too worried about your insurance. We also offer a flexible payment plan and are always willing to listen to you. Give us a call here at Frontline emergency room today and we will gladly be of help concerning any infections, consultations, treatment or any other service you might be in need of.
