Radiology Results in 10 Minutes: Emergency Room Tips
Millions of people in the US find themselves in a medical care facility at least once each year. Usually, no one is happy when this happens to them; and regardless of whether you call 911 and arrive by ambulance, or have a friend rush you to the Frontline ER, a trip to an ER is always a frightening experience.
However, with the right tips, you will find yourself getting safe and effective care upon your arrival at the emergency room. The following emergency room tips from Frontline ER will help boost your confidence, and may even help shorten your stay in the ER the next time you find yourself there.
In the Ambulance
When faced with a life-or-death situation, you will typically want to go to the closest ER facility that can help address any problem that you could be experiencing. For instance, if you have been in a terrible car accident, the ambulance will generally rush you to the closest trauma center.
However, when it turns out that your emergency is not time-sensitive, which means that you do not have to be attended to immediately, you will have an option when it comes to deciding where you would like to undergo treatment. But you should note that by law, an EMT may not have a choice but to take you to a Frontline ER facility that they think is best for you, particularly in situations where the other nearby facilities may be overcrowded.
It is always best to try not to arrive when the personnel is changing shifts. Frequently, this happens at 7 am, 3 pm, and 11 pm, even though not all facilities follow this particular system. Arriving when a change of shift is happening means that you will be the last person to be attended to, as the personnel already at work are preparing to leave, and the ones that have just arrived must first be briefed on all the other patients before they can attend to you.
In case a family member is trailing the ambulance, you can have them call the family doctor. The doctor should then contact the ER to inform them that you will be arriving soon—this only applies when there is enough time. The ER doctor, as a professional courtesy will be on the lookout for you, and will be with you as soon as you arrive.
Once You Have Arrived
You need to provide the Frontline ER medical team with as much information as you can about your condition. You should know the names of the drugs you are taking, any allergies that you may have, your blood type, and any other relevant information that you may remember. If possible, prepare this information in advance, and place it somewhere your caretakers can easily find it.
Ask a friend or family member to accompany you to the ER. If you are unable to do this, you can request the EMTs to call a neighbor or relative on your behalf. Spending time with yourself in the emergency room is often overwhelming, and it may be difficult for you to pay attention to everything that is happening.
Having someone you know by your side will help you calm your nerves, and may also assist in reducing any stress that you may be experiencing. Also, it is allowed to ask as many questions as possible. Engaging the staff makes them pay attention to your condition, which means that they will also pay the same attention to your medical care.
However, try not to be annoying or overbearing. The moment you see the emergency physicians take steps towards treating you, make inquiries on what will occur next and what you can expect to experience.
Wait… Wait….and Wait
Waiting is a part of an ER visit. For instance, when your Frontline ER physician says that the radiology results will only take 10 minutes, know that this is a rough estimate. You need to be prepared to wait for more than ten minutes, hence the need to exercise patience at all times.
It will also be essential for you to try and keep your medical situation in perspective. Patients suffering life-threating emergencies will traditionally receive immediate medical care. If you notice that personnel are not attending to you immediately, it means that they do not think that you need or deserve this kind of emergency care.
As such, try and find your sense of humor as you continue waiting. Regardless of how much pain you may be in, you need to understand that you are not the only patient in that facility who is unwell. Having a sense of humor helps make your experience memorable, and it will endear you to the staff that will have to look at you more frequently. It is mainly an advantage because the ER team would rather deal with you than deal with the annoying person behind you.
Always take time to thank those who helped you during your visit to the Frontline ER in Richmond or Dallas. They will highly appreciate it.
