Getting you fast and accurate care is our primary goal. Please consider bringing the following:

• Emergency contact information
• Insurance cards  
• Legal documents, such as advance directives
• List of, or bag with your current medications     
• List of known allergies
• Photo identification
• If you’ve swallowed something that may be poisonous, please bring the substance with you.

We begin by checking you in and asking you what emergency condition brought you into the ER. It’s important to know that:

• It is our responsibility to care for everyone who comes through our emergency room door. However, our ER operates using a triage system. This means the most seriously ill or injured patients receive medical care first.
• Often before you are seen by a doctor, a registration clerk will ask you for insurance and other information so we can enter your visit for your medical records.
• Be assured that patients in need of emergency care will never be denied treatment or have treatment delayed by administrative paperwork.

When it’s your turn, you’ll be taken to an exam room, where a doctor or other medical professional will examine you based on the urgency of your needs. You can expect to have your pulse, blood pressure, temperature and other vitals taken, and you’ll be asked for your medical history. You may also be asked to change into a hospital gown so we can better examine you and connect to devices that monitor your vital signs.

You may need to have tests performed or medical images taken so we fully understand your condition and can make an accurate diagnosis. Having the right information means we can better help treat you during your ER visit and help you in the next step on your healthcare journey. Our team works to provide fast and accurate results so your treatment can begin quickly. Trained technicians or technologists will perform these tests.

We may need to perform tests or procedures to rule out various illnesses. Some of these tests require patients to have an empty stomach. If you would like to eat or drink something while here, please talk to an Emergency Department staff member prior to doing so.

The average ED stay is 3-5 hours. Wait time may vary depending on tests and care plan. Critical patients or a large volume of patients can increase the length of your visit. 

Average test result completion times:

• Lab/blood tests: 1-2 hours
• CT: 2-3 hours
• MRI: 2-3 hours
• Urine sample: 1-2 hours
• X-Ray: 1 hour
• Ultrasound: 1-2 hours

Your ER visit will become part of your electronic record and will be available through your patient portal. 

Before you leave the ER or the hospital, we’ll give you all the information you need to continue your treatment and improve your health. You’ll leave with a copy of your discharge instructions. Prescriptions may be printed or electronically sent to your pharmacy. 

Please keep your discharge instructions and make sure you understand them. We’ll be there for you if you need additional education or support, but you are responsible for your own care after you leave our ER.

We work hard to make sure you understand any medical procedure we perform. If you don’t understand something, please ask your doctor or nurse for more information. You can expect to have one of our care team explain tests, your diagnosis, treatments and your take-home instructions.

Your ER visit will become part of your electronic record and will be available through your patient portal.

Your care doesn’t always end when you go home. After your ER visit or hospital stay, it will be important to let your family doctor know what happened so you can get the follow-up care or treatment you may need.