An emergency room (ER) provides immediate medical attention for severe injuries or sudden, serious illnesses. These departments are equipped to handle a broad range of medical situations, ensuring patients receive timely and appropriate care.
Emergency Room Operating Hours
Emergency rooms operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including all holidays. This constant availability ensures healthcare access for unpredictable medical emergencies. Hospitals maintain these departments to address unexpected health crises.
When to Seek Emergency Care
An ER is for life-threatening situations or conditions that could cause lasting harm if not treated immediately. Symptoms such as sudden, severe chest pain that might spread to the arm or jaw, or difficulty breathing, indicate a need for emergency care. These could be signs of a heart attack or other serious cardiac events.
Other symptoms include sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, a sudden severe headache often described as the “worst headache of your life,” or sudden changes in vision, which might point to a stroke. Uncontrolled bleeding that does not stop with direct pressure after several minutes warrants an ER visit. Major injuries like severe head trauma, suspected broken bones with exposed bone, deep wounds, severe burns, or loss of consciousness are reasons to seek emergency care. Minor illnesses such as colds, flu, sprains, or minor cuts are typically better addressed at an urgent care center or by a primary care physician.
Understanding Your Visit to the Emergency Room
Upon arrival, patients typically undergo a process that prioritizes care based on the severity of their condition, not the order of arrival. The initial step is registration, where administrative staff gather personal and insurance information. A triage nurse then assesses the patient’s symptoms, takes vital signs, and gathers a brief medical history. This assessment determines the urgency of their needs, categorizing them into different levels of care. Patients with immediate, life-threatening conditions are seen first, which explains why someone who arrived after you might be taken into an exam room sooner.
Once in an exam room, a physician or other medical staff will conduct a more thorough examination and may order diagnostic tests, such as blood work, X-rays, or CT scans. These tests help in accurately diagnosing the condition. After diagnosis, a treatment plan is initiated, which may involve medication, procedures, or even admission to the hospital for further care. Patients are discharged once their condition is stable and safe for them to return home, usually with instructions for follow-up care.