Emergency Department

 

WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY

In a life-threatening emergency:

Dial 911 for an ambulance, or proceed immediately to the emergency department.

For urgent but non-life-threatening situations:

Call your primary care physician first, before proceeding to the hospital. Many insurance companies and HMO's require prior authorization for emergency treatment.

Not every sign or symptom means an emergency exists. The following are examples of emergency situations, based on guidelines from the American College of Emergency Physicians:

  • Loss of consciousness
  • Bleeding that won't stop
  • Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
  • Sudden dizziness, weakness or change in vision
  • Severe or persistent vomiting
  • Any sudden, severe pain
  • Suicidal or homicidal feelings
  • Confusion or change in mental status
  • Coughing up or vomiting blood
  • Severe weakness on one side of the body
  • Possible poisoning or overdose
  • Severe shortness of breath
  • Severe reaction to an insect bite or medication

However, only a health care professional can properly evaluate the situation.

 

Information for Our Patients and Their Families

Emergency Departments all over the United States are seeing increasing numbers of patients coming to the ED for treatment. Recently, the Emergency Department of Southern Ohio Medical Center reached the 98th percentile in customer satisfaction as reported by Press, Ganey, the premier medical survey company. This means that our Emergency Department ranks with the top 2 percent of emergency departments all over the United States in customer satisfaction.

This ranking is no accident. In 1997, SOMC made significant changes to meet customer satisfaction. Through feedback received on our Press Ganey surveys, we were able to identify opportunities for improvement. Teams were formed to pinpoint problem areas and to work on solutions. By mid-2000 the Press, Ganey scores had skyrocketed to the 80th percentile. After a few ups and downs, one year later we have reached the 98th percentile. In view of the fact that we see 66,000 patients annually, this achievement is all the more remarkable.

The entire Emergency Department staff - physicians and nurses - is committed to continuing improvement and to being the best Emergency Department it can be.

Some of the many areas that have improved are:

  • Fewer patients in the ED for more than 6 hours
  • Less time from arrival at the ED until the patient sees a doctor
  • A greater percent of patients who are registered at the bedside (We registered 170 in the 1st quarter of 2001, and now average 700 patients per month!)
  • Less total time in the ED
  • More patient satisfaction with physicians
  • More patient satisfaction with nurses
  • Fewer patient complaints

Who and Where We Are

The Emergency Services Department of Southern Ohio Medical Center includes a 24-hour Emergency Department at the Main Campus and a 16-hour emergency care facility at the South Campus known as the SOMC Health Care Center. Physician care is provided by the Emergency Physician Medical Group. Nursing administration is headed by the Director of Nursing for Emergency & Outpatient Services. The clinical management of the department is coordinated by Assistant Nurse Managers. The Charge Nurse functions in the absence of the Assistant Nurse Manager.

SOMC Health Care Center

The SOMC Health Care Center offers emergency care 16 consecutive hours each day, with at least one physician experienced in emergency care on duty in the emergency area 16 hours a day and a specialty consultation available within 30 minutes by members of the hospital medical staff. The hospital's scope of services includes inter-campus capabilities for managing physical and related emotional problems, with provisions for transfer to another facility when indicated.

Registration hours are from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Physicians start seeing patients at 9:00 AM. Nurses and doctors will complete any treatment that may continue past the 12:00 AM time.

The Health Care Center primarily treats patients with less urgent problems such as colds, minor cuts and earaches. The Center also provides care of patients after they have received stitches, either for recheck or removal of those stitches.

Main Campus Emergency Department

The Main Campus Emergency Department offers emergency care 24 hours a day, with at least one physician experienced in emergency care on duty in the emergency area and a specialty consultation available within 30 minutes by a member of the hospital medical staff. The hospital's scope of services includes in-house capabilities for managing physical and related emotional problems, with provisions for transfer to another facility when indicated. The emergency department physician and staff respond to all announced in-hospital codes and other emergencies.

This facility is used for the care of the true emergent patient and treats chest pains, major trauma, severe respiratory problems and most ambulance patients. From 12:00 AM to 7:00 AM, when the Health Care Center is closed, all patients are treated at the Main Campus.

Transferring To Another Campus

There may be times when you will be asked to transfer to the other campus. This is done in your best interest, to provide proper care in a timely fashion.

Triage

Triage is the process by which our emergency department personnel determine the overall condition of the patients entering the Emergency Department. Following this initial evaluation, as a patient, you will then receive the proper care, always as rapidly as possible. While we strive to keep waiting time to a minimum for all emergency department patients, the most critical patients must be seen first. Triage is why some patients see a physician more quickly.

Patient Representatives

During your visit, you may be contacted by patient representatives. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have whether you are a patient or a visitor. Please let them assist you. The patient representatives currently work 8 to 16 hours per day on the Main Campus.

Eating/Drinking

If you are a patient waiting to be examined by a physician, do not eat or drink anything. This may interfere with your exam. If you are a visitor, we also ask you not to eat at the bedside of a patient.

Waiting

If you are placed in the waiting room, we apologize for this inconvenience, but please be assured you will receive the same medical attention as the patients currently being treated. Our doctor on duty will attend to your needs as soon as possible.

If you are in our waiting room waiting to be brought back into the treatment room areas, and you feel that you must leave before the doctor can see you, please see the nurse at the triage desk and tell her your concern.

Deaf Patients

For the patients who are deaf or hearing impaired, we will provide an interpreter at no charge during this visit. Please inform us so that we may help you.

Visiting hours

Emergency Department
The Emergency Department allows one visitor per patient at a time. All others are asked to wait in the waiting room. They will be updated by the patient representative on the progress of the patient they accompany. When we feel it is medically necessary, exceptions can be made on our visitor policy; that is, having no visitors or having more than one. We appreciate your cooperation.

Main Hospital
The main hospital's visiting hours are 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, but special areas, like ICU (Intensive Care Unit) have limited hours. Please check with the nursing stations for those times.

Children
Children under the age of 12 are not permitted to visit in the main hospital. Children are not allowed to visit patients in the Emergency Department either. Under special circumstances, permission may be granted; this is done at the nurse's discretion.

Dismissal

When you are dismissed from the Emergency Department, you will receive a copy of your discharge instructions on how to take care of your illness/injury at home. Please review them and ask questions if needed.

Follow Up Care

You should follow up your care with a visit to your family doctor or at a clinic. If you get worse before you can visit your family doctor or clinic, please return to the Emergency Department for reevaluation.

Outpatient Testing

If your physician orders an outpatient test, please bring a copy of your discharge instructions with you.

Nurse Practitioners

While in the Emergency Department, you may be seen by a nurse practitioner. A nurse practitioner is a Master's degree clinician who has been specially trained to see, diagnose and treat particular health care problems. He or she works with the physician to provide you with the most efficient and appropriate care that we can provide.

Emergency Department Physicians

The physicians who see patients in the Emergency Department are not employees of the hospital. They, like most family physicians, are independent practitioners and will bill you or your insurance company for the services provided.

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