What To Look for In An Emergency Room Near Me
When time is of the essence, finding the closest emergency room near you may show that the closest emergency room is, in fact, not close at all. While many urgent care facilities claim to treat “emergency” situations, they may not be equipped with the staff, technology, and tools to handle higher-level emergencies.
One of the biggest dilemmas, when you feel you need immediate medical treatment, is deciding whether it is an ER-type of visit or if you should go to the local urgent care facility. Oftentimes, patients assume that the emergency room is the only solution to treat issues after-hours or on the weekend. With the emergence of urgent care centres in local neighbourhoods, the options become more numerous, and there may be even more uncertainty about where to go.
Urgent care facilities essentially bridge the gap between what is offered in an emergency room and what is provided at a primary care doctor’s office. Urgent care centres can treat a broad range of acute or minor medical conditions, including:
coughs
fevers
sore throat
urinary infections
minor sprains or broken bones
While they can offer many of the same services available in a doctor’s office, they typically do not have the specialized medical equipment or emergency-trained physicians needed for critical or life-threatening medical situations.
What Is Treated In An Emergency Room?
In a real medical emergency, it is important to seek immediate attention since many health concerns, injuries, symptoms, and complications can progress quickly. It is vital to visit your local emergency room/urgent care centre if you or a family member/friend experience any of the following:
difficulty in breathing
dehydration
passing out/fainting/loss of consciousness
severe pain that cannot be tolerated
noticeable and sudden change in mental state
chest pains
seizure
broken bones
head trauma or a possible concussion
uncontrolled or heavy bleeding
severe allergic reaction
burns
complex lacerations needing stitches
COVID-19 testing
Emergency services are also advised if a person has a chronic or serious illness, like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart issues, cancer, etc.
How To Choose The Best Emergency Room Near You
While there are many factors to consider when choosing the best emergency room around you to treat yourself or a loved one, here are some things to keep in mind, depending on the severity of the condition:
Location.
How far is the emergency room from your home and surroundings, office, school, or other location? You should always know where the closest emergency room is should the need for treatment arise.
Experience.
Does the on-site staff have emergency room experience? Are there board-certified emergency room physicians on-site 24/7? You want to be sure that the team treating you is fully equipped with the knowledge, skills, and technology for what ails you or a loved one.
Fast and Efficient Care.
You don’t want to be treated as just a number. It is important that you choose an emergency room in your neighbourhood, that is able to provide fast and immediate care. Oftentimes, patients with “level 3” emergencies, like abdominal pains, high fevers, complex lacerations, broken bones, concussions, and asthma attacks, are left waiting to be seen in hospital ERs.
One of the unique benefits of contacting HEI is that we have information on emergency rooms and urgent care facilities that are available wherever you’re located. Whether you are experiencing chest pains, migraine, need stitches, have heart palpitations, or need COVID-19 testing, the team at HEI is trained in providing emergency care information for a number of conditions, and will help to determine whether you need treatment in the ER or urgent care.
What To Look for In An Emergency Room Near Me
When time is of the essence, finding the closest emergency room near you may show that the closest emergency room is, in fact, not close at all. While many urgent care facilities claim to treat “emergency” situations, they may not be equipped with the staff, technology, and tools to handle higher-level emergencies.
The Difference Between An Emergency Room And An Urgent Care Centre
One of the biggest dilemmas, when you feel you need immediate medical treatment, is deciding whether it is an ER-type of visit or if you should go to the local urgent care facility. Oftentimes, patients assume that the emergency room is the only solution to treat issues after-hours or on the weekend. With the emergence of urgent care centres in local neighbourhoods, the options become more numerous, and there may be even more uncertainty about where to go.
Urgent care facilities essentially bridge the gap between what is offered in an emergency room and what is provided at a primary care doctor’s office. Urgent care centres can treat a broad range of acute or minor medical conditions, including:
coughs
fevers
sore throat
urinary infections
minor sprains or broken bones
While they can offer many of the same services available in a doctor’s office, they typically do not have the specialized medical equipment or emergency trained physicians needed for critical or life-threatening medical situations.
What Is Treated In An Emergency Room?
In a real medical emergency, it is important to seek immediate attention since many health concerns, injuries, symptoms, and complications can progress quickly. It is vital to visit your local emergency room/urgent care centre if you or a family member/friend experience any of the following:
difficulty in breathing
dehydration
passing out/fainting/loss of consciousness
severe pain that cannot be tolerated
noticeable and sudden change in mental state
chest pains
seizure
broken bones
head trauma or a possible concussion
uncontrolled or heavy bleeding
severe allergic reaction
burns
complex lacerations needing stitches
COVID-19 testing
Emergency services are also advised if a person has a chronic or serious illness, like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart issues, cancer, etc.
How To Choose The Best Emergency Room Near You
While there are many factors to consider when choosing the best emergency room around you to treat yourself or a loved one, here are some things to keep in mind, depending on the severity of the condition:
Location.
How far is the emergency room from your home/neighborhood, office, school, or other location? You should always know where the closest emergency room is should the need for treatment arise.
Experience.
Does the on-site staff have emergency room experience? Are there board-certified emergency room physicians on-site 24/7? You want to be sure that the team treating you is fully equipped with the knowledge, skills, and technology for what ails you or a loved one.
Fast and Efficient Care.
You don’t want to be treated as just a number. It is important that you choose an emergency room in your neighbourhood, that is able to provide fast and immediate care. Oftentimes, patients with “level 3” emergencies, like abdominal pains, high fevers, complex lacerations, broken bones, concussions, and asthma attacks, are left waiting to be seen in hospital ERs.
One of the unique benefits of contacting HEI is that we have information on emergency rooms and urgent care facilities that are available wherever you’re located. Whether you are experiencing chest pains, migraine, need stitches, have heart palpitations, or need COVID-19 testing, the team at HEI is trained in providing emergency care information for a number of conditions, and will help to determine whether you need treatment in the ER or urgent care.