Inside the ER: What to Expect and How to Prepare for Your Visit

A visit to the emergency room is often unexpected and nerve-wracking. The team at Hackensack Meridian Health is here to help and provide the best care when you need it most.

Our expert Natalya Izakov, D.O., medical director of the Emergency Department at Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center, explains what you need to know.

When to Go to the ER

We all know that you need to go to the ER if you are experiencing a life-threatening condition, such as a heart attack or stroke. But many ER visits can be based on other circumstances.

Perhaps you cut yourself and need stitches, or you fell and think you may have broken a bone. While these injuries are unlikely to be life-threatening, they do require prompt medical attention.

“People should go to the ER for any medical concern they feel needs to be evaluated immediately, and if you aren’t sure, it’s best to go in,” advises Dr. Izakov.

When to Call an Ambulance

For non-life-threatening situations, you can go to the ER by yourself or have a family member or friend take you. But for more serious or potentially life-threatening conditions, it’s best to call 911.

Dr. Izakov says there are several reasons why you should call an ambulance in more serious cases.

• The 911 dispatcher can help guide you in administering care and help until emergency services arrive.
• On the way to the hospital, the medics have the necessary equipment and training to provide care en route.
• Ambulances can quickly navigate through traffic signs and clear a faster path to the ER.
  
  

What to Bring to the ER

“It’s really helpful to bring a list of medications and their dosages,” says Dr. Izakov. This list will aid the ER team in developing the safest treatment plan.

While other items like ID and insurance cards are beneficial, these items don’t impact medical care, and there’s no need to delay going to the ER because you can’t locate them in a rush.

Registration and Triage

The registration and triage process varies based on your primary symptoms and level of emergency. But generally, when you first arrive at the ER, a registrar and a triage nurse will greet you and:

• Measure and record your vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse and temperature 
• Ask a series of questions about why you are at the ER and the symptoms you are experiencing
• Ask what medications you are taking
• Assess the level of your emergency

Emergencies are categorized based on severity. If you arrive and appear distressed or critically ill, a doctor may be called to assess you immediately in triage. Alternatively, you may be roomed right away for immediate physician evaluation.

ER Wait Times

If your emergency is not as severe, it’s more likely you will have to wait. However, as Dr. Izakov says, “This is very dependent on other patients within the ER at the time of your arrival.”

Hospitals have finite staff and resources at any given moment, so they have to prioritize. Emergency rooms across the country are open 24/7 and treat everyone regardless of age, race, religion, creed, ability to pay for treatment and citizenship. Overcrowding is common, but the care team is focused on getting to you as soon as possible.

Try to look on the bright side: If you have to wait, it means that your condition isn’t life-threatening, and you will likely be discharged home after your visit.

Who Should You Bring With You to the ER

To avoid delays in care, minors need to have a parent or a legal guardian with them, as adult consent is required for care (unless it’s a life-threatening issue). For everyone else, you can have family members accompany you during your emergency room visit, but limiting visitors to one or two others is recommended.

Dr. Izakov also advises: “Elderly patients with dementia benefit from the presence of their caregivers during the visit. The family can provide emergency room staff with the medical history and necessary details of presenting symptoms. In addition, depending on a patient’s health care proxy status, they can help consent to treatment and sign documents.”

After Your ER Visit

If you are treated for a non-life-threatening condition, you will receive initial medical care such as stitches for a laceration or a splint for a fracture in the ER. You will then be given follow-up instructions, such as wound care or setting up an outpatient follow-up appointment with a specialist or your primary care physician.

For those with more serious conditions, the ER team will stabilize you and determine what further level of care you need. You may be admitted into the hospital for continued treatment.

The ER is a high-energy and fast-paced environment that may appear to be chaotic at times. However, Dr. Izakov assures, “We are streamlined and methodical to assure the best possible care for you and your loved ones.”

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Natalya Izakov, D.O.
• Find your nearest emergency department and current wait time.
• Learn more about emergency medical services at Hackensack Meridian Health.

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.