Emergency
Our Commitment to You
It is the policy of Washington County Regional Medical Center that anyone who comes to our emergency department for examination and/or treatment of any emergency medical condition or for active labor will receive examination, stabilization treatment and/or transfer as determined by the patient’s needs
and the capabilities of the hospital. The provision of emergency services and care shall not be based upon, nor affected by, the person’s race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, pre-existing medical condition, physical or mental handicap, insurance status or ability to pay for medical services.
The Emergency Department is fully staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with qualified physicians and nurses to help meet your needs. If you have any questions please call the ER at 478-240-2125.
The Emergency Department: What to Expect
Early in your visit to the Emergency Department you will meet with a triage nurse who will ask you questions about your health problems or that of your family member. At that time, your vital signs, such as temperature, pulse and blood pressure may be taken. The triage nurse’s responsibility is to utilize criteria to prioritize patient care in the Emergency Department. This means the triage nurse will screen your condition and, based on the nature and extent of your injury or illness, refer you to the ED physician.
In general, we categorize patients into one of the following groups:
Resuscitation:
A life-threatening event. Examples include, but are not limited to, cardiac arrest (heart stopped), respiratory failure (stopped breathing), unconsciousness, active seizures, anaphylactic, insulin or septic shock.
Emergent:
Examples include, but are not limited to, acute chest pain, multiple injuries, severe allergic reactions, overdose (if unconscious), congestive heart failure, serious infection, hyperthermia and hypothermia.
Urgent:
Examples include, but are not limited to, burns, moderate pain, respiratory problems, abdominal pain, and broken bones.
Non-Urgent:
Examples include, but are not limited to cold, flu, minor sprains and strains, minor cuts and abrasions, dental pain and medication refills. Non-urgent cases may wait until all resuscitation, emergent and urgent cases are cared for first. If another patient arrives after you, but sees the doctor before you, he or she is likely to have an emergent or urgent condition. Keep in mind that patients are also entering the Emergency Department via the ambulance entrance and may have emergent conditions.