Know When To Seek Emergency Care

It's often obvious when an illness or injury is an emergency, and when that's the case, don’t hesitate to call 911. But other times, thoughts like, “Maybe it’ll be okay,” or “I’ll wait and see,” delay a visit to the Emergency Department.

For those who are unsure, keep the following guidelines in mind: During business hours, call your primary care physician. He or she may be able to see you right away. But when your doctor’s office is closed and you think you need medical help, don’t wait. Go to the Garden City Hospital Emergency Department.

When it comes to medical care, some symptoms should never be ignored. If you, a friend or family member experience any of the following symptoms, call your physician or make an immediate trip to the Garden City Hospital Emergency Department for evaluation:

l Difficulty breathing
l Chest pain
l Sudden numbness or weakness, or changes in vision or mental status
l Thoughts or threats of suicide
l Severe abdominal pain or blood in vomit
l Bleeding that won’t stop
l A piece of glass, wood or another object that is lodged in a cut
l High fever that lasts longer than 48 hours and is not relieved with medication
l Allergic reaction, such as sudden trouble breathing or swelling in the mouth, tongue or face
l Electrical injuries
l Severe burns
l For pregnant women, bleeding or pain

Sometimes patients hesitate to seek emergency treatment because they think the wait will be too long. At Garden City Hospital, patients are seen in the order they arrive, but when a patient is very sick or has a severe injury, we see that person right away. That may mean a slightly longer wait for those with less serious ailments, and we hope our patients understand that we will see them just as soon as possible.

When the Garden City Hospital Emergency Room is busy, patients with less serious illnesses and injuries can be seen in the Fast Track area, shortening both wait and treatment times. Fast Track is not an urgent care center, but an express lane through the ER experience. Our goal is to get patients in and out in an hour. If a minor illness or injury occurs during business hours, call your primary care physician's office first, but remember that the emergency department is always available, and help is no more than a few minutes away.

Garden City Hospital's Emergency Room is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each of the department's physicians is board-certified in emergency medicine. The staff of nurses includes certified emergency nurses, who received additional training specifically geared toward emergency nursing care.

At Garden City Hospital, the emergency room staff recognizes that it is just as important to provide a listening ear as it is to order the latest diagnostic test. When patients are concerned about their health and anxious staff help ease those fears by talking to them and explaining procedures every step of the way. At the same time, the staff will gather information about the patient's overall health. It is then possible to investigate other health issues that may contribute to the reason the patient came to the emergency department or that may be a sign of another underlying medical condition.

The specially trained staff and sophisticated medical technology of hospital emergency rooms save lives daily. But a critical first step is recognizing when an individual needs emergency medical care and accessing that care quickly. When you suspect an illness or injury is serious, don't wait: Call your doctor or head to the Garden City Hospital Emergency Room for treatment.