Emergency room visits can be stressful. Often, those who visit the ER are there because they have illnesses, injuries, or medical conditions that require immediate attention. According to the CDC, 63% of emergency room visitors are between 18 and 65 years old. Of those patients, 85% come from metropolitan areas. This means if you live in a metropolitan area, you’re more likely to visit the ER. If you find yourself needing to visit the ER, here are four important things to do.
1. Bring Personal Information
Many hospitals can now check online portals for your medical history, but you may not be in their computer system yet. Be sure to bring a list of prescriptions that you take and a list of allergies and medical conditions you have had in the past and/or currently have. Not only do they need your medical information, but emergency room medical care will also be billed to your insurance, so you’ll need to bring your health insurance card and photo identification.
2. Bring a Support Person
Often, when visiting the ER, patients are anxious about their medical issues. It’s best to bring a support person so you aren’t alone during your stay. Whether it be a family member or friend, your support person can help streamline your emergency room medical care by being your advocate during your visit. If you don’t have someone who can go with you, bring the contact information of a support person who can be notified about your care.
3. Have a Phone and Charger on Hand
Emergency room medical care takes different amounts of time depending on the reason for your visit. You’ll want to bring a phone with you so you can keep your friends and family updated about your condition or make important phone calls. If you’re admitted, you’ll want to have the phone on you and fully charged, so bring a charger that can connect to a wall outlet.
4. Have Patience
When you visit the ER, the medical staff will need to get a health history, check vital signs, and may need to run lab tests or scans to help diagnose you. All of this takes time and you can expect to be at the ER for some time before you get an official diagnosis and are discharged.
If you keep these important tips in mind when heading to the ER, your emergency room medical care team will be in good shape to diagnose and treat your medical condition. If you’re in need of emergency medical care, give us a call or visit us today at Mount Graham Regional Medical Center. We’re here to give you medical care whenever you need it.
