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William Jaquis, M.D., chief of Emergency Medicine at Sinai Hospital, said there are several symptoms that indicate you should not wait for an appointment but should call 911 or go directly to the nearest ER. Symptoms include bleeding that won’t stop, chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe headache, injuries/falls, suicidal or homicidal feelings, injuries sustained in an auto crash, or poisoning. “Anything that is severe or persistent should be treated as an emergency,” Jaquis said.
When the situation is truly an emergency, it’s reassuring to know that both Sinai and Northwest Hospital have set the standard for emergency treatment with their unique approach to emergency care. Not simply an ER but an ER-7, both Sinai and Northwest Hospital offer seven separate treatment areas within their emergency rooms.
 When you arrive at either the Northwest Hospital or Sinai ER-7, a triage nurse quickly evaluates your health status and guides you to one of the seven care centers.
At Sinai, a specially trained team in the Trauma Center meets the most critical patients. This designated Level II Trauma Center is fully equipped for rapid resuscitation, including on-site CT scanning. It is also designed with separate entrances to receive patients from ground transportation or helicopters landing on the rooftop landing pad.
The sickest, most critical patients are treated before all others, Jaquis added, regardless of time of arrival. Critically ill patients are placed in the Emergent Care Center for intensive care and individual monitoring.
The Pediatric Center, a cheerful, child-friendly environment, was created to make a child’s emergency room experience as positive as possible. Features include a separate pediatric treatment area, full-time pediatric emergency physicians, pediatric-trained nurses and play areas specifically designed for children. Sinai boasts the only dedicated pediatric emergency care center in the northwest Baltimore region.
An Urgent Care Center is equipped for dental, ear, eye, nose and throat emergencies; specially designed gynecological/obstetric examination rooms; and an orthopedics room offering advanced pain management techniques for patients with broken bones.
The Chest Pain Evaluation Center features an extensive monitoring system that includes an ambulance-to-hospital EKG transfer system, advanced cardiac stress tests and an evaluation unit for individuals suffering chest pain without evidence of a heart attack.The Observation Center provides a place for outpatient evaluation and/or treatment, without hospital admittance.
The Fast Track Center was designed to care for patients suffering from minor ailments such as sprains, sore throats, small cuts and similar conditions.
“We see a high volume of patients in the Fast Track Center,” said Craig Haber, M.D., Emergency department chief at Northwest Hospital. “Physician assistants or nurse practitioners treat these patients first so those with minor illnesses and injuries receive the same immediacy of care as those with more critical conditions.”
Patient care remains central in ER-7. For example, several friends or family members may stay with a patient, as long as it does not interfere with care, said Kim. “This creates more of a family setting.”
LifeBridge Health’s acute care hospitals have established a benchmark of what the best emergency medicine should be like. There are steps you can take, however, to plan for the possibility of an emergency.
“It never hurts to drive the route to your nearest emergency center,” Jaquis advised. “Know where the entrance is and keep some basic medical information on yourself or your family members with you at all times.”
Setting up a network of neighbors or friends to care for children, pets or other details may also cut down on the inconvenience, should you be detained in the ER longer than you’d expected, he said. Keep a signed copy of your medical power of attorney with your childcare provider or neighbor, should emergency care need to be started on minors when you are not around.
A trip to the ER is never a picnic, but at least with ER-7 and a little preparation, a stressful situation can become a little less traumatic.
Before heading out to the ER, try the following helpful hints:
- Suffering from a fever? First, check the temperature. How high is it and how long have you had it? Try acetaminophen or Ibuprofen or other fever/headache remedies. If you later come to the ER, the doctor will want to know what you’ve tried to reduce the fever.
- Experiencing abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea? Try small sips of electrolyte enhanced drinks such as Gatorade or Pedialyte. Your doctor will want to know how many times you have vomited or had diarrhea in the last 24 hours.
- If you have a cut, apply pressure to stop the bleeding and wrap well. If the bleeding does not stop or the cut is very deep, stitches may be required.
- Not sure if it’s a strain, sprain or broken bone? Apply an ice pack and elevate the injured body part. If pain persists, come to the ER.
Related Links
Northwest Hospital ER7
Sinai Hospital ER-7
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