SECTION I: Be Involved in Your Healthcare - Going to The Emergency Room

 

The following information is a guide to use along with information you should get from your primary care doctor.

When you or a family member are sick or injured and you are not sure if it is a life threating situation, the information below can help you make the call to the doctor or emergency room to help you decide.
  The following tips help make your care safe and lead to the results you want.  
Words written in blue are links to additional resources
To view other sections, click on one of these:
Before I Go to the Emergency Room

Primary Care Doctor

  • Make sure you have a regular doctor that has your medical history.
  • Does your doctor or the doctors they share a practice with have someone always on call?

Insurance

  • What does your insurance cover? Find out what is your co-pay for an emergency room visit.
  • If you can go to an urgent care facility, will your co-pay be less? probably so

Hospitals & Health Care Facilities in Your Area

  • Where are the hospitals in your area?
  • Does the hospital in your area have an emergency room? Not all hospitals have any emergency room.
  • If you have special needs, make sure the hospital is able to help you before you have to go.
  • Where are the urgent care facilities & what are their hours of business?
  • Is there a 24-hour clinic in your area?

Your Medical Information

  • Always have your insurance information with you. It should have important information such as your primary doctor's phone number.
  • Medical Card - Keep a list of allergies you may have and/or medications you may be taking.
  • The more information you can provide the emergency room doctor, the less time it will take to diagnose and treat you.
Should I Go to the Emergency Room? Click here to find out more.
Ask questions - Asking questions will help you understand your care

For more information about If I Am Admitted to the Hospital, click here

How to do I know if I need to go to an emergency room? Click here

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