During an Emergency Department Visit, Communication is Vital

In a recent Harvard Health Publishing article, an E.R. a physician affiliated with Brigham and Women's Hospital, Adaira I. Landry, MD, MEd, provides some tips to navigate a trip to the E.R. in order to expedite the best care. She states the first goal of the ER team is to get a person “registered for the visit, assess how urgently they need a clinician, and determine which treatment and diagnostic tests are needed.” The team relies on the information they gather, which is interpreted and used to develop a course of treatment.  

As the E.R. staff changes throughout the day, a series of care providers will ask you to repeat much of your story about what brings you to the hospital. During the interview, it is important to provide clear, accurate and comprehensive information and communicate back and forth with the doctor. 

In the event you are incapable of providing pertinent details and questions about current medications and underlying medical issues, it is helpful to have a family member or a trusted friend along to provide the information. Landry explains in a teaching hospital like she works at, you may see a triage nurse who determines how quickly you will be seen, a nurse assigned to your care, a resident or medical student, and then the attending physician. 

All of the E.R. personnel work as a team to determine your course of treatment. Having you repeat your history as various team members ask many of the same questions and repeat exams; it can uncover any missing pieces in constructing a final diagnosis. 

South Denver’s newest senior living community is MorningStar at Observatory Park. Located a few blocks from the iconic Observatory Park, our contemporary 5-story building has 60 assisted living suites in a variety of configurations and floorplans. For those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, our Reflections Neighborhood provides the safety, security, people and programs to help preserve the individual’s dignity and self-worth. We open to residents in late 2022 and look forward to helping you reserve a select suite today. Ask about our Founders Club Specials.