Coming to the ER

Do not hesitate to come to the emergency room if you or someone you know experiences the following symptoms:

• Chest pain and other heart attack symptoms
• Stroke symptoms
• Difficulty breathing
• Bleeding injuries
• Broken bones
• Serious injuries or burns
• Major allergic reactions

In the event you need immediate medical assistance or you do not have someone to take you to the ER, call 911. Life-saving care begins in the ambulance as emergency responders prepare the hospital for your arrival.

Emergency room staff cannot give medical advice by phone. If you're not experiencing a life-threatening emergency and you're unsure if you should come to the ER, please call our free consultation line, Consult-A-Nurse™ at 804.320.DOCS (3627) available 24/7.

Learn more about Consult-A-Nurse™

So we can provide you with the quickest care possible, please bring the following:

• List of current medications or the actual medications
• List of known medical allergies
• A copy of results from any recent medical tests
• List of recent medical procedures
• Care preferences or restrictions
• A responsible adult or phone number for someone to contact

Here are the routine steps that you will experience when visiting any of our ERs.

• STEP 1: Triage - nurses sort incoming patients according to the severity of their illnesses or injuries
• STEP 2: Provider Exam - the medical provider may be a physician or physician assistant.
• STEP 3: Pre-Treatment - we may begin treatment with blood collection and imaging as needed
• STEP 4: Exam Room - when a treatment room becomes available, the patient will be called and escorted to a bed
• STEP 5: Registration - patient information is collected for the medical record

After the exam, diagnostics (lab/imaging) and treatment, the patient will be given discharge instructions or, if necessary, admitted to the hospital. Our goal is always to move you through this process as quickly and safely as possible. It is our goal to offer you quality, compassionate care. We are staffed to handle all types of emergencies and illness. At times we experience delays from the lack of beds, obtaining test results, multiple ambulance arrivals of critically ill patients, or a cardiac arrest patient. If any of these occur, your waiting time may be increased, however, the quality of your care will always be top notch.

When You Arrive

When you arrive at the emergency room, a triage nurse will evaluate your signs and symptoms and take your vital signs.

Priority of Patients

Patients in the emergency room are seen in the order of arrival, with exceptions for seriously ill and unstable patients. Life-threatening illnesses or injuries take priority. We strive to make any patient's time in the waiting room as pleasant and brief as possible.

Registration

All patients are registered upon arrival. The registration clerk will obtain medical record and billing information. This process will not delay your wait time to be seen by a medical professional. In fact, HCA Virginia ERs now often do bedside registration so that we can begin your treatment more quickly. All patients are always medically screened, evaluated and stabilized, regardless of insurance or ability to pay.

Who Will Treat Me?

Our specially trained staff works together to provide patients with quality expert care. Our team includes:

• Board-certified physicians specializing in emergency and/or family medicine
• Certified emergency nurses and registered nurses with advanced adult and trauma nursing certifications
• Technicians with advanced EMS experience

All team members have undergone extensive, advanced training, enabling them to respond to any emergency quickly

• Be sure to ask any questions before you leave. Every patient should leave the ER with a clear care plan.
• Please retain discharge paperwork, instructions and medications if applicable. This information is vital to your ongoing care once you leave the ER.
• Contact your primary care provider after visiting the emergency room. This will help with your overall care plan. Also, if you had any tests taken without immediate results, your physician can review those results for you. If you don't have a primary physician, we can help you find one. Use the resources listed below or ask your emergency room physician.