 |
 More
than 100 million Americans visit the emergency room each year. Many of
these people are victims of accidents, heart attacks and strokes. However,
experts say that many ER visits are not true emergencies.
Before a true medical emergency strikes,
know when to seek emergency medical treatment and how to prepare for a
visit to the ER. If you have any doubts as to whether your condition is a
medical emergency, speak with your doctor immediately, or call 911.
You should seek emergency
medical treatment for the following conditions:
- Loss of consciousness
- Signs of heart attack (sudden chest pain with
shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, vomiting, dizziness) that
last two minutes or more
- Signs of a stroke (sudden weakness or numbness of
the face, arm or leg, usually on one sign of the body; difficulty
speaking or understanding language; decreased or blurred vision in
one or both eyes; sudden, severe headaches; unexplained loss of
balance or dizziness)
- Severe shortness of breath
- Bleeding that does not stop after 10 minutes of
direct pressure
- Sudden, severe pain
- Poisoning (call your local poison control center
first and ask for immediate home treatment advice)
- A severe or worsening reaction to an insect bite or
sting, or to a medication, especially if breathing is difficult
- A major injury, such as a head trauma
- Unexplained stupor, drowsiness or disorientation
- Coughing up or vomiting blood
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Suicidal or homicidal feelings
- Fainting
- Choking
- Broken bone
- Not being able to move or speak
The following conditions probably do not
warrant a trip to the ER:
- Earache, colds, cough, sore throat, flu
- Minor cuts where bleeding is controlled
- A minor dog or animal bite where bleeding is
controlled (but see your doctor)
- A muscle sprain
- A sunburn or minor burn from cooking
- An insect sting or delayed swelling from a sting
(without breathing difficulty)
- A skin rash
- Low grade fever
- Sexually transmitted diseases.
"Although we often cannot predict when
an emergency medical situation will occur, there are some things we can do
to be better prepared, should the need arise," says Jerry Kripal,
M.D., emergency medicine director at The Fort Hamilton Hospital.
"Being prepared can help save precious time during an emergency, and
it can help you handle it calmly, quickly and effectively."
First, make sure you have a primary care
physician who is available 24 hours a day (or shares call with colleagues)
for urgent needs. Keep important medical information with you, containing
the name and phone number of your regular doctor, any allergies or chronic
medical conditions, and medications you take. This will be useful in case
you are unconscious or are feeling too ill.
Make sure you know which emergency services
are covered by your insurance and what instructions you need to follow in
urgent situations. Also, some plans require notification within a few
hours of being admitted or your treatment may not be covered.
Sources: Robert
Bazell's Healthbeat on MSNBC
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Emergency
Services
at the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati
When
seconds count . . . Count on us
The
Health Alliance hospitals, Christ, University, St. Luke, Jewish and Fort
Hamilton, are dedicated to providing our community with emergency services
of the highest quality. We offer many of the most experienced and most
trusted emergency care specialists—doctors, trauma surgeons, paramedics,
nurses, social workers and other staff. Our experienced staff members are
experts in every type of urgent care, from minor cuts to severe trauma.
The
Christ Hospital
in Mt. Auburn is a Level II emergency facility, handling most medical,
obstetric and traumatic emergencies. The emergency room specializes in
adult cardiac and complex internal medicine care.
The
University Hospital
in Clifton is the only verified Level I trauma center in the area that
treats adult patients. To receive trauma verification, hospitals must meet
rigorous national standards and have the capability of handling complex
multi-system trauma. The University Hospital is also home to the area’s
only center for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The Center for Hyperbaric
Medicine is available 24 hours a day for the treatment of many conditions,
including carbon monoxide poisoning. Additional services include a Rapid
Diagnosis and Treatment Center for patients who require extended emergency
care; a Heart ER program; and a multidisciplinary team of professionals
who evaluate psychiatric emergencies.
The
University Hospital also offers Air Care, the area’s only dedicated
helicopter ambulance service. Our Air Care helicopters deliver superior
care while saving precious seconds that often mean the difference between
life and death. Since 1984, Air Care has provided more than 17,000
life-saving transports to patients within a 150-mile radius of Cincinnati
and beyond.
St.
Luke Hospital East
in Fort Thomas and St. Luke Hospital West in Florence are full
service emergency facilities dedicated to serving the communities of
Northern Kentucky. At St. Luke West, the Pediatric Urgent Care Center
provides immediate medical care to children when their doctors’ offices
are closed. The center is open daily between 4 and 11 p.m.
Serving
Cincinnati’s Northeast suburbs, The Jewish Hospital in Kenwood
offers a full service emergency department that treats patients of all
ages.
The
Fort Hamilton Hospital
in Hamilton is a full-service facility that is expanding to accommodate
additional patients. It includes a fast track area that treats most minor
injuries within one hour.
The
University Hospital, The St. Luke Hospitals and The Fort Hamilton Hospital
also offer a special program called SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner)
for survivors of sexual assault. Specially trained nurses in these
emergency departments provide comprehensive, compassionate care for
victims of sexual assault. In addition, they provide evidence to
prosecutors and law enforcement officials to assist in the arrest and
prosecution of sexual assault criminals.
For
more information about the Health Alliance’s emergency services, please
call one of our hospitals:
The
Christ Hospital
2139 Auburn Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45219
513-585-2235 |
The
University Hospital
234 Goodman Street
Cincinnati, OH 45219
513-584-1000 |
St.
Luke Hospital East
85 North Grand Avenue
Ft. Thomas, KY 41075
859-572-3151 |
St.
Luke Hospital West
7380 Turfway Rd.
Florence, KY 41042
859- 962-5482 |
The
Jewish Hospital
4777 E. Galbraith Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45236
513-686-3204 |
The
Fort Hamilton Hospital
630 Eaton Avenue
Hamilton, OH 45013
513-867-2266 |
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