I continue to see ads for a variety of hospitals offering short wait times in the Emergency Room. Does having shorter wait times translate into sloppiness, bad diagnoses and mistreatment?
In the olden days of Emergency Rooms (ERs), I may have answered yes to this question. But with today's advanced technology, things like diagnostics and communication can happen faster and with more accuracy than ever before.
Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers are good examples of how simplifying processes, streamlining communications and using the latest technologies can redefine the ER.
With the flow built around the patient, not the hospital staff, the two hospitals have been successful in implementing new processes that have not only reduced the time patients are waiting to be seen by a doctor, but also the amount of time a patient actually spends in the ER overall.
Upon arrival and check-in, a patient is seen by a doctor who briefly reviews the situation and decides what level of care the patient needs. The patient is then directed to one of three areas:
-
Fast Track is for patients with minor emergencies, such as broken bones or cuts, who need to be treated and sent home.
-
Treat and anticipate disposition is for stable patients who need medication or intravenous treatment for illnesses such as a case of the flu or food poisoning.
-
Acute Care is for patients requiring immediate interventions or those in need of intensive monitoring for events such as a heart attack or stroke.
Our patients are reporting they feel well informed about their condition and about how their doctor plans to treat them. Diagnoses and treatments have become more thorough and accurate. Both results are due to new technologies and streamlined processes.
Patients are either treated and released from the ER or are stabilized and admitted into the hospital where they have access to a broad range of specialists and subspecialists who can treat the most severe injuries and illnesses.
At Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers, our top concern is the health of our patients. True, our wait times are short, too. But we guarantee more than just fast service. We guarantee thorough care backed by medical expertise that only an acute care hospital can offer.
For additional information, please call (480) 728-3000.
<< Back to Choosing an ER
