how to have a better emergency room visit
based on experience working in an emergency room in small-town ontario, here’s how to make the most of a trip to the emergency room.
5 minute read
emergency room visits can be the ultimate test of patients, as nurses and doctors work to prioritize patients and make sure everyone is seen.
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an average trip to the emergency room takes 7.6 hours, according to the latest stats from the canadian institute for health information. so it’s no wonder an er visit can feel like a test of your patience—especially when you’re already feeling under the weather. while it’s impossible to control every aspect of your visit, there are some insider tricks to make it better overall. based on my experience working in an emergency room in small-town ontario, here’s how to make the most of a hurry-up-and-wait situation.
be prepared to triage
the triage desk is the entry point of the emergency room. this is how patients get prioritized in order of urgency so that those in critical condition can get immediate care.
speed up the process by having your health card ready, along with any other documents you need—like a list of your medications, your dialysis records, or your chemo card. if you’re concerned that you will get flustered in the moment, write yourself a few bullet points of why you need to see a doctor.
the triage process is actually part of your medical care. the nurse will take your vital signs and do a miniature assessment. they may even offer you a tylenol, an ice pack, or a popsicle for a feverish child.
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keep in mind, though, that the triage nurse usually doesn’t have a clear idea of the wait time. they may be able to give you a ballpark estimate, but their main job is to assess patients.
but, wait! you’re having chest pain, stroke symptoms, or trouble breathing? say it right away. flag down an employee—any employee—and tell them your symptoms. if you’ve ever seen someone disappear from the waiting room straight into the back of the emergency room, it’s usually because their condition is life-threatening and every second counts.
register
after triage, you will be directed to a patient registration clerk who will take your personal information. a registration clerk is focused on collecting your demographic details rather than your medical information. the registration process is actually very important because it captures all of your current contact information.
here’s why it matters to update your info:
- your phone number will be used to contact you about any referrals the emergency room physician makes for you.
- your next of kin will be notified if you are brought in by ambulance and cannot speak for yourself.
- your family doctor will receive a copy of what happened on your visit, including any test results.
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pack a bag
to ease a long wait, bring a few essentials: some reading material or a movie, headphones, a water bottle and a snack (just check with the nurse before you eat or drink since this can affect procedures). don’t forget a charger so that your phone doesn’t run out of juice partway through. if you have a form that needs to be filled out by a doctor for insurance or other purposes, bring it. if possible, bring along any relevant medical records to save time spent fetching them from another institution.
also, bring your regular medications. although it may seem odd, emergency rooms aren’t equipped to dispense daily medications for things like blood pressure, diabetes, or heart conditions.
depending on the severity of your condition, you may need to be admitted to the hospital. while it’s best not to wheel a three-piece luggage set into the waiting room, you may want to throw a toothbrush, comb, and an extra pair of socks into your bag.
disclose everything. (yes, everything!)
you may only have one interaction with the doctor. if you have a specific issue, you need to say it as early as possible in the conversation. if you have questions, ask them.
patients sometimes wait until the doctor has one foot out the door before revealing why they really came in. this seems to happen most often when patients have come in with a problem that they find hard to talk about such as mental health concerns to sexually-transmitted infection (sti) symptoms.
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you can be sure that emergency room doctors have seen and heard pretty much everything. your story will not shock them—but they’ll need to hear it to help.
know your allies in the emergency room
nurses are your biggest advocates and your strongest allies. if you are in a waiting room and your condition is deteriorating, tell the triage nurse. if you are in a bed and your condition worsens, tell your assigned nurse.
admittedly, things don’t always go well during an emergency room visit. if that happens to you, you may want to contact the patient quality helpline. you can usually get the extension by calling the switchboard or visiting the hospital’s website.
take notes
with all the noise and medical lingo whizzing around, it’s easy to forget what you’ve been told—especially when it involves complex medical language. a small notebook or a notes app on your phone can be your best friend during a medical visit. try to jot down anything the doctor mentions, including:
- any conditions or diagnoses
- any medications or treatment
- any results
- any tests you need to have
- any referrals (e.g., cardiology or dr. so-and-so)
by writing down what you’re told, you’ll be able to refer back to it once you’re home, and possibly do some extra research.
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ask for your emergency room chart
before your leave, ask if there is a patient copy of your chart that you can get. most electronic medical record software has an option that can print out a list of what tests you had done, their results, your discharge medications and any follow-up plans.
if you want more than that, you may need to wait, sign a consent, and go through the medical records department during business hours.
see the big picture
unless you are in the absolutely tiniest of emergency rooms, you will never be able to see everything going on in the department. this is one of the biggest challenges—wondering why you’re waiting when nothing much seems to be going on.
many emergency rooms are subdivided into sections. so you may be sitting in the clinic section and not seeing what is happening in the trauma section. if a critically ill patient’s life is hanging in the balance, that case may consume one or more doctors and many nurses for hours. that is what it takes to save a life.
none of us like to visit the emergency room. but with a little preparation, you can get the most out of your visit and hopefully be back in the comfort of your home in no time.
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