Dr. Erik Barton, Cheif of the Division of Emergency Medicine, explains the new emergency room procedures and talks about what you need to know when going to an emergency room.
Procedure for University Hospital ER visit
• Each patient is triaged by an emergency medical technician at the front window. If the person’s condition is not critical, he or she will be considered a fast-track patient and directed to sit in a chair. The countdown begins there.
• Patients benefit by having two hours shaved off their total treatment time – they are seen quicker, X-rays ordered faster, and treatment administered better.
University Hospital ED Statistics
• Treat an average of 110 patients a day
• More than 39,000 emergency room visits a year
• More than 200 staff members
• 27 beds; 6 designated as “fast track”
• 11 bed Observation Unit
• Delivers Level I Trauma Care
Determining If or When You Should Go To the ER
Conditions that call for a visit to the ER
• Loss of consciousness
• Signs of heart attack
• Signs of a stroke
• Instantaneous and severe pain
• Poisoning
• An allergic reaction to an insect bite, sting, or medication, especially if breathing becomes labored
• Serious traumatic injury
Conditions that generally don’t call for the ER
• Earaches
• Minor cuts in which sutures are not needed and bleeding has been stopped
• A sprain, rash, sunburn or minor burn
• Fever
• Colds, coughs, a sore throat or flu symptoms
Visit the University Healthcare website at www.healthcare.utah.edu
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