Emergency Department Visit: Frequently Asked Questions

The staff in the Western Maryland Health System's Emergency Department knows that visiting the Emergency Department may be stressful since your visit probably is for an illness that affects you or a family member. We want to care for you and your loved ones and will do our best to make you feel better. Here are some frequently asked questions about emergency care and what to expect during your visit to the Emergency Department.

Commonly Asked Questions

What should I expect from the Emergency Department visit?
Upon entering the Waiting Room, you will be greeted by the registrar or nurse in the Triage area. The Triage Nurse is a registered nurse who is specially trained to ask questions about your medical condition and determine the seriousness of your illness or injury. It is important to note that patients are seen based on their medical condition determined from this assessment, not on their order of arrival.

Once the Triage Nurse completes the medical screening exam, a registration clerk will obtain your personal and financial information. Upon completion of the registration process, you may be asked to be seated in the Waiting Room until a bed is available. When you go back to the Emergency Department, you will be cared for by a registered nurse and one or more doctors. During your visit, lab work, x-rays, and medication may be ordered to help the staff treat you.

Is there a phone available so that I can call my friends and family?
Yes. There is a pay phone in the Waiting Room. The staff can also assist by placing a phone call to your family member or friend if requested.

How much time will my visit take?
This will depend on how many patients are in the Emergency Department and how sick you are. While this may extend your visit with us, it will not affect the quality of care. If your care requires blood tests, X-rays and consultations with other specialists, more time may be needed. On average, the shortest visit is 1-2 hours. The longest can be 6-8 hours if your illness is very complicated.

What if I leave before being seen by a doctor?
If, for some reason, you must leave the Emergency Department before you are seen by a doctor, you must notify the nurse or clerk at the front desk. The risks of leaving include worsening of your condition, which could lead to permanent disability or death. If you have questions about your condition and the risk of leaving, please ask the nurse or physician.

Where can I get something to eat or drink?
If you are a patient waiting to be seen by the doctor, please contact the nurse before you eat or drink anything. If you are not a patient, or if the nurse says you can eat, there are vending machines located on the first floor beside the Cafeteria. The Cafeteria is open 7 days a week.

Do you have anything to help keep me and/or my kids busy while we wait?
Yes. We have a television in the Waiting Room and there is also a television in each of the exam rooms in the Emergency Department. We also have an assortment of magazines for adolescents and adults.

What questions will the staff ask me?
We will ask you many questions to find out why you are here and how we can best help you. We will ask you what medical problems you know about (high blood pressure, arthritis, asthma, etc.) and what medications you are taking and if you have ever had any bad reactions to any medications.

Everyone asks me for the same information. Don't you talk to each other?
There are many people caring for you today. Each person has a different job and need for information. We want to provide you with the best care possible, and asking questions is the best way to find out how to help you. It may seem repetitive, but we do not want to miss anything.

Can I have visitors while I am in the Emergency Department?
Usually. One visitor can stay with you if we are not doing tests at that time. In fact, it is important that both parents stay with a child who is being treated in the Emergency Department. We try to keep visitors to one per patient because we have limited space. Limiting the number of people in the Emergency Department also helps us protect our patients' privacy and gives the staff enough space to perform their duties quickly. When the Emergency Department is busy, or if we have to perform a procedure, we may ask the visitors to wait in the Waiting Room.

Why is the entrance into the Emergency Department always locked?
There is controlled access into the Emergency Department for the safety of our patients and staff. You may use the phone provided outside the entrance to the Emergency Department to contact the staff and let them know you would like to visit with a patient.

Will my regular doctor be called?
The Emergency Department physician may contact your family doctor if necessary to discuss your treatment plan or if they feel you need admission to the hospital. However, you may request that your primary care doctor be contacted at any time.

Will I need to be admitted to the hospital?
This will be determined after a thorough examination by one of our doctors. Patients admitted to the hospital need tests or treatments not done in the Emergency Department. Examples are infections needing IV antibiotics or patients who might have had a heart attack or need surgery.

If my doctor tells me I should have a test, do I have to have it done?
All tests requested by the Emergency Department doctors are used to find out what is wrong with you and how we can best treat your illness. Please ask your doctor why we are recommending a test and explain the risks and benefits to you. You may refuse any treatment or test. However, if you do, we may not be able to determine what is wrong with you.

My doctor told me he/she does not know what is wrong with me after treatment. What does this mean?
In the Emergency Department, our first goal is to treat life-threatening illness and pain. We do not do many tests for illnesses that are not emergencies and may not be able to tell you why you feel sick today. This does not mean we think there is nothing wrong with you. Instead, we have determined that your illness is not life-threatening or requires hospitalization. You may need more tests and long-term care than we are able to provide in the Emergency Department. It is important that you go to your doctor or clinic appointment after leaving the Emergency Department so they may continue to treat you. Everyone in the Emergency Department will do our best to make your wait as short as possible. We truly appreciate your choosing the Western Maryland Health System as your health care provider. Your well-being is important to us. Please feel free to ask questions or offer suggestions on how we can make your visit to our Emergency Department more pleasant.

General Information

The Emergency Department at the Memorial Campus of the Western Maryland Health System has the capability of treating critically injured patients and is designated as an Areawide Trauma Center by the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services System (MIEMSS). The Emergency Department team is proficient in lifesaving skills and up-to-date knowledge of emergency and critical care and includes emergency physicians, trauma surgeons, critical care specialists, anesthesiologists, and other support personnel who are available on a 24-hour basis. The Memorial Campus is also the site for the Specialty Centers for Children's and Adolescent Health, Orthopedic and Joint Reconstruction and Women's Health.

The Emergency Department at the Braddock Campus also provides Emergency Mental Health Services. Braddock Hospital is the site for the Specialty Center for Cardiology Services, including open heart surgery, interventional and diagnostic cardiology, and Oncology Services. The Diagnostic Center, which provides outpatient diagnostic imaging and laboratory services, is located adjacent to Braddock Hospital.