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Emergency and Trauma Services

As the only full service health care system and Lead Level 3 trauma center in the region, United Regional sees approximately 70,000 patients in the emergency room each year, or 200 to 300 patients per day, depending upon the time of year.

 

We consider it a privilege to provide emergency care for the communities we serve and understand the responsibility that comes with that. In addition to providing excellent medical care for emergency patients, we also continuously strive to improve patient flow, wait times, and other services before the patient receives treatment.

 

What United Regional Has Done To Help Reduce ER Wait Times

 

United Regional’s average wait time in 2009 was 124 minutes. In 2010, several improvements in patient flow were made, which reduced the current average wait time to 31 minutes. These improvements included:

  • All patients are treated as emergent patients, having the reason for their visit and vital signs checked upon arrival, and then being moved to a treatment area.
  • Patients with non-life threatening conditions are “expressed” to a provider in a non-urgent area, rather than the main emergency department.
  • The admission process is performed in the patient room, eliminating a step before seeing a physician.
  • Patients are awaiting medications to be prescribed, tests to be completed or discharge orders to be written, but who are not so ill that they require a bed, go to a secondary lobby. This opens beds for patients with more serious conditions to be served more quickly.
  • The secondary lobby has clinical staff available to keep patients updated on their progress and address any medical concerns that may arise.
  • And always, staff provides patients with updates on when they will see a physician, unexpected delays and the reasons for the delays, explanation of tests to be performed, test results, explanation of treatments, and anticipated discharge time and instructions.

All of these changes have contributed to shorter wait times and improved patient satisfaction. In addition, there are things that you can do ahead of time to help make the process easier and faster, should you have a medical emergency. 

 

 Download A Trip to the Emergency Department

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