Emergency and Trauma Care at OhioHealth

When to Go to the Emergency Department

Sometimes it's confusing to know where you need to go when you need medical attention. As a guide to help you, the emergency department is designed to treat severe and life-threatening conditions, including: 

• Abdominal pain or injury
• Blood pressure concerns
• Blood sugar concerns
• Chest pain or injury
• Concerns for blood clot
• Confusion or changes in mental function, such as unexplained drowsiness or disorientation
• Coughing up blood
• Dehydration
• Difficulty breathing (asthma, COPD, heart failure) (combine with severe shortness of breathe)
• Eye pain with sudden visual changes
• Fainting/passing out
• Head pain, sudden onset or change in headache or migraine pattern
• Heart beating fast or irregular
• Kidney stones
• Life-threatening conditions
• Light-headedness
• Limb swelling without injury
• Major animal bite
• Major burns
• Major cuts
• Nausea, vomitting with abdominal pain, dehydration, blood in stools or vomit
• OB emergencies (more than 16 weeks pregnant)
• Persistent dizziness
• Poisoning or exposure to dangerous chemicals
• Rectal bleeding
• Seizures
• Severe allergic reaction
• Severe head injury
• Severe shortness of breath
• Sexual assault
• Signs of stroke such as weakness or numbness or the face, arms, legs, sudden loss of speech or vision
• Sudden onset severe pain
• Suicidal thoughts
• Uncontrolled bleeding 

*If you're experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.  

What to Expect in the Emergency Department

When you first arrive in the emergency department, there may be security to make sure all our patients and families feel safe. At the check-in desk, you will be asked your name, date of birth, social security number and the reason for your visit. You will also go through triage.

Below are some frequently asked questions about visits to the emergency department:

WHAT IS TRIAGE?

The triage process determines who needs to be treated first. A triage nurse will determine the severity of a patient’s condition based on symptoms. In addition, we’ll ask about your personal and medical history, and take your vital signs, such as temperature, heart rate and blood pressure.

CAN FAMILY MEMBERS VISIT PATIENTS IN THE TREATMENT AREA?

Yes, two visitors are allowed in the treatment room at one time.

HOW LONG CAN I EXPECT TO BE IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT?

If there are multiple people in the emergency department, you will be seen in order of the severity of your illness or injury. The most ill are seen first. Once in the treatment area, your total stay depends on your symptoms, diagnosis and whether you have to be admitted to the hospital for further treatment.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET TEST RESULTS?

Most test results take about two hours. But some tests take longer to process than others.

WHY DO PATIENTS HAVE TO WAIT FOR TREATMENT IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT?

People wait in the emergency department for many reasons, including:

• Patients with the more severe condition need to be treated first.
• Many emergency patients may arrive at the same time.
• You may need to wait for test results.
• You may need to wait to see a specialist (orthopedics, cardiology, etc.).
• You may need to wait for an available inpatient bed.

We must care for critical patients with life-threatening conditions first. Patients with less serious injuries may have to wait for more severe conditions to be treated. If you feel like your condition is getting worse, please notify our staff.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PATIENTS ARE DISCHARGED?

We provide instructions for follow-up care, such as scheduling a visit with your primary care physician. You will be responsible for your own transportation home. You will not be allowed to drive if you have received certain medications that interfere with safe driving.