What is the Emergency Room Scope of Service

What is the emergency room scope of service? What can emergency rooms comfortably handle? What are some of the things you expect to find in emergency rooms in the country? These are some of the most common questions that people ask themselves about emergency rooms and we want to quickly answer them in an effort to try and demystify emergency rooms. So, what is the emergency room scope of service?

Emergency rooms offer a variety of medical services to unscheduled patients who need urgent medical attention, surgical procedures and/or acute care. The scope of services offered includes but are not limited to consultations, whereby a patient is carefully diagnosed by the attending physician to ascertain the condition the patient presents with. The diagnosis may entail simple procedures whereby the doctor physically observes the body. It may also include laboratory tests for blood, stool or urine. In some, cases the diagnosis may involve complex procedures using MRIs and CT-scans to observe the internal body structure of the patient. Diagnosis is then followed by treatment approaches based on the outcomes of the initial tests. Emergency rooms also maintain constant communication with the emergency medical service (EMS) providers, to offer medical advice concerning the patient being transported, in case they are in critical conditions. This open-line communication also comes in handy in case the emergency department of a certain hospital has reached its capacity because they can advice the EMS to take patients to other centres, rather than wasting time coming and being turned away.

Depending on the level of advancement of an emergency department, emergency rooms are fully equipped and recognized as stroke centres offering intensive care to stroke patients and radiology centres which offer care to cancer patients. Other emergency rooms are recognised as cardiovascular centres dealing with heart failure, deformed heart atria and ventricles among other heart conditions. Others are known for their specialized care for patients with traumatic injuries. Surgery is also a major component of emergency rooms, offering services on neurosurgery to patients with neurological conditions and orthopaedic surgery dealing with the musculoskeletal system. Emergency rooms also offer paediatric surgery to children and plastic surgery to repair worn out tissues and facilitate re-growth of new cells and tissues in case of certain injuries such as acute burns. Patients who undergo surgery need help regaining their ability to perform day to day activities. Emergency rooms cater for this through provision of regular therapy sessions to these patients. In addition, emergency rooms offer laryngoscopy services which is a biopsy procedure performed to observe the larynx and regions surrounding the throat. This procedure is normally done directly or using the video laryngoscopy technique depending on how advanced the facility is. Emergency rooms also offer delivery services, the highly skilled physicians doing their best to ensure safety of both the baby and the mother. Most emergency rooms engage in community paramedic programs whereby they indirectly offer medical services vast extended regions to patients who are unable to physically access the hospital.

Upon successful treatment, patients are discharged in three distinctive categories, depending on the level of care they need after treatment. Fast track patients are those with minor emergencies who are discharged immediately after treatment to recover from home. Those who require some attention after treatment are retained for a while in the emergency room for observation. Patients recovering from stroke, cardiac arrest, intensive burns and surgery require acute care and intensive monitoring after treatment. Such patients are retained in the emergency room for a longer period to monitor their recovery before they are discharged. These patients are expected to show up for checkups to monitor their response to medication. Emergency rooms offer these services at their disposal, ensuring effective recovery of the patient.

The ultimate role of emergency rooms is to provide care to patients. This is achieved by provision of medication that help stabilize them. However, in case the patient‘s condition deteriorates or the facility is unable to provide the necessary medical care needed by the patient, a transfer is arranged by the emergency room staff to ensure that the patient is well catered for. This is made possible by the fact that emergency departments within a particular region are always in communication.

To better understand the scope of services of emergency rooms, give us a call today here at Bellaire Emergency Room and we will make you understand what it is that goes in emergency rooms. We are located in the heart of Bellaire just next to the Galleria. We offer high quality medical services to the locals of Bellaire at affordable rates. If you are looking for the best emergency room in the area for you and your family, then look no further than our way. For more information on our services, give us a call today or visit our offices today and we will gladly welcome you to the family.