History and Physical Evaluation

The ill or injured party will be moved to the treatment area as soon as possible. In an EMA emergency facility, we maintain a policy of keeping all of our treatment beds active and occupied so that times in the waiting area are greatly diminished. Often, while the injured or ill individual is being evaluated, others accompanying the patient will be asked to assist the registration and information gathering process. The more information you share, the better able we will be to provide safe and effective medical care.

If you are the patient, you may be asked to explain your reason for your visit several times. Please be tolerant and cooperative in giving every detail and providing the information on more than one occasion. Healthcare providers are trained to obtain firsthand information and not to rely on the hearsay or secondhand information given by others. This again, will assure you the safest, most effective, and complete healthcare.

You will be seen by a variety of healthcare professionals. This may include but is not limited to a triage nurse, a bedside nurse, an emergency department physician, a laboratory tech, an x-ray technician, clerical staff, and even perhaps a consulting physician. So, in a single visit you will repeat your "story" several times. This may seem unnecessary and frustrating, but be assured that this process leads to safe and effective care.