Gateway's Emergency Department is among one of only a select number of hospitals in the area using ultrasound in the ED to help diagnose trauma patients. Bedside ultrasound is fast becoming the medical technology of choice for emergency physicians for a variety of medical conditions. Using ultrasound in the emergency room provides emergency physicians with a noninvasive, time saving way to diagnose emergency medical problems.

Our Emergency Department (ED) offers 24-hour emergency services and is staffed by medical professionals with experience in emergency medicine. Because patients with the greatest need must receive immediate care, all patients are seen first by a registered nurse who will assess and prioritize patients on the basis of need — not on the order of arrival.

Our doctors specialize in emergency medicine while your primary care provider (familiar with your overall health) is your best option for non-urgent care. Patients facing possible loss of life, limb or eyesight are considered emergent and our staff is well suited to meet their needs. Once the emergency situation is resolved, we recommend you follow-up with your primary care provider to reassess your overall health.

A primary care provider enhances your overall long-term health by managing your care over an extended period of time — called continuity of care. If non-urgent conditions get treated routinely in the Emergency Department, your primary care doctor may not have all the necessary information to ensure your continuity of care.

What Occurs While You Are With Us
During your visit to the ED, our staff will:
• Evaluate your current condition
• Provide the required urgent or emergent care
• Document the care in your medical records
• Recommend that you follow-up with your primary care provider to determine how the episode effected your overall health.

There is a chance your condition may change between the evaluation and care phase of your visit. In some cases, you may be triaged to a low category, but while waiting your condition worsens. If you start feeling worse, please let the nursing staff know immediately. They will re-evaluate your condition to make sure you receive the appropriate priority for care.

In some cases, you may begin to feel better between the evaluation and care phase of your visit. This may happen if your condition improves or medications begin to work. Sometimes patients feel better even though their condition worsens. If you feel you are better and wish to go home, please check with the nursing staff. We will re-evaluate your condition and recommend the safest course of action.

How Do You Define a Medical Emergency?
Medical emergencies are different for each individual patient. Our nursing staff will evaluate each patient's health history, current complaint, and vital signs to develop an overall priority of care.

Helpful Tips
• Be prepared to provide the name of your family or primary care physician.
• Take note of any differences in your daily routine around the time your health status
changed and be prepared to discuss them during your visit.
• Take note of your current medications and any recent changes to them. Bring your medications or a current list of them with you to the ED.
• Notify family and/or friends of your visit, so they can follow-up with you.
• If possible, arrange transportation and childcare before your visit. If your condition warrants an overnight stay or transfer to another hospital, your advance planning will make a real difference. However, if you are unable to arrange childcare, bring books, colored pencils, quiet electronic toys, or small toys to help occupy children.

Contact Information
If you need to contact our Emergency Department please call 931-551-1793.