Flow of Patients
Through the E.R.
How does the E.R. staff keep this flow quick and easy?
Triage
Triage is when a patient is assesed based on their vital signs. If the patient is in serious distressed or has a severly acute problem, then the patient may be sent to the trauma area. There are three levels in which a patient can be sent. Severe/fatal, immediate, or mild care. The patient will be sent to the appropriate area based on the reason for their being in the E.R. and the acuity of their vital signs. ​
"Areas" of the E.R. are semi-specialized grouping of rooms into different categories based on the most comnmon problems presented to the E.R., such as a cardiology area, maternity area, trauma and etc. Each areas have somewhat different equipment to deal with different problems.
​
Psych Area
This area was very interesting to me becasue it had these garage type doors that would shut down automatically if anyone noticed the patient was at risk of hurting someone or him/herself. These doors were over the front entrance and the cabinets holding equipment.
There was also a camera in these rooms (which is unique to the psych area) and anurse had to be stationed outside at all times to watch the patient.
Fast Track Area
The majority of E.R. patients pass through this area becasue these patients are treated as outpatients which means they leave the same day as they arrive. Most common injuries treated here are broken bones and lacerations.
Gastrology Area
Any problem concerning the intenstines can be treated here. Often times the cardiology department and the gastrology department have to work together to treat patients in this area becasue digestive problems can casue heart burn and other discomfort in teh chest which could be mistaken for serious heart problems.
Trauma Area
This area had the most equipment because this area deals with a wide variety of urgent problems. I saw that they had an automatic compression machine that preforms CPR for the medical staff so they don't tire while treating a patient.
Womens Health Area
Usually preganant women who are in labor are treated here, but any urgent female problem is treated here.
Cardiology Area
This area had "code carts" that had a defibulator on it and dexatorse along with other equipment suited to deal with a patient having a heart attack.
Pediatrics Area
Any urgent problems concerning a child can be treated here.
