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YOUR EMERGENCY ROOM VISIT: WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU

© Kathleen Newton

A visit to the Emergency Room is a very stressful situation. A family member, a friend, or you, yourself, need immediate medical attention. You're scared, worried, possibly in pain or even unconscious,and the last thing you want to (or can) do is answer a bunch of questions. But the staff in the ER needs to know important information about you or your loved one in order to provide the best care possible. So how do you avoid having to answer a lot of questions while ensuring the ER staff has all the information it needs to take care of you or your loved one? BE PREPARED. Here is a list of questions you WILL be asked in the ER. If you have this information written down and carry it with you at all times, you will have answered of the ER staff's questions, even if you're unable to speak.

1. YOUR EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION. List the name, address, and phone number of your spouse, parent, friend, or other person you would like notified about your situation. List at least a primary and secondary contact.

2. YOUR PRIMARY PROVIDER. List the name, address, and phone number of your regular healthcare provider, so the ER may inform him/her of your status.

3. ANY MEDICAL CONDITIONS YOU HAVE. Do you have heart disease? Asthma? Diabetes? All your medical conditions should be listed, even if you're not taking medication for some of them. Any major surgeries? List those too, along with their dates.

4. ALL MEDICATIONS YOU ARE CURRENTLY TAKING. Different medications taken together can cause problems, so you want to make sure the ER knows exactly what you're taking right now. List the medication (i.e. Naprosyn), the reason you're taking it (arthritis), the dosage (500mg), and how often you're taking it (twice a day).

5. ALLERGIES. You certainly don't want to be given penicillin if you're allerdic to it, so list all your allergies to medications first. Then list any other allergies you have (i.e. bee stings, shellfish). Who knows, you may have unknowingly eaten crab at the restaurant tonight, and knowing you're allergic to shellfish might help the ER staff to diagnose and treat you a little quicker.

6. YOUR INSURANCE INFORMATION. No hospital should EVER turn you away because of your financial situation, but if you do have health insurance, list the company name, its phone number and your group and/or policy numbers. Having this information right away will help speed up the processing of your paperwork, and eliminate questions about your insurance later on.

The copyright of the article YOUR EMERGENCY ROOM VISIT: WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU in First Aid is owned by Kathleen Newton. Permission to republish YOUR EMERGENCY ROOM VISIT: WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.