What conditions or situations are seen in the Emergency Department?
The Emergency Department evaluates and treats life-threatening medical conditions, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, uncontrolled bleeding, poisoning, head injuries, fractures, or severe pain. The Emergency Department is your best choice for care when no other medical service location is open or accessible.
Does the Emergency Department provide assistance for mental health issues?
If a patient has suicidal or homicidal feelings, they should go to the Emergency Department. After assessment and stabilization, the patient is referred for appropriate follow-up care and counseling.
Does the team provide referrals for follow-up care?
Yes, any care, including test results, become part of the patient’s medical record. If follow-up care is required, the appropriate area is provided the necessary information and will call the patient to schedule an appointment.
Should the Emergency Department be notified in advance about a visit?
It is not necessary to call ahead, and time should not be wasted in a true emergency. However, if you are seeking after-hours care for a non-emergency condition, you can call ahead to verify wait times or talk to a nurse.
Does the Emergency Department also provide care for non-emergency conditions?
The Emergency Department provides care for non-emergency conditions when no other healthcare location is open or accessible. Non-emergency walk-in care is available at the Northwest Clinic or our FastCare locations.
Will the Emergency Department call me with test results from my visit?
Yes, any care, including test results, become part of the patient’s medical record. If follow-up care is required, the appropriate area is provided the necessary information and will call the patient to schedule an appointment.
How does the Emergency Department handle patients requiring care beyond OMC's capacity?
After the Emergency Department has ruled out life-threatening conditions or stabilized a patient, referrals may be necessary to another hospital, an outpatient provider, or to another facility. For serious cardiac concerns, evaluation, testing, and all laboratory pre-work are completed before transfer. Subsequently, patients are transferred to Mayo Clinic, bypassing Mayo Clinic's ER, and admitted directly to the hospital.
