Emergency Services
If you think you may be experiencing an emergency medical condition you should immediately call 911.
At Jackson Park Hospital and Medical Center, we provide 24 hour emergency room care, seven days a week. Our emergency room professionals treat thousands of patients every month in a timely, efficient, and compassionate manner. Our Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physicians have extensive experience in caring for patients with sudden illness and injury. Our emergency room nurses have advanced training in trauma, heart disease, pediatrics, and the special needs of the elderly.
For minor emergencies, the emergency department operates a Fast Track from 11a.m. to 11p.m. daily, which is designed to dramatically reduce the time you spend in the emergency room. The Fast Track staff is committed to providing rapid evaluation and treatment of your condition or illness in order to accomplish discharge within sixty minutes of your arrival.
Recognizing that medical emergencies are almost always very stressful, our staff is committed to easing your fears through frequent progress updates about your diagnosis, condition and treatment and providing the care you need in a timely manner.
Understanding the ER process from arrival to discharge, or admission to the hospital, is one of the ways we feel will improve your overall ER experience.
Upon Arrival
When you arrive in our emergency department waiting area, you will be greeted by one of our staff members who will lead you to our triage area.
Triage
Once in our triage area, a registered nurse will conduct an initial exam, take your vital signs and complete a brief medical history. If an exam room is available, you will be taken to the exam room by the triage nurse. If an exam room is not available, and your emergency is not life- threatening, you may be asked to remain in the ER waiting area until a room becomes available. The triage process allows us to determine the severity of your emergency and allows us to take care of the most urgent cases right away. That’s why in certain instances, someone arriving after you may be brought back into the ER for treatment before you.
Medical Examination
Once you are in a treatment area, a physician will examine you, evaluate your condition and speak to you concerning any tests they are recommending as needed to evaluate your condition.
Registration
During registration, you will be asked to sign a treatment consent form and to provide your name, address, phone number, personal physician’s name, and insurance information and/or method of payment.
Treatment
Your treatment will depend on your physician’s orders based upon a medical examination for your specific condition or illness. In this regard, the ER nurse may request a blood or urine sample, start an IV or you may undergo diagnostic tests such as X-rays or CT scans. Our goal is to control your pain and to keep you comfortable while conducting these tests as quickly as possible. Some tests take longer to complete and get the results back, so your patience is appreciated while we work to provide you with the most prompt, courteous and comprehensive emergency care.
Discharge or Admission
Most patients are treated for their emergency medical condition and discharged to go home. Prior to discharge, you will receive written instructions from your nurse about how you need to take care of yourself after you leave the hospital. It is important that you follow these instructions, take all prescribed medications and schedule a follow up visit with your personal physician. If you are admitted to the hospital, you will be transferred to a patient room where a physician on our staff will administer to your care.