Test your emergency department prep skills

When you need immediate care, you don’t always have time to pack a hospital bag. That’s why it’s important to prep for an emergency department (ED) visit before an emergency strikes.

Which are among the most common reasons people seek emergency care?

Reasons to call 911 include shortness of breath, chest pain, uncontrollable bleeding or fractures where the broken bone has punctured the skin.

What day of the week is busiest in the ED?

EDs see the most traffic on Mondays, due in part to patients thinking they could “sleep off” weekend ailments or injuries. The hours between noon and 10 p.m. are also busy, while 4-9 a.m. is usually quiet.

Before leaving for the ED, you should bring how many pieces of health information?

Make sure you have:

■ A copy of your photo ID and insurance card;

■ A list of current medications, drug allergies, chronic medical conditions and any recent medical procedures you’ve had;

■ Contact information for your relatives and doctor;

■ A copy of your living will or healthcare proxy (if applicable).

Tip: Store your insurance card in your wallet and take photos of your medicine bottle labels with your smartphone to help ensure easy access to this information.

Did you know you can schedule your ED visit online?

Online check-in is available for injuries and illnesses that are not life threatening or debilitating. Just visit the NorthwestHealth.com website and click on “Online Scheduling.” Select “emergency” care and a location. Choose a treatment time and complete a brief online form. When you arrive at the ED or urgent care center, staff will be expecting you and strive to see you within 15 minutes of your projected treatment time. If there is a spike in patient traffic, staff will notify you via email or automated phone call with a new projected treatment time. Those using online check-in aren’t seen ahead of patients already in the waiting room; rather, their names are added to the treatment list based on the time they checked-in online. Unless an individual’s illness or injury requires expedited care, patients are treated in the order they registered.

Emergency department etiquette

Worrying about the do’s and don’ts when you’re sitting in an emergency department may not seem like a priority, but following a few points can make for a smoother visit.

■ Care for your neighbors. Silence your cellphone and, if possible, step outside to take a call. Remember to cover your cough and use a tissue when you sneeze.

■ Honesty is the best policy. Exaggerating your symptoms, even a little, can complicate the diagnostic process and lead to an unnecessarily longer visit. If your symptoms worsen after check-in, notify the nurse or front desk staff immediately.

■ Understand the system. Patients are treated based on the severity of their symptoms or suspected condition and not by order of arrival.

The emergency room at Siloam Springs Regional Hospital is here for you and your family 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To learn more about our services, visit NorthwestHealth.com today.

Siloam Springs Regional Hospital is a 73 licensed bed facility with 42 private patient rooms. It is accredited by the State of Arkansas Department of Health Services and The Joint Commission. SSRH is an affiliate of Northwest Health, one of the largest health networks in Northwest Arkansas. The facility is located at 603 N. Progress Ave. in Siloam Springs. For more information, visit NorthwestHealth.com.

O gracious Savior, we thank You for Your death upon the cross to redeem us and make us Your own. Keep us trusting in You that we might be disciples of the true God and also disciple the nations for You. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]