How to Prepare for a Visit To the Emergency Room
You’re headed to the emergency room. Somebody close to you is in desperate straits and all you want is for somebody to see them fast and make them well. Chances are that if the patient is not acutely ill, you’re in for a long wait.
This occurs daily in almost all emergency rooms. You may not be able to avoid this unfortunate scenario, but there are some things you can do now to prepare yourself for an emergency room visit in the future.
First, plan ahead. Decide what hospital you would like to go to in case of emergency. In a trauma situation, you may not have a choice. But in all other situations, making this decision ahead of time will mean one less thing to worry about.
To help you decide, ask your own doctor what emergency room he or she prefers and why. Find out whether this is for your doctor’s convenience or whether it stems from a close, professional knowledge of and working relationship with the ER staff.
Another good source is people who have been to the ER recently and can tell you of their experiences.
If you are sick or injured, don’t be a hero and...