 Welcome to the MGH Emergency Department
What will happen when I arrive in the Emergency Department?
First, you will see the triage nurse... When you arrive at the
Emergency Department, triage personnel will evaluate your condition
and determine the first step in your care. Please be prepared
to give the following information:
• Reason for your visit
• When you had your last tetanus shot
• Names and doses of medications you are taking
• If you are allergic to any medications
• If you think you may be pregnant
• Previous medical history
The triage nurse has special training to assess how quickly you
need treatment and in which room your care needs to take place.
The triage nurse will ask you questions about the reason for
your visit to the Emergency Department and about your general
health. He/she will take your pulse, blood pressure, temperature
and breathing rate, and take note of any allergies you may
have and current medications you are taking.
If you feel you need to speak to someone privately, please ask.
We know that the
Emergency Department can be noisy and crowded. Check with your
nurse before eating or
drinking. Some tests require you to have an empty stomach. Leave
your personal belongings and valuables with a friend or a relative.
Next, you will be registered...
The triage nurse gives your information to a registration clerk.
The clerk will ask you
for your name and address, insurance card and photo identification,
your family doctor’s
name, and an emergency contact number. It is important that we
have accurate contact
information from you in case we need to reach you to discuss
test results that return after you are sent home. The clerk will
make up your chart and give you an identification band.
If the triage nurse feels you need to be seen immediately by
a physician, a family member
can register for you.
You will be seen at triage and registration
on a first-come, first-served basis.
Patients remain in that
order unless their chief complaint or the severity of their condition
requires a more urgent response.
Then a patient may be taken
out of order and seen ahead of those who may have come before
them. If your condition worsens while you are waiting to be seen,
you should immediately tell the triage nurse so you can be re-assessed.
After registration, you will receive treatment...
Depending on your medical condition as assessed by the triage
nurse, you may be sent
to the appropriate area of the Emergency Department to be seen
by a physician or you
may be asked to stay in the waiting room until an examination
room is available.
In the treatment area, a primary nurse will assess your condition
and be responsible for
your care while you are in the Emergency Department.
Tests or
procedures will be ordered as needed. Test results and diagnostic
procedures can
take time to be completed and for the results to be available.
If you are able to go home, it is important to follow through
with the plan of care outlined in our aftercare instructions.
This includes follow-up with your primary doctor and other specialists.
If you do not have a primary physician, referrals may be provided
to doctors or clinics in the local area.
Occasionally, you may
be asked to return to the emergency department for a re-check
or ongoing testing. Your emergency team will discuss this with
you and provide you an opportunity to ask questions.
Why is the wait so long?
We do our best to let you know when you will be seen. Things
can change quickly in the
Emergency Department and delay your care. Patients requiring
the most urgent care must be treated first. There may also be
delays while we wait for your test results from the laboratory
or x-ray departments.
Please understand that our aim is to provide you with the most
efficient service possible. If
you do have to wait, a nurse will be nearby to answer your questions
and monitor your
condition. Your patience is appreciated.
Visitors
For the privacy of our patients, only one or two visitors may
be with you in the treatment
area. Other visitors may remain in the waiting area. The door
to your room must remain
closed to protect your privacy and that of other patients. We
appreciate the cooperation and
understanding of your visitors to keep noise levels down for
the comfort of all patients.
Your Rights
You have the right to receive, within the capabilities of this
hospital’s staff and facilities:
- Appropriate medical screening
- Necessary stabilizing treatment
- If necessary, appropriate
transfer to another facility.
These are to be provided even if:
- You cannot pay, or
- You do not have medical insurance, or
- You are not entitled
to Medicare of Medicaid.
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