Regional Medical Center | Thrive for Life | Winter 2018

When your doctor’s office is closed, it may be hard to know if you should go to an emergency department or an urgent care center. These lists can help you decide. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT Call 911 or go to the emergency department for a serious illness or injury. Signs of an emergency include: ● Fainting, sudden dizziness or weakness ● Bleeding that can’t be controlled ● Trouble breathing ● Chest pain or pressure ● Any sudden or severe pain ● Severe vomiting or diarrhea ● Coughing up blood ● Suicidal feelings ● Problems speaking URGENT CARE CENTER This is the place to go when there’s a minor problem that needs treatment but isn’t an emergency. If your doctor’s office is closed, you might visit an urgent care center for: ● Minor cuts that need stitches ● Sprains and strains ● Minor bone fractures ● Insect or animal bites ● Minor burns ● Fever ● Flu ● Coughs, colds and sore throats ● Earaches OR As the second busiest emergency department in Alabama, RMC Anniston is also equipped with an on-site rescue helicopter. Thirty-six treatment beds include: ●   ● 27 beds for traditional emergency care ●   ● 8 quick-care beds for minor medical conditions ●   ● Trauma beds for traumatic injuries or illness ●   ● A trauma/resuscitation bay ●   ● Specially designed rooms for patients with behavioral health or substance abuse issues RMC Jacksonville provides emergency care in nine treatment rooms, including two cardiac/ trauma beds, an orthopedic room, and treatment rooms for expectant mothers and pediatric patients. Along with our nurses with specialized training in emergency medical care, our emergency medicine physicians may be stitching up a head wound, setting a broken leg or treating a heart attack—all in a day’s work. Stringfellow Memorial Hospital , a Level III designated trauma center, provides prompt and compassionate care in its emergency department and offers: ●   ● 12 treatment rooms for patients with varied conditions ●   ● A dynamic facility design focused on providing a better experience for patients and visitors ●   ● A continued commitment to keeping wait times to a minimum The care team at Stringfellow’s emergency department is committed to a 30-minute pledge, working diligently so that patients are initially seen by a clinician—a nurse practitioner, physician assistant or physician—within 30 minutes of arrival. Know where to go In an emergency, knowing where to go can save your life. For serious emergencies that present significant threat to life or limb, patients are seen immediately in the hospital emergency department. Such conditions include chest pain, possible stroke, and severe shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. ●   ● Anyone with a life- or limb- threatening illness or injury should always seek treatment at a hospital emergency department. ●   ● Often, urgent care is the most appropriate and efficient option for care for your illness or injury. ●   ● Some primary care physician offices now offer same-day appointments or walk-in care. If your symptoms develop gradually or you already know the diagnosis, a same-day appointment with your personal physician may be your best option. Your primary care physician is often your best resource, because he or she knows your overall health. Primary care and you: Better together The correlation between a primary care partnership and a healthy life is well-documented, yet nearly 1 in 4 Americans does not have a primary care provider (PCP). Building
a relationship with a PCP who knows your life circumstances and medical and personal histories helps to ensure the best possible care when you need it. Visit rmccares.org/our-doctors to find a PCP with RMC. Source: American College of Emergency Physicians 9 rmccares.org