What tests might I need?
What is Emergency medicine?
Who should I follow-up with after my visit?
What is the Eating Policy?
What kind of support can I get besides medical care?
Where do I go to get emergency care?
How Safe is the Emergency Department?
What if I don't have insurance?
What is the Cellular Phone Policy?
Who will my doctor be?
What will happen when I arrive at the Emergency Department?
Do I have to call my doctor/insurance company prior to coming to the ED?
What if I don't speak English?
Who are the other people you will see in the ED?
What happens when my treatment is completed?
What if I need prescription drugs?
What tests might I need?
Advances in technology have increased our abilities to test and diagnose patients. These tests are important to your health and well-being, and they may take some time.
- X-rays – If you need x-rays, staff will escort you to the x-ray department. Once we take your x-rays, they need to be developed and read by the Emergency Physician. Later, one of our radiologists will also review the x-rays.
- Laboratory – Many patients require blood and/or urine tests. Most tests take approximately one to two hours to complete, but during busy periods, they may take longer. Some tests results take 2-7 days. We will notify you if we discover any abnormal test results after you leave the Emergency Department.
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What is Emergency medicine?
Emergency Medicine is a specialized field that requires highly trained personnel in the areas of acute resuscitation and medical/surgical care. Baystate Medical Center has Emergency Physicians who are all board certified specialists. Since 1993, we have been home to the only Emergency Medicine residency training program at Tufts University School of Medicine. many of our Registered Nurses have additional specialty training in the areas of emergency medicine, pediatrics, and trauma.
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Who should I follow-up with after my visit?
After you are discharged from the emergency department, you should follow-up with you general medical doctor. If you do not have a doctor and a referral for follow-up was not given to you, then call Baystate Health Link of Baystate Health at 800-377-HEALTH to assist in arranging for appropriate medical care.
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What is the Eating Policy?
All Emergency Departments are regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which tightly restricts eating to specific areas of the hospital.
Patients and their friends/family members may eat in the waiting rooms (vending machines are available in the waiting room, and hospital cafeterias, when open, are open to patients and visitors).
Patients should only be given food after first speaking with their doctor or nurse.
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What kind of support can I get besides medical care?
Support services are available at Baystate Medical Center for patients and their families:
- Psychiatrists
- Social Workers
- Pastoral Care, as well as an interfaith chapel with scheduled services.
Any member of the Emergency Department staff can help you access these services.
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Where do I go to get emergency care?
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How Safe is the Emergency Department?
Baystate is committed to the safety of both it's patients and it's personnel. A security officer is stationed 24 hours per day within the Emergency Department, just outside of the main waiting room.
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What if I don't have insurance?
ALL patients must be given a screening exam to determine that an emergency does not exist that potentially puts a "life or limb" at risk.
If you can not afford to pay for your visit, or for the medications prescribed, then arrangements can be made for you to consult with a social worker from the Department of Social Services. No one is asked to pay before receiving emergency care.
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What is the Cellular Phone Policy?
Because of the use of electronic monitoring equipment in the Emergency Department, the use of cellular phones is prohibited.
The doctors and nurses use what appear to be cellular phones, but these are actually specially shielded portable phones that are safe for the Emergency Department environment.
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Who will my doctor be?
It will depend on which Baystate Health Emergency Department you visit:
- Baystate Medical Center is a major teaching hospital of Tufts University School of Medicine. The Department of Emergency Medicine has a residency program and participates in the education of medical students, physicians, emergency medical services personnel (EMS), nurses and physician assistants. The ED employs physician assistants to assist the attending physicians with patient care. At all times, there are at least two or more attending physicians present in the ED and two or more residents. Whoever takes care of you will identify themselves to you. If you are seen by a resident, the attending physician will be discussing your case with him/her.
- At the Baystate Franklin Medical Center or Baystate Mary Lane Hospital Emergency Departments, you will see one of the board-certified emergency physicians or a physician assistant, depending on the severity of your condition and/or the number of people needing care at the same time.
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What will happen when I arrive at the Emergency Department?
When you arrive at the Emergency Department:
- A triage nurse will examine you (or the patient) to determine the seriousness of the injury or illness.
- Later, a brief exam will involve taking blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respirations and other details.
- The patient or representative will go to the registration window to complete necessary paperwork.
- Depending on the seriousness of the illness or injury, the patient may take a seat in the waiting room or will be seen by emergency medical staff immediately. The length of the wait is difficult to predict because it depends on the illness/injury and the number of other patients who need care at the same time.
- Once called into the main department, the patient will receive additional nursing care.
- A doctor will examine the patient as soon as possible and:
– Ask about the illness/injury
– Perform a physical examination
– Order any necessary tests.
NOTE: Emergency Department staff often ask the same questions at each step of the evaluation process. This assures that each caregiver properly understands the patient's medical condition.
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Do I have to call my doctor/insurance company prior to coming to the ED?
In an emergency, call 911 or come right to the emergency department for treatment.
The Emergency physician will be in touch with your doctor while you are in the ED, and you can contact your insurance company later.
If you are seeking medical attention for a non-emergent problem, call your doctor first. If your insurance requires pre-authorization for the visit, then call the insurance company as well.
REMEMBER - if you are experiencing an emergency, call 911 and get to the Emergency Department!
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What if I don't speak English?
Baystate Medical Center prides itself in accommodating the language needs of of our patients and their families. This can be very critical in emergency situations. Our in-house Interpreter Services make interpreters in most foreign languages, as well as American Sign Language, 24 hours a day.
When language is a barrier to performing an exam and taking patient medical history, our trained interpreters will assist the medical staff. Any member of Baystate Emergency Department staff can help patients or family members access interpreters.
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Who are the other people you will see in the ED?
There are MANY people who comprise the ED treatment team. During your visit, you will likely encounter many of them such as:
- social workers
- clerical staff
- X-ray technologists
- security personnel
- medical assistants
- psychiatric emergency services (PES) workers
- orthopedic assistants
- orderlies
- medical and nursing students
- patient advocates and spiritual services staff.
All personnel wear Baystate Health identification.
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What happens when my treatment is completed?
- If your evaluation determines that a stay in the hospital is necessary, we will notify your doctor (or his/her practice). If you do not have a personal physician, we will provide you with a hospital-based physician.
- If the Emergency Department decides to discharge you, we may contact your personal physician. You will receive discharge instructions about how to care for your condition. Please ask questions.
Your examination and treatment in the Emergency Department was on an emergency basis only.
- If you do not have a personal physician, we can recommend a doctor who can provide you with the necessary follow-up or surgical care.
- Call this doctor if you have any new or remaining problems.
- For significant changes or worsening of your condition, call your doctor or return immediately to the Emergency Department.
- You are welcome back at the Emergency Department at any time. We may request that you return for certain care, such as the removal of stitches.
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What if I need prescription drugs?
The Emergency Department will provide whatever medications you need as part of your emergency treatment, such as pain killers, but the department is not authorized to dispense medications for you to take after discharge.
- For your convenience, a pharmacy is located on the first floor of the hospital, by the gift shop.
- You may also fill prescriptions at any outside pharmacy you choose. We can refer you to several 24-hour pharmacists in the area who can fill your prescription.
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