Deborah Baker, RN, CEN, CCRN
Director of Emergency Services
For those experiencing an emergency situation, nothing brings peace of mind like knowing in a hospital emergency room they will be treated fast with state of the art equipment. Residents of Highlands County can take comfort in knowing that the ER Extra Emergency Room at Highlands Regional Medical Center offers that service.
Highlands Regional Medical Center provides specialized physician coverage in the Emergency Room. All nursing care staff are certified in A.C.L.S. (Advanced Cardiac Life Support), P.A.L.S. (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) and T.N.C.C (Trauma Nursing Core Course). Our emergency department is staffed by experienced emergency physicians.
The Emergency Department at Highlands Regional Medical Center provides superior cardiac care with cardiac monitoring in each room. All of our staff are EKG certified which means we have our patients from door to EKG in an amazing 3-7 minute average.
In the event of a neurological emegency, such as a stroke, we are pleased to be the first in Highlands County to offer "Specialists On Call," with Neurological consultants available 24-hours to examine patients by telemonitor. When diagnosing a stroke seconds can be the difference in a patients life.
We have integrated computerized bedside monitoring coupled, the CAPS System, ESI 5 Level Triage, Computerized ordering of required test, Critical Care Unit and a fully equipped, state of the art Trauma room
With our "door to healthcare provider in less than 10 minutes" benchmark, you can be feel at ease that your emergency will be addressed in a timely manner. It is important to remember that wait times vary based on priority and the severity of each emergency.
The Emergency Room is available and Specialist are available on-call 24-hours a day .
Should You Visit the Emergency Room?
Sometimes when a person becomes ill during weekday hours they are unsure if they should visit the doctor's office or go to the emergency room. The following guidelines are designed to help you know what to do in case of an emergency.
|
Here are some tips from the American College of Emergency Physicians:
Learn how to recognize emergency warning signs.
Some warning signs of a medical emergency include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure, fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness or change in vision, confusion or change in mental status, sudden severe pain, bleeding that won't stop, severe or persistent vomiting, coughing up or vomiting blood, suicidal or homicidal feelings.
Know where to get help.
Dial the 911 emergency number; dialing it will put you in touch with emergency medical help.
Learn what to do until help arrives.
Knowing CPR and choking rescue procedures is important, especially if you have small children in the house. Your local American Red Cross or American Heart Association chapter may offer these courses. It's also important to know the basics of first aid, so you can stop serious bleeding, manage shock or handle fractures until emergency help arrives.
|