Emergency Department Patient Guide

The University of Tennessee Medical Center is the area’s only Level I Trauma Center—the highest level attainable. Our Emergency Department treats more than 5,000 patients per month. We want your experience to be excellent, so here is some information to help explain what a typical emergency hospital visit is like.

• Arrival
• While You Are Here
• Room Placement
• Monitoring
• Testing
• Treatment
• Completing Your Emergency Visit
• If You Are Admitted
• If You Are Released
• At Home
• Additional Information

Arrival

When you arrive, you will be greeted by a licensed medical professional who will determine the severity of your illness or injury. This is called the “triage area.” A triage nurse will take your temperature, pulse and blood pressure and ask you questions about your medical history.

We strive to get every patient taken care of as quickly as possible. However, there are times when those with more serious emergencies must be cared for first. This means that sometimes people with less severe emergencies may need to wait. If you are required to wait, please rest assured that we are doing everything possible to get you to a patient care area and evaluated by a physician as quickly as possible.

While You Are Here

Patients with minor emergencies normally are seen by a physician assistant or nurse practitioner.

Room Placement

When you are directed to a room you will be asked to put on a hospital gown that ties in the back so the doctor can examine you. Sometimes the doctor may be delayed if a more seriously injured patient arrives.

Monitoring

You may be attached to a monitor that provides information about your progress. This information can be seen at all times at the nursing station. The monitoring equipment is very sensitive, so you might hear an alarm when you move.

Testing

Your doctor may order tests such as laboratory studies or X-rays, although some tests may only require blood to be drawn. If you must leave the department for a test, an emergency department technician will take you. Please ask the doctor or nurse if you do not understand a test or procedure. Lab test results may take approximately one hour. Other tests such as X-rays and those requiring special preparation may take between two to four hours.

Treatment

When your test results are available, your doctor will explain them, letting you know if you need additional testing and recommending a treatment. Treatment may be simple or complex. Sometimes splints, bandages, IVs or medications may be necessary, and treatment time can last a few minutes or several hours.

Completing Your Emergency Visit

To complete your visit to the Emergency Department you either will be admitted to the hospital or released to go home.

If You Are Admitted

You will be evaluated in the emergency department by your another doctor that will take care of you while you are in the hospital. When a room is available, you will be taken from the Emergency Department, and another doctor or specialist will be responsible for your treatment.

If You Are Released

Before leaving the Emergency Department your nurse will explain and give you a copy of instructions for care and any prescriptions you need to take. Please ask questions if you have any concerns or if there is something you do not understand. It’s important for you to know how to handle your injury or illness at home because you are responsible for your own care.

At Home

Several days after your visit, you may receive a call from a doctor or nurse to see how you are feeling. You also may receive a customer satisfaction survey in the mail. Please fill out the survey so we can learn from your visit and make any needed improvements. Your care and satisfaction is our number-one goal.

Additional Information

We encourage your family to support you during your emergency visit. However, we ask that families follow the points below to help us give you the best care possible.

• All visitors must have a visitors pass. Each patientin the Emergent area can have 2 visitors. Patients in the urgent and fast-track area are limited to 1 visitor.  Children may visit with adult supervision.
• Return to the lobby when asked. This is important for some procedures and treatments. A patient representative can provide family members with information on their loved one’s condition.
• Please notify the front desk before leaving the area in case we need to contact you.
• Request a parking pass at the time of discharge to receive free parking for emergency department patients and their families.