It's important to find a good hospital close to home in case of an emergency. But it's much harder to think clearly when you're facing a medical emergency.
With so many hospitals close by, you are in a unique situation of having a real choice in an emergency. Most often people decide which ER to go to based on which is the closest. And while proximity is an important factor in choosing an ER, there are other things to consider:
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Is the ER backed by a hospital with areas of excellence, a deep specialty base and diagnostic technologies that can ensure the most accurate diagnoses and treatments? Approximately 17 percent of ER patients are admitted to the hospital for further observation or treatment, so you want to be sure your loved one won't have to be transferred to another hospital to receive more extensive treatment.
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Is the ER efficient? I'm talking about more than a 30-minute guaranteed wait time to be seen by a doctor. I mean real efficiencies that not only allow patients to be seen sooner, but that provide more thorough care in that shorter timeframe. At Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers, simplified processes were implemented earlier this year that have allowed us to drastically reduce the time a patient waits to see a doctor, streamline communications among medical staff and with patients, provide more thorough diagnoses and treatments, and trim the overall time spent in the ER.
Be sure to speak with your neighbors, get recommendations from your family doctor, and visit the hospitals' Web sites. This will help you determine if all ER doctors are board certified and review general information about the hospital, its specialties, staff and philosophies.
When it comes down to it, you want the most expert medical care available in any situation. Making a fast choice during an emergency is important. Making a quality choice is critical.
For more information, please call (480) 728-8000.
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