What Should You Know About The Torrance Emergency Room?

Nobody plans to go to the Torrance emergency room, but medical emergencies can happen to anyone. The next time you face an emergency or accompany a loved one to the emergency room, keep these tips from an emergency room doctor at 1st Stop Urgent Care And Family Practice in mind to make your experience as smooth as possible.

Don't drive yourself

If you have decided to go to the emergency room, chances are you will experience symptoms such as heavy bleeding, headache, chest pain, vomiting, or shortness of breath. You shouldn't be behind the wheel in these situations.

While an ambulance can help transport you to the urgent care in Torrance, try contacting a family member or caregiver once you arrive. Having such personalized support while in the hospital can be important in determining appropriate follow-up care and following discharge instructions.

Know what medicine you are taking

Quick: Do you know what's in your medicine cabinet in the Torrance emergency room?

While it may not be necessary to list all medications in the bathroom cabinet, you should be able to provide a list of medications you are currently taking to the emergency room staff who care for you. Not only can this information potentially determine the cause of your symptoms, it can also help your healthcare team determine the best treatment for you.

If it helps, keep a list in a notebook or on your mobile phone with the name and strength of the drug. Smartphone applications for chronic care management help keep this information organized and easily accessible.

Maybe you should wait a while

Nobody wants to sit in a waiting room, especially when they are sick.

While urgent care family practice teams work to treat all patients as quickly as possible, the unpredictable influx of patients to the emergency room often means waiting. Understand that priority is given by the severity of one's illness, not by the order of arrival. ER nurses are well trained to sort patients and assign or triage priority levels. If you notice new or worsening symptoms while you wait, notify a triage nurse and ask to be reevaluated. Your priority level may have changed and the care team will want to know.

Ask questions

Your emergency room will ask questions to determine the cause of your pain, but you shouldn't be afraid to ask questions either. Medical terminology can sometimes be confusing, so make sure you understand what tests are done at 1st Stop Urgent Care And Family Practice, any discharge instructions, and ask questions if you're confused or unsure. It is important to be your own advocate or to defend a friend or family member who accompanies you. 

Make a follow-up appointment

The emergency room is where you go in an emergency. But that shouldn't be the last stop.

After a visit to the emergency room, you should call your GP to let them know about your visit and to schedule a follow-up appointment. Although we can usually rule out life-threatening emergencies during an ER visit, follow-up visits are often necessary to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.

As your GP will see you more regularly, it is important that they are aware of your visit and carry out further tests or screening depending on the results of your Torrance emergency room visit. If you didn't have a primary care physician prior to your visit, now is the time to look for one. For more info, visit us at 1st Stop Urgent Care And Family Practice!