1. Wise Use of the Emergency Room
© 2013 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Today’s Session Determining the care you need
Being prepared for emergencies
Creating you emergency kit
Review over-the-counter products
Responding in a real emergency
Understanding the emergency room
Following up after the ER visit
Getting more information
The thought of going to an emergency room is frightening to most people. The long waits and the high cost of an emergency room visit are other reasons to stay away if you can. Yet, emergency rooms are overcrowded places often filled with people who could best be treated elsewhere. How do you decide where you should go to get the best care – the right services, the highest quality, at the right price?
Let’s examine your options.

3. Health Care Challenges: Determining Your Need

4. Determining Your Need Do You Need... Routine Care? Urgent Care?
Visit to the doctor’s office
Urgent Care?
Assistance that can’t wait, but isn’t life-threatening
Emergency Care?
Intended for serious and sudden health conditions
There is another level of care that isn’t addressed here – medical self care. Often you can be very competent in treating common illnesses and injuries.
Routine problems will often get better with self-care including OTC medications, rest, and fluids. Conditions like colds, flu, and sore throats are also called “self-limiting” illnesses because they will go away on their own.
Urgent problems are not emergencies, but should be checked out by a doctor. Some issues may be able to wait a day or two for an appointment, but some will need to be taken care of the same day at an after-hours clinic or urgent care center. These include bacterial infections, earaches, constant nausea and vomiting, asthma, an eye injury, and urinary tract infections.
Emergencies are conditions that require immediate care. These problems are life threatening and are best treated in an ER. By using emergency rooms only for true emergencies, you increase the likelihood of getting the right kind of care and services at the right prices.

5. What is an Emergency?
An emergency is life-threatening and requires immediate care.
Call 9-1-1
Phone the ER if possible to let medical staff know you are on your way
Take insurance cards, medication and health history information along with you
Keep these in a convenient place, such as a handbag or wallet

6. Examples of an Emergency
Not breathing, or having great difficulty breathing
Choking – unable to dislodge item
Heart attack or stroke
Broken bones
Severe bleeding or burns
Shock
Other emergencies include: loss of consciousness, severe abdominal pain, very high fever, seizures

7. Situations for Urgent Care
Sprains
Acute pain that does not subside
Serious cuts
Chemical burns, or burns that are more than 2-3 inches in diameter
Frostbite with lingering numbness
Any situation that is not life-threatening but still serious should be treated at an urgent care facility... Or, depending on the time of day and the ailment, you may be able to call your own doctor for an emergency appointment.

8. Poisonings
For possible or known poisonings, immediately call the Poison Control Center at
Follow their instructions.
In most cases, you should be able to successfully self-treat at home.
For pet poisonings, call
Many household products have instructions on the label on what to do in case of accidental ingestion. If you know what product has been ingested, have that handy when calling Poison Control.

9. Syrup of Ipecac
In the past, many people would keep ipecac syrup in their households to induce vomiting after a possible poisoning.
This is no longer recommended, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Association of Poison Control Centers
Its use has been re-evaluated and swallowing the liquid likely makes no difference in poisonings
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently considering making ipecac syrup a prescription-only drug
For more information on this topic, visit

10. Situations for Routine Care
The following can be treated via self-care at home:
Minor cuts and sprains
Most fevers (<102° F)
Headache
Sore throat
Upper respiratory infection
Common back and neck pain
These common problems can often be addressed with self-care at home. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, a scheduled visit to your primary care doctor may be in order.

11. At the Emergency Room

12. At the Emergency Room If you go to the ER, note the following:
Triage
Patients in the ER are triaged by severity of injury; you may not be seen in order of arrival.
Be prepared to wait
Busiest times: at night and on weekends
Give as many details to medical personnel as possible
How did this happen? What were you doing prior to the emergency? What have you had to eat/drink recently?
Of course, in an emergency, the victim should always have someone else drive him/her to the ER, if ambulance service is not an option.

13. Going Home from the ER Make sure you understand all directions
Review and follow instructions
Make sure you understand all directions
Call doctor if condition worsens
Check insurance coverage
If it was not a true emergency, it may not be covered
You may be required to notify your insurance company within a certain period of time after the ER visit

14. Office Visit Follow-Up
Your Part:
Doctor’s Part:
Explain treatments and medications in terms you understand
Discuss all options before making recommendations
Ensure you understand the instructions
Encourage questions and answers
Inform you of who to call in times of emergency
Bring a list of questions; be prepared to write down the answers
Record a list of symptoms
Bring medications you are currently taking (or have a list of them)
Know your insurance coverage; bring your card/paperwork with you
You will likely need a follow-up visit after your ER treatment. Follow these good practices to get the most from your office visit.

15. BEING PREPARED FOR FUTURE EMERGENCIES

16. Be Prepared for Emergencies
Learn CPR and first aid
The Red Cross or local community organizations offer classes
Keep first aid book or card handy
Have emergency numbers posted
Next to the home phone, near family computer or on fridge are all good places
Know the location of closest emergency facilities
Check ahead of time to ensure they are in-network

17. Be Prepared For Emergencies
Understand your insurance policy
Certain situations may not be covered
Have medical history available
Medic alert bracelets should be worn if necessary
Keep important medical information in your wallet or handbag
Carry ID and insurance card at all times

18. Your Home Emergency Kit
Assorted bandages
Sterile gauze pads and tape
Moleskin
Thermometer
Tweezers
Moist towelettes
List of emergency numbers
Flashlight and batteries
Nasal bulb syringe
Scissors
Elastic wrap
Another part of being prepared for emergencies is knowing how to handle minor wounds or conditions yourself. Keep first aid kits at home and in your car. Here are some items to have on hand.

19. Over-the-Counter Aids
Pain and fever medications (ibuprofen and acetaminophen)
Antacids
Antibacterial ointments
Decongestants
Anti-itch products
Antihistamines (avoid if pregnant)
Sunblock
Anti-diarrheal products
There are several over-the-counter items that should be part of your emergency preparedness plan. Keep these items handy at home, stored in a dry, cool place like other medications. If traveling or camping, it’s a good idea to include these in your first aid kit.

20. Understand Your Benefits
Do we have a nurseline or self-care resource available?
[insert telephone number or Web address as appropriate]
Benefit Plan features:
[insert appropriate information, such as copays, network facilities, etc.]
Here at [c_officialname] we have the following resources available to help you:
[Customize slide and comments to individual situation].

21. Summary
Understand your health and the conditions of your family members
Be prepared for emergencies
Access the right level of care
Follow care instructions carefully
Practice prevention
Review the information you’ve heard about today, and think about the health practices you currently have in place for emergencies. You’ll probably find that there are several things you are doing well and should continue, but that there are also some new practices you could start.
Take a few minutes and write down 2 or 3 ideas you could try in order to be better prepared for an emergency.

22. Questions?