Advanced Treatment
Jefferson Regional Medical Center offers advanced treatment and personalized care. Our physician-staffed emergency department is here to meet your needs 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Our caring, competent staffs of nurses, technicians and administrative personnel are here to serve you, while striving to ensure that patient safety, comfort and dignity are constantly preserved. Under the direction of experienced, board-certified medical physicians, in partnership with a complement of ancillary services and on-call specialists, the emergency team at Jefferson Regional is ready to respond to your needs with some of the most current medical technologies and treatments right here at our disposal.
The Jefferson Regional Emergency Department is a Level III Trauma Center consisting of 32 rooms with 12 rooms designated as cardiac/trauma beds. There is also a special hazardous materials area with its own entrance for patients who may be contaminated with a hazardous substance. The department is always open and staffed around the clock with doctors, nurses and support staff who are specialized in emergency care.
There is no way to accurately predict a waiting time for patients who come in through the front door. How long someone in the waiting room will be there can depend on several factors: how many people arrive at the same time, how many seriously ill or injured patients are being treated, how complex the serious conditions. Emergency rooms see the most serious patients first, not based on who arrived first. Frequently, patients with these serious conditions arrive by ambulance and patients in the waiting room are unaware of their presence. We treat those with serious conditions quickly because their condition is often life-or-death and quick treatment can improve their outcome.
Upon arrival at the Emergency Department, patients are evaluated by a registered nurse who is trained in triage. Triage is a system of classifying patients on a priority basis so that those who are most critically ill will be cared for first. Jefferson Regional strives to triage patients with in 7 minutes and do our very best effort to get you in a room within 21 minutes and seeing a physician in your room to within 34 minutes. Because emergencies cannot be scheduled, there are times when a number of patients will be cared for at the same time. This may also increase waiting time, but rest assured that each patient is seen as quickly as possible. One family member may wait in the Emergency Department with each patient. Other family members and visitors may wait in the Emergency Waiting Area.
Upon discharge, patients are given a discharge instruction sheet. In addition, the emergency staff calls to check on many patients at home during the 24 hours following their Emergency Department visit. Of course, patients or family members are welcome to contact the department with any questions or problems.
- Heart attack/Chest pain
- Stroke
- Serious head injury
- Appendicitis
- Compound fracture
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Diabetic coma/reaction
- Extreme difficulty breathing
- Unresponsiveness
- High fever
- Multiple/severe insect stings
- Hives (swelling of eyes, throat, etc.)
- Poisoning
- Kidney Stones
- Respiratory Failure
- Kidney Failure
- Heart Failure
- Changes in level of consciousness
- Pneumonia
- Seizure
- Knife or gunshot wounds
- Acute asthma
- Drug overdose
- Complications of pregnancy
- Electrical injury
- Drowning
- Choking
- Severe Burn
- Sudden loss or change of vision
- Heat exhaustion
- Attempted suicide
- Diving injuries
- Severe pain
Jefferson Regional is a Level Three Trauma Center
Trauma Center designation is a process outlined and developed at a state or local level. The state or local municipality identifies unique criteria in which to categorize Trauma Centers.
Elements of Level III Trauma Centers Include:
- 24-hour immediate coverage by emergency medicine physicians and the prompt availability of general surgeons and anesthesiologists.
- Incorporates a comprehensive quality assessment program
- Has developed transfer agreements for patients requiring more comprehensive care at a Level I or Level II Trauma Center.
- Provides back-up care for rural and community hospitals.
- Offers continued education of the nursing and allied health personnel or the trauma team.
Jefferson Regional’s Emergency Department is committed to providing quality service by meeting the needs of our patients and their families with courtesy and respect. Your emergency experience at Jefferson Regional should be one of care, concern and attention to your emotional and physical needs. It is our goal not only to meet our patients’ needs, but also to exceed the expectations of the people in the community we serve.
