Emergency Department
Emergency Department (ED) offers comprehensive emergency care 24 hours a day. An attending Medical officer in Emergency Medicine is on-duty in the ED 24 hours a day. If specialist consultant is required, then medical officer refers the patient to Surgery, Orthopedics, Obstetrics /Gynecology, call them according to patient condition during OPD hours. Even medical officer call specialist in case of critical situation of patient, apart from OPD hours. Evaluation and care will be rendered to all patients regardless of age, sex, race, creed, national origin, criminal status, immigration status, type of medical illness etc. Patients presenting to the ED immediately be evaluated by the ED staff and interns under the supervision of the attending Medical Officer. Initial treatment includes Evidence Based Medicine based on the patient’s visible symptoms.
Scope of services:
- ED manages accident victims, providing first aid treatment of injuries patient is referred to appropriate Specialty or hospital, in case specialist care is necessary which is not provided in the hospital.
- Attending all medico-legal formalities including documentation of clinical conditions and other particulars and initiation to and liaison with the police.
- Attending the patients coming outside the routine outpatient working hours, and screening them for admission.
- Keep the patient under observation in the emergency room for two hours and if there is no symptomatic relief patient is admitted to the ward
- Observing them for short period to determine whether they need admission or providing outpatient care or to be referred to a higher centre.
Policy of emergency services:
All patients seen in the emergency department must be registered in the emergency department All patients who come to the ED for emergency medical evaluation or treatment will receive care by qualified personnel in a timely manner consistent with the acuity of their illnesses provides ambulances services for bringing the patients to the hospital ED ambulance are well lighted, clearly identified by signs, and protected from bad weather. The patient will be received and brought in to the emergency ward by the ward boys on the stretcher if the patient is non ambulatory. Ramps are provided for patients Stretchers and wheelchairs are stored in the area immediately adjacent to the ambulance entrance and do not obstruct this entry. A waiting area, lavatories and telephones are provided for patients, families and individuals accompanying them. Unauthorized individuals are prohibited from entering the ED treatment area 24 hrs security is provided in front of ED. ED screen patients observe them for short period to determine whether they need admission or provide outpatient care. The ED design maintains patient privacy without compromising patient care.
Emergency Registration Process:-
Patients seeking to avail the Emergency facility of the hospital arrive at the Emergency counter of the hospital. At the registration counter the following information about the patients are fed into the system:
- Name, Sex
- Age of the patient/ DOB
- Phone number
A registration card is provided with the Unique Patient ID number.
Initial Screening Exam:
1. The emergency department will provide, upon the request of a patient and within the capabilities of the hospital, an appropriate medical screening examination, stabilizing treatment and/or an appropriate intra hospital or inter hospital transfer with an emergency medical condition
2. This initial screening exam will be completed by an attending Medical Officer.
3. Nursing process in Emergency department:-
1. The ED nursing staff is the responsible person to oversee the functioning of the ED.
2. The ED nursing staff is available for 24 hours.
3. Nursing staff will provide direct patient care under the supervision of the attending Medical Officer in Emergency Department or practice independently with pre approved protocols for a defined subset of primary care complaints.
4. Emergency Medical Services (EMS):
a. The Emergency Department is responsible for coordinating and effecting inter-hospital transfers.
b. The MED. SUPDT/RMO is the member of the Disaster Committee for the hospital
Triage:
1. All patients presenting to the ED will undergo the process of Triage and have a triage priority documented.
Separate place had been earmarked for triage the place allotted in the hospital is waiting area in the casualty block.
2. Triage will be performed by a Registered Nurse following guidelines developed by the Emergency Services.
3. Triage priorities are defined as follows:
* Critical : immediately life or limb threatening requires immediate resuscitation
* Emergent : requires prompt care, but not in need of immediate resuscitation.
* Urgent : requires evaluation, but time is not as critical a factor.
4. Triage information and priority level will be documented on the Medical Record.
5. Patients are designated to trauma room or immediate care area based upon the condition of patient.
Laboratory Services:
A laboratory technician is available on call apart from OPD timing (24 hrs) similarly X-ray services are available 24 hours.