Dignity Health | St. Rose Dominican | Reach | Summer 2018

6 StRoseHospitals.org Stay on your feet. We’re here to help. Learn more about our fall prevention program. See page 14 for details. Our St. Rose Dominican ER nurses are specially trained to assess a medical condition and decide how severe it is. Based on this, they determine who is seen first by emergency doctors. The triage nurse will determine the severity of your illness or injury by examining you and asking about your symptoms. You may have some tests done or receive first-aid care while you’re in the triage area. Speak up if you’re in pain or if your pain or other symptoms get worse. The nurse needs to know how you’re feeling to help decide how quickly you should be seen. 3 things to understand about the ER The emergency room (ER)— it’s a place we all hope we never have to go. But should you ever need it, it’s comforting to know the ERs at St. Rose Dominican are here for you and your family. “Understanding how ERs work can make your experience less stressful,” says Gary Mono, DO, chief medical officer for Dignity Health–St. Rose Dominican’s Siena Campus. The sickest are treated first. If you’re sure it’s not a serious situation, you can select an estimated arrival time at all St. Rose hospitals—and wait in the comfort of your own home. Find our online waiting room at StRoseHospitals.org/ER . The Dignity Health Urgent Care Center at the Dignity Health Pavilion—on the corner of West Galleria Drive and Gibson Road—is also an option for minor illnesses and injuries. You may be able to wait at home. Gary Mono, DO What to know before you go to the emergency room: 1 2 After you’re treated and discharged from the ER, it may not be the end of your care. For instance, you may be instructed to see your primary care doctor for a follow-up visit. “Be sure to follow through with any appointments or other instructions you receive,” says Dr. Mono. “Your regular doctor or a specialist may need to manage the problem that brought you to the ER to help you avoid another medical emergency. Or you may need further tests to learn more about what caused your condition or symptoms.” You may need follow-up care. 3