(Dennison, Ohio) – As we celebrate Emergency Nurses Week Trinity Hospital Twin City is offering a few ER-related reminders.

Emergency Nurses Week is celebrated from October 7^th through October 13^th with Emergency Nurses Day falling on Wednesday, October 10^th. The recognition is designed to honor ED nurses for their commitment to patient care.  We appreciate the work each ED nurse does to ensure we receive the best care during our worst moments.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the latest statistics released regarding ED visits are as followed:

• Number of visits: 136.9 million
• Number of injury-related visits: 39.0 million
• Number of visits per 100 persons: 43.3
• Number of emergency department visits resulting in hospital admission: 12.3 million
• Number of emergency department visits resulting in admission to critical care unit: 1.5 million
• Percent of visits with patient seen in fewer than 15 minutes: 35.4%
• Percent of visits resulting in hospital admission: 9.0%
• Percent of visits resulting in transfer to a different (psychiatric or other) hospital: 2.2%

While we hope you never have to go to the Emergency Room, Trinity Hospital Twin City is offering a few tips that will allow you to get the most out of your ER visit.

• Information is Key: Officials note that it is critical that you come to the ER as prepared as possible. Think about your symptoms and know your medical history. Providing as much information about your health as possible helps doctors provide care that fits your needs. Consider keeping a note card in your wallet that has your (or your loved ones) medical issues, allergies and names of doctors who provide you with routine care. This can easily be given to medical care providers during an emergency.
• Don’t be Embarrassed to Ask Questions: Don’t be afraid to express your fears or concerns up front, even if you think they sound crazy or weird. Odds are, your medical care providers have heard stranger things. It helps them a great deal when they know what is motivating your visit and they can address your biggest concerns up front.
• Be as Accurate as Possible About Your Symptoms: In almost any ER, you’ll be asked to rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10. Some have a misconception that you need to use the very top of the scale in order to be taken seriously. However, it’s important you are truthful about the pain you are experiencing so doctors can get an accurate sense of what you are experiencing and treat you appropriately.
• Your ER Care Continues After Discharge: While you may be eager to get home after a long stretch at the ER, it’s important you make sure you receive the printed-out discharge instructions, that someone (a nurse or doctor) goes over them with you carefully and it makes sense to you. These instructions generally include the doctor’s impression about what may have caused your symptoms; suggested treatments for your symptoms; who to follow up with and when; and what kinds of symptoms should bring you back to the ER. A few extra minutes making sure you understand the plan before you leave the hospital may give you peace of mind later.

Healthy Tip Tuesday is a Newsymom.com exclusive informational series brought to you by Trinity Hospital Twin City.