What is a hospital-based emergency department?

Our hospitals’ Emergency Rooms attend to all emergencies—when minutes matter— including heart attacks and strokes. Upon each patient’s arrival to the ER, a triage process (to assess the degree of urgency) determines the order in which all patients are seen and the most efficient care plan.

• Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center
• Lakeside Hospital
• Patients Medical Center
• Springwoods Village Hospital
• Sugar Land Hospital
• The Vintage Hospital
• The Woodlands Hospital

How does a hospital-based emergency room operate?

A hospital-based emergency room operates as a critical facility within a hospital dedicated to providing immediate medical care to patients with acute illnesses or injuries. Here's an overview of how it typically operates:

• Triage: Upon arrival, patients are assessed by trained medical staff to determine the severity of their condition. This process, known as triage, ensures that those with the most urgent needs receive prompt attention.
• Medical evaluation: Patients are then evaluated by healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and technicians. Diagnostic tests such as X-rays, blood tests, and scans may be conducted to assess the patient's condition.
• Treatment: Once a diagnosis is made, patients receive appropriate medical treatment. This may include medication, surgical procedures, wound care, or stabilization for serious conditions.
• Monitoring: Patients may be monitored closely for changes in their condition while in the emergency room. This could involve continuous monitoring of vital signs or observation by medical staff.
• Discharge or admission: After receiving treatment, patients may either be discharged with instructions for further care or admitted to the hospital for ongoing treatment and observation.
• Coordination: Emergency room staff work closely with other departments within the hospital to ensure seamless coordination of care. This includes consulting specialists, arranging transfers to other facilities if needed, and communicating with the patient's primary care provider.

Overall, hospital-based emergency rooms are designed to provide rapid assessment and treatment of medical emergencies, operating 24/7 to serve the needs of the community.

Procedures performed at a hospital-based ER

• Wound care
• Stabilization procedures
• Medication administration
• Intravenous (IV) therapy
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Splinting and casting
• Suturing and wound closure
• Orthopedic procedures
• Pain management interventions
• Radiological imaging
• Laboratory testing
• Referral to specialists