 Emergency Care
Harford
Memorial Hospital Emergency Department
443-843-5500
Upper Chesapeake
Medical Center Emergency Department
443-643-2000
Maryland Relay
Service
711 Click here for Directions
Upper Chesapeake Health's Emergency Departments (ED) care for over
85,000 patients a year. From major trauma to minor
lacerations and bumps and bruises, it is important that when patients
arrive in our emergency departments they receive care that is fast, efficient,
and provided in a comfortable and healing environment.
Expedient
care areas within both EDs provide patients with relatively minor illnesses
or injuries a complete and time-efficient ED experience. A separate Pediatric
ED opened in 2008 at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center (UCMC). It is designed
to be more pleasing and comfortable for children. These rooms are also
equipped with instrumentation designed specifically for use in caring
for children. In-house pediatrician coverage is available seven days
a week, 24 hours a day at UCMC. The board-certified pediatricians will
cover pediatric emergencies as well as provide coverage for the medical
center's nursery and inpatient pediatric service.
Critically ill and injured patients are cared for in the Emergency Departments'
trauma rooms, which are equipped for both pediatric and adult patients.
Chest pain observation centers within both EDs feature monitored rooms.
Cardiac treatment protocols for patients in this center were developed
in conjunction with St. Joseph Medical Center's renowned Heart Institute.
 The ED at Harford Memorial Hospital
(HMH) and UCMC feature a private and separate treatment room for patients
who are victims of sexual assault. The SAFE (sexual assault forensic examination) rooms are equipped with
a special camera documentation system. SAFE room nurses have been specially
trained to collect evidence while attending to the emotional and physical
needs of patients who have been sexually assaulted.
There are two separate entrances to the ED - one for ambulatory patients
and one for ambulances. In addition, there is a special decontamination
room near the ambulance entrance that has a separate door so patients
can be cleansed from hazardous substances without contaminating other
areas of the ED.
The ED at UCMC has its own radiology suite located within the department.
This suite is dedicated to providing X-rays and imaging services to ED
patients only, improving the turnaround time of diagnostic services.
At HMH, the radiology exam rooms are located adjacent to the ED for convenience
and efficiency.
Both EDs are staffed by physicians who are board certified, most in
emergency medicine. The emergency nursing team members are certified
in ALS (advanced life support).
Registration
Upon entrance into the Emergency Departments,
patients are pre-registered. This process involves providing the registrar
your name, address, telephone number, social security number, and reason
for visiting the ED. Patients should refrain from
eating and drinking at this time.
Triage
A triage nurse looks at each patient's reason
for visiting the ED to determine which patient needs immediate attention.
The triage nurse obtains information from patients regarding their:
- Allergies;
- Daily
medications;
- Past medical history, and;
- Brief description of illness
or injury that brought the patient to the ED.
After triage, the nurse
takes the patients to a ready room or they are asked to sit in the waiting
room if a room is not readily available. If a patient's condition changes
while in the ED waiting area, he/she should let the triage nurse know
immediately. The ED team are caring for both patients that walk in and
arrive by ambulance. Often patients in the waiting area cannot see or
are unaware of the patients brought in directly to the main ED treatment
areas by ambulance.
Treatment
From the waiting area, patients are taken
to the main ED treatment area or Expedient Care area depending on the
nature of their illness or injury. Once in a treatment room, a nurse
will provide a more extensive evaluation. A registration team member
will complete the registration process. It is here that patients are
interviewed and examined by an Emergency Physician or a Physician's Assistant.
Tests
In the main treatment area, patients may have
IVs started, blood tests, X-rays or EKGs performed. Certain tests take
time to process and complete. When the ED and other departments are busy,
every effort is made to minimize delays and to keep patients informed.
Visitors
We know the value of having family members
present with the patient; however, we ask that only two visitors be back
with the patient in the ED treatment area. Visitors are encouraged to
remain in the patient's room so doorways and hallways are kept free of
traffic. There are call bells in every room if a visitor or patient has
a question. Telephones are located in each room for the convenience of
patients and family members to call local family members.
To protect the patient's privacy and confidentiality, patients should
choose a designated family member to call friends or family with any
needed information. Medical information will only be given to the person
designated by the patient.
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