Seven Secrets for the Best Emergency Care Experience

  • Summer 2022
Nurse with ER patient

A trip to the emergency department can be stressful. Our seven simple tips can help you stay calm and have the best experience possible at our emergency room in Brookings. 

1. Talk to your primary care provider first. Most symptoms, while scary or painful, are not life-and-death. In many cases, you’ll have enough time to call your primary care provider’s office to see if you should go to the emergency room or not. If it is a non-emergent or chronic condition, it may be better managed by your primary care provider.

Another option: call your insurance provider’s 24-hour helpline. Most health insurance helplines are staffed with medical professionals who offer advice about whether to go straight to the ER, visit urgent care, or take a wait-and-see approach. However, when in doubt, do not delay seeking medical care.

2. Take pain medications before you come to the emergency department. If you’re in pain and you’re not experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please take over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen first. We want you to be as comfortable as possible. Rest assured, our team will believe how much pain you experienced before taking the medication.

3. Bring your medical history and information. Keep an updated list of your medical conditions, daily medications, and allergies handy. We suggest having a list in your wallet or your phone. This information will help our ED to properly evaluate and treat you.

4. Be honest. Please share with our ER team the full details regarding why you are seeking care. Start with the most urgent symptoms. Our ED care providers use this information to create a whole picture of your condition. The better the information we have, the better we can treat you. And remember: we are there to help you, not to judge you. You have nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about.

5. Advocate for yourself. Please speak up and ask our emergency staff for things that might make you more comfortable. We’re always happy to bring a warm blanket, water or other items. Please also ask questions about your care. We want you to know and understand the treatment you are receiving. We also want you to be comfortable with your plan of care.

6. Bring along a support person. We encourage you to bring someone along with you. That person may be able to help fill in details or provide your medical history if you’re unable to do so. In addition, they may need to give you a ride home or help with your care after you leave our emergency department.

7. Your care doesn’t end at discharge. Your discharge papers will outline your symptoms, cause (if known), treatment, tests and recommendations. It will also include return precautions, symptoms or problems that indicate you should come back to the emergency room. We’ll go over your discharge instructions with you. And if you have questions about your discharge instructions, please ask. We want to make sure you’re comfortable with your plan of care.

If your problem worsens, come back to be seen again. Sometimes causes aren’t always apparent when symptoms first emerge. Be sure to also follow up with your primary care provider or medical specialist. Your doctor will review the ER recommendations and make sure you get any additional tests or treatments.

Looking for other emergency medicine answers? Visit Frequently Asked Questions About ER Care.