What to Expect at our Emergency Department
No matter the time of day or night, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center’s (PVHMC) Emergency Department (ED) stands ready to serve your care needs, 24/7.
We understand that a visit to the ED can be a stressful experience. When you have a medical emergency, you want to be seen and diagnosed as quickly as possible. Here’s some information to help you know what to expect during your visit.
Emergency Room Services: Why am I Waiting?
The Emergency Department is a very busy place, so be prepared to see several
people in the waiting room. During peak times or during cold/flu/RSV season,
you may also see people waiting in hallways or other areas throughout
the department. Additionally, during peak times, visitors may be restricted
to one parent/guardian per patient to provide more room in the waiting
room for patients.
- Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center is proud to be a designated Trauma Center, Comprehensive Stroke Center and STEMI (heart attack) receiving center. This means that we may have patients who require immediate medical care on any given day. Patients arriving by ambulance or through our Trauma Center need to be seen immediately.
- Some medications need to be mixed and reviewed by one of our pharmacists.
- The doctor and/or nurse may be waiting for your test results.
- The doctor may be trying to reach your primary care physician or a specialist.
Helpful Tips
- It would be best if you did not eat or drink anything before you speak with the triage nurse, as this could affect your care and possibly delay treatment.
- Please inform the triage nurse about any and all medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, or substances you may be taking.
Please check with the triage nurse if a specimen is needed before using the restroom.
Step 1: Rapid Physician Evaluation
Upon arrival at the Emergency Department, please go to the registration window. An admitting clerk will request brief demographic information, and a band will be placed on your arm.
PVHMC offers a 24/7 Provider-on-Arrival program, which means that the first care provider you will contact is a board-certified emergency medicine doctor who will evaluate your condition for faster treatment.
The doctor will evaluate you and discuss an individualized care plan to address your concerns. The doctor will then coordinate the services needed to assess your medical concern. This may require the ordering of laboratory tests or special imaging studies. If indicated, the doctor may also order medications to be administered promptly to alleviate your symptoms and pain. You will be directed accordingly by department staff to the appropriate area to progress your care plan.
Step 2: Testing
The physician may order tests to help diagnose or treat your illness. These tests may or may not include lab studies, X-rays, CT scans, Ultrasound, MRI or electrocardiogram (EKG). Please keep in mind that the test results may take some time to be compiled and reviewed.
Step 3: Treatment Area
You will be taken into a treatment room space where you will be prepped for further assessment by an emergency medicine physician and greeted by one or more nurses, who will obtain additional information for the physician's arrival.
Step 4: Doctor’s Exam
You will be examined, and an ED care provider will assess, diagnose and may treat your current medical condition. Patients have the right to request to be seen by a physician if they are not comfortable being evaluated by a Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner.
Step 5: Diagnosis & Treatment
After your care, it will be determined whether you can be safely discharged or need to be admitted to the hospital for further care. If you are determined to require further care in the hospital, an Admitting representative will visit you to begin the admission process.
Discharge
When the medical provider determines you are ready to go home, you will be given personalized treatment instructions and advised to follow up with your primary care physician. These may include care instructions for managing an illness at home, prescriptions you should fill from your pharmacy, or other instructions specific to your needs.
If you have any concerns about discharge instructions, please feel free to discuss them with the staff before leaving the ED.
