Emergency Department Trauma Level III
Longmont United Hospital’s Emergency Department is a Level III trauma center that treats approximately 26,000 patients each year. ED physicians are board-certified specialists and subspecialty physicians are available for immediate consultation. A cardiac catheterization lab is accessible for diagnosis and intervention 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
When you arrive
A staff member will listen to your health concern before being admitted to the treatment area. Once admitted into the treatment area, the nurse will be the primary person to keep you informed about your care. In order to care for you more effectively, the Emergency Department staff may call the doctor who is most familiar with your health. All medical staff in the Emergency Department has special training in emergency medicine.
Testing, testing, testing
Depending on your health concern, you may need to have lab tests and/or X-rays that will take some time. Your doctor or nurse will explain the details of whatever tests you need.
Waiting for results
Sometimes there are long waits in the Emergency Department for various reasons. If you are treated and sent home from Emergency Department, your stay can be approximately three to four hours.
If you need an x-ray, a CT scan, or other special x-ray, you will need to be moved/transported from the Emergency Department to the radiology area. Completing the exam can take several hours. Getting laboratory results or calling in consultants to see you can take up to one hour. In the meantime, the Emergency Department staff will keep you informed of your status as often as possible.
If you have a question
….ask. No matter what it is. It is important for you to know what is going on with your care and to learn about your health. After all, you are the most important member of the team and you need to be involved in any decisions about your illness or injury.
We want to know if you have a concern so we can make things right and meet your needs as quickly as possible.