Emergency Department
Intake Process
Our Emergency Departments cares for over 85,000 people a year. From major trauma to lacerations and broken bones, we work with adult and pediatric patients as soon as they arrive to determine the severity of their illness or injury and provide the appropriate treatment.
Registration
Our emergency team cares for patients of all levels of illness and injury who walk in and arrive by ambulance. When you arrive, we will begin the pre-registration process, get your medical history and perform triage to determine how severe your condition is. Triage will let us know if you need to be seen immediately in a treatment room or wait temporarily in the waiting area. If your condition changes while you are waiting, please let the triage nurse know immediately.
Treatment
Once in a treatment room, you will have a more extensive evaluation and be seen by an Emergency Physician or Physician Assistant. You may get an IV, blood tests, X-rays or an EKG. We will keep you informed of each test needed.
Services
Trauma Rooms
Our Trauma Rooms are equipped to treat critically ill or injured pediatric and adult patients. We also are affiliated with The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma for conditions that require intensive, critical care.
Pediatric Emergency Department
Pediatric emergency specialists are trained in emergency care for advanced life support. Our emergency department has nine exam rooms that are outfitted with kid-sized equipment, instruments and supplies to make procedures as relaxed and easy as possible. We are an “ouchless” emergency department and use the latest pain management techniques — including pain medicine, sedation and nitrous oxide (laughing gas).
SAFE Rooms
Our emergency departments include separate and private rooms for patients who have been the victims of sexual assault. Our SAFE (sexual assault forensic examination) rooms are equipped with a special camera documentation system. SAFE room nurses are specially trained to collect evidence while attending to the emotional and physical needs of these patients. Learn more about the SAFE program at UM UCH.
Visitors
We understand the value of having family members present; however, we ask that only two visitors be with the patient in the Emergency Department treatment area. There are call bells in every room and telephones for patients and their visitors to call local family members.
Express Transport Services
If you or your child would need a higher level of critical care, the Emergency Physician may request UMMC Transport Services to get you to the appropriate place for care.