Health library

When you go to most places where you need assistance—like the department of motor vehicles, for example—you take a number and wait your turn. You expect to be helped in the order in which you arrived.

You might think something similar will happen if you seek medical care at our Emergency Department. But that's not the case. A process known as triage determines who sees the provider first—and how long you'll likely wait.

Establishing priorities

Typically, triage is done by one of our nurses. He or she will talk to you about your symptoms and assess your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and temperature to help determine the severity of your condition.

Often the nurse will gather other information too. He or she might ask about your medical history, for example. The nurse might also talk to you about allergies you have and any medicines you take.

The goal of this process is simple: to determine whose health is most in jeopardy and to make sure those patients get help immediately.

That means a provider is likely to see someone with chest pain who could be having a heart attack before someone with an ankle sprain or minor cut—even if the heart attack patient was the last to arrive.

Everyone matters

Our Emergency Department works diligently to see everyone who needs care as quickly as possible. But be aware: True emergencies always have top priority.

If your condition is not life-threatening, you may have to wait. But every patient is very important to us and will get the attention he or she deserves.