There are a million things that go through your mind when you are confronted with an emergency. Knowing a little bit about our emergency department and what to expect before you need us will help. Below are a few of the questions we get asked most often. If you have any further questions, you are welcome to call us at 715.717.4222.
What should I bring to my emergency department visit?
Be sure to bring your medications and dosages and most current medical history, if available. Also know who your primary doctor is and which physician should receive information from this visit.
What can I expect during my emergency department visit?
You can expect testing, care from board-certified emergency physicians and specially trained registered nurses, as well as a referral to a specialist if your condition cannot be diagnosed in the emergency department. We will admit you to the hospital, if need be, and prescribe medications for treatment.
Do you take care of children?
Yes, we take care of all ages.
Do you take care of trauma patients?
Yes, we are a Level III state-certified trauma center with advanced neurosurgical capabilities.
What can you do for stroke patients?
We are the only hospital in the area using the MERCI Retrieval System to remove blood clots in the brain. Additionally, we can perform thrombolytic therapy using a medication called Tissue Plasminogen Activator, or tPA, to break up clots. This medication can be injected with a needle into a vein, an artery or both.
Can you treat patients having heart attacks?
Yes, we have two state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization labs, a streamlined protocol for access to the catheterization lab from the emergency department and specialty training for nurses in advanced cardiac life support.
What special qualifications do your staff members have?
Our professional team consists entirely of board-certified emergency medicine physicians. We are the only emergency department in the region that can make this claim. Our team also includes registered nurses with certifications in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS). Our nurses also complete trauma nursing core courses (TNCC) and emergency nursing pediatric courses (ENPC or PALS). We are the only hospital in western Wisconsin to provide such extensive training for its emergency department staff.
