Urgent care centers exist to relieve hospital emergency rooms of less severe illnesses and conditions. From the common cold to a sprained ankle, urgent care centers cut down on the amount of time that a patient must wait to be seen in a larger emergency room. However, from time to time, emergencies can occur at an urgent care center. Acting fast and following directions are key to ensuring a positive ending for all involved.
Getting Help For a Patient
If you are in the waiting room of an urgent care center and an emergency arises, yell out for help immediately. Urgent care centers are equipped with trained medical professionals that know exactly react in an emergency. In the waiting room, you should be able to quickly flag down a triage nurse or someone at the check-in station. The quicker your reaction time, the more likely it is that someone will be able to effectively assist.
Getting Help If You Are A Patient
If you are a patient in an urgent care center and are waiting for assistance from a doctor or nurse in a private room, hit the nurse station call button if an emergency arises. This button is usually located either directly on the side of the bed or just behind it, under the light, with a symbol in the shape of a nurse hat. Pushing this button puts you on an intercom to the nurse's station, at which point you can call out for help. If you are able to walk, open the door and yell out for help from a staff member. If there is no call button and you cannot get to the door, but have a cell phone, call 911. The operator can call the front desk and get help faster than you can waiting for someone to come back into the room.
Stay Calm
While it may be your first instinct to panic, it's important to stay calm in an emergency situation. Try to keep a clear head and wait until you receive further instruction from emergency personnel. If you are with someone having an emergency, make any pertinent calls to family members or friends. Jot down anything you can remember about the incident and make notes on current health conditions and medications.
Tags: care center, care centers, urgent care center, call button, emergency arises, Getting Help, Getting Help Patient
