A trip to the emergency room is almost always unexpected and can be a scary situation. However, there are a few things you can do in advance to better prepare yourself for a medical emergency.
1. Create a folder for medical records
Within the folder, include records of doctor’s visits, medical exams, a list of all medications including vitamins and dietary supplements, a list of allergies, health plan information, and emergency contacts. In case of a medical emergency, grab this folder on the way to the ER.
2. Call your health insurance provider
Before any medical emergency arises, it’s important to check which hospitals are covered under your plan. Create a list of those hospitals with addresses and phone number, and find the fasted route to each hospital.
3. Know when to go to the ER
It is important to learn how to identify the signs of a medical emergency. Some of these warning signs include shortness of breath, fainting or sudden dizziness, difficulty speaking, confusion, sudden and severe pain, and uncontrolled bleeding.
UtahER.com—Online ER Check-in
All five IASIS Utah hospitals offer an online ER appointment check-in option for non-life threatening medical conditions. The program allows people to schedule a treatment time online and wait in the comfort of their own homes, rather than in the waiting room. If there is a projected delay in the ER due to the arrival of critical patients, UtahER.com patients are sent a real-time notification via phone call or email.
Visit UtahER.com to schedule an ER appointment.
