Everyone has been at the crossroads when they have asked themselves, “Does my medical problem warrant a trip to the emergency room?”
The truth of the matter is most health problems are not emergencies. You, your child, your spouse, your elderly parent, or others in your care may feel sick and uncomfortable and want to have the problem taken care of right away, but first you need to ask, “Does my medical problem warrant a trip to the ER?” 
One good question to ask is: “Am I thinking about going to the ER because it’s convenient or because it’s necessary?” If it’s after hours or the weekend and you can’t get in touch with your doctor’s office, you may think a trip to the ER is the only solution. However, if your case isn’t truly an emergency, you will have to wait to see a doctor until the true emergencies are handled. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, Americans made more than 115 millions visits to hospital emergency rooms in one year, and only about 12 percent of them were admitted. The most common complaints were stomach pain, chest pain, fever, and cough.
There are no hard and fast rules about what an emergency is and what it isn’t. Kip Adrian, MD, head of Porter’s Emergency Services Department says there is a short list of problems that should always be treated as emergencies. “Chest pain that could be a heart attack, being unable to breathe, severe and uncontrolled bleeding, and symptoms of stroke definitely require a trip to the hospital,” said Adrian. He also suggests that if your primary care doctor’s office is open, call them before coming to the ER if you’re not certain.
It is important for all individuals to establish a relationship with a primary care physician. This doctor will know your history and have an understanding of your overall health. This is also the person who will most likely be in charge of coordinating your aftercare should you require a trip to the ER. “With a personal physician, you are seen by someone trained to care for most of your health needs,” explained Adrian. “You can build a relationship and discuss your family health history and plan appropriate preventive measures.”
Reasons to visit the ER:
- Chest pain lasting two minutes or more
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Sudden or severe pain
- Coughing or vomiting blood
- Difficulty breathing; shortness of breath
- Sudden dizziness, weakness or change in vision
- Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
- Change in mental status- confusion
- Poisoning
- Drug overdoses
- Loss of consciousness
- Thoughts of harming yourself or others
Guidelines provided by The American College of Emergency Physicians
Reproduced from StayHealthy Magazine by Porter Health System