How You Can Help Shorten Emergency Department Wait Times

Chances are you’ve experienced episodes of coughing, congestion and sniffles in recent weeks. Hospitals are currently busy treating patients who need care for respiratory infections such as COVID, flu, and RSV. If you visit an Emergency Department (ED) for treatment, you might experience longer than normal wait times.

Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center (LHDCMC) in Lanham has successfully improved wait times by revamping its patient triage process:

• When you arrive at the ED, you will register with the clerk, and a triage nurse will assess your needs to determine the priority of care.
• A patient liaison staff member promptly engages and will explain and expedite the next steps in your care. This change has decreased the amount of time you wait by 40-50 minutes.
• If you are discharged to go home, our caregivers will ensure you have appropriate follow-up with your primary care provider, or they will connect you with a Luminis Health Primary Care Provider.

Parents will be glad to know that at LHDCMC, physicians from Children’s National are available seven days a week to treat pediatric cases in the ED.

You can also take several steps to ensure you receive timely care. Here’s what you can do:

Make sure you bring everything you need for emergency care

Your time in the Emergency Department will go faster by bringing important items for our care team, such as the following:

• Driver’s license or identification card
• Insurance card
• List of medications and allergies
• List of contacts, including primary physician, specialists, friends and family
• Discharge instructions and notes from recent ED visits or hospital admission
• Cell phone chargers

Keep your cool

Dealing with an emergency is stressful, and emotions are often heightened for everyone. Getting upset or mistreating your care team won’t speed up your visit. It’s important to remember that doctors, nurses, receptionists and other staff members in the ED are on your side — and working their hardest to give you the care you need as quickly as possible. At Luminis Health, we believe in a culture of mutual caring: We provide the best care possible in a healing environment and we always treat each other with respect and dignity. Caring for and protecting patients, families, employees, and our community, is important to us.

“We have to treat patients in order of priority, seeing patients with life-threatening illness or injury first,” said Dr. Reginald Brown, emergency department chair at LHDCMC. “Your patience is very important and appreciated, as we prioritize care for those who need it urgently.”

Urgent care is another option

There are many situations in which the ED is the best place to go for care, such as life-threatening injuries or conditions. In other cases, urgent care centers are a convenient option for treatment. Urgent care can address the following conditions and symptoms:

• Cough and cold symptoms
• Minor cuts that may need stitches
• Eye problems, like pink eye
• Mild abdominal pain
• Mild illnesses, such as strep throat or the flu
• Sprains and strains
• Vomiting or diarrhea

Telehealth visits are refreshingly easy

If you have a minor medical issue, consider connecting with a medical provider virtually. This often allows for a quicker appointment, most patients are able to schedule same-day care. With the availability of after-hours and weekend virtual visits, we aim to accommodate your schedule. Luminis Health’s CareConnectNow is available for Maryland residents by calling (443) 951-4270 from your smart phone or making an online appointment.

Thank you for your patience, support, and your own efforts as we strive to improve emergency care for every patient.

Author

Dr. Reginald Brown, is the emergency department chair at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center.