Emergency Department

In the Event of an Emergency Dial 911

In 2007, the Emergency Department (ED) of Washington Adventist Hospital provided health care services to 43,954 patients ranging in age from newborns to 90-year olds with a multiplicity of medical needs. From a diverse ethnic population serving the insured, the uninsured and the poorly insured, the medical treatment our ED offers may be the only care available for many.

Our collaborative team of highly trained specialty nurses, physicians and technicians diagnoses a patient’s problems to provide the highest quality health care possible. The triage nurse is the first health care professional that a patient sees in the ED. The triage nurse assesses a patient within minutes to ensure that the most acute cases are treated first.

Emergent cases are seen immediately by a physician. Urgent cases are next in line followed by non-urgent cases. Our new minor treatment area handles only ambulatory cases – comprising of minor illnesses and injuries like earaches, sore throats, sprains and bruises.

When a patient is discharged from the ED, appropriate plans are put in place for them to see a physician. This is critical to the patient overcoming any hurdles that might arise after their discharge and during recovery. For those who are admitted to the hospital, the initial steps taken in the ED facilitate the patient's healing process.

The ED at Washington Adventist Hospital is committed to providing the highest quality emergency medical care. Our doors are always open to our community.

Department Quick Facts

• Patients receive high-level emergency care.
• Physicians are Board Certified in Emergency Medicine.
• A parent or legal guardian can authorize treatment for a child either directly or by designating a caregiver in a notarized letter. Children are given immediate care in life-threatening emergency situations even without such authorization.
• Advance Directives and Power of Attorney are available at the ED admitting desk.

Billing

You may receive separate bills for your ED services, including bills from the hospital, the ED physician and the radiologist. The hospital will bill your insurance company directly.

Community Service

FREE childhood immunizations are given the first Saturday of every month from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Please report to the Visitor's Desk in the ED during this time for directions to the unit in the hospital where these immunizations are given. Washington Adventist Hospital provides this service in conjunction with the Montgomery County Health Department.