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What we do
More than 55,000 people visited Hackensack University Medical Center's Jeffrey M. Creamer Emergency/Trauma Department (ETD) last year, with about one-third of these visits resulting in admissions to the medical center, and two-thirds being treated and released.
The ETD is a state-designated Level II Trauma Center, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, treating all ages from neonates to geriatrics. Trauma surgeons are available around the clock to treat the entire spectrum of diseases, and adult and pediatric injuries. All ETD patients are managed by a medical and nursing staff specifically trained in Emergency Medicine, with the support of all medical specialties through the on-call schedule.
The Pediatric Emergency Room is also open 24 hours a day. It is staffed by a medical and nursing staff in Pediatric Emergency Medicine. This service evaluates and treats children up to 18 years of age, and is located next to the main Emergency Room.
The ETD has a Psychiatric Emergency Service available 24 hours a day with in-house 24-hour physician coverage. The ETD Psychiatric Service also works with the county psychiatric emergency screening program (PESP), which is also located in the ETD.
Hackensack University Medical Center has a Mobile Intensive Care Unit with locations throughout Bergen County, and coordinates the County Mobile Intensive Care Communications Network. For example, when a heart attack is suspected, the Mobile Intensive Care Unit team is able to transmit information to the Emergency/Trauma Department (ETD) physician before the patient arrives. The paramedics in the field are able to acquire a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and transmit this to a computer in the Emergency/Trauma Department at Hackensack University Medical Center. This saves valuable time in getting the proper medication ready and notifying the cardiology staff, the patient's personal physician, and other cardiac diagnostic and support services. The medical center is one of only a few medical centers in the state of New Jersey with the capability of receiving the 12-lead ECG information via computer before the patient's arrival. Based on this and other information provided by radio, the Emergency/Trauma Department (ETD) staff has a preliminary diagnosis and treatment plan by the time the patient arrives at the medical center.
Prompt Care is a separate area for treatment and release of patients with minor complaints. These patients are evaluated by Nurse Practitioners.
What to Expect When You Come to the Emergency Room
ARRIVAL
Each patient who arrives in the Family Lounge of the Emergency/Trauma Department (ETD) is seen first by the Triage Nurse. The Triage Nurse evaluates each patient. Assessment always includes a brief history, clinical measurements, and a physical evaluation. The patients with the most serious of symptoms will enter the ETD Treatment Area for immediate medical care as determined by the Triage Nurse.
If your condition is emergent or urgent, you are taken inside immediately. A family member is asked to see the registration clerk to provide insurance and demographic information. The Triage Nurse uses skills learned through education, experience, and standards of care to make the determination of patient priority. Patients may be asked to stay in the Family Lounge until called into a Treatment Area.
THE TEAM'S ROLE
In the Treatment Area, you will receive attention from an interdisciplinary team of professionals all working together to help you. This team includes the doctor, nurse, and technician, as well as a consumer affairs professional who stay in close communication with each other about your status. You may have to wait for test results, but be assured every action is being taken to treat your condition -- whether it is a matter of stabilizing your vital signs, or helping to manage your pain.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Medical services in the ETD are available without discrimination based on age, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, diagnosis, ability to pay, or source of payment. However, please note that some insurance providers ask you to notify them within a certain amount of time of your visit. Please check with your insurance carrier for specific details. Also, you will receive two bills for your emergency room visit. One is from the medical center for use of the facility and services provided by staff. The second is from the emergency room physician who evalutates you. If you should need additional testing from cardiology, pathology (laboratory), radiology, and so on, you will also receive separate physician bills for those services.
For a work-related injury, specialized treatment with referral to The Occupational Medicine Center affiliated with Hackensack University Medical Center is available.
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