Emergency Room Prep

Emergency Room Prep

• Get the facts from your doctor. During a regular visit, have an “emergency” conversation with your MDA clinic physician and specialists (pulmonary, cardiac, etc.). Ask what symptoms should be taken seriously, and what kinds of special circumstances might come up in the emergency room. Find out where your regular doctors have hospital privileges, so if you have a choice of emergency rooms, you can go there. Ask if you can call them while en route to the ER. If you’re at a hospital where your regular medical team doesn’t have privileges, the ER staff may be willing to reach out to them anyway.
• Have an advance directive. The “Five Wishes Living Will” document can be a good starting point. Call (888) 594-7437 for more information.
• Put important information all in one place. Prepare a folder that can be quickly grabbed in an emergency, containing all necessary insurance information; medical diagnosis; doctors’ names and contact info; current prescriptions and supplements; and any recent test results.
• Have remote access to your medical information. To contact the MedicAlert service described in the main article, call (888) 633-4298. Small, portable memory-stick-type devices can be loaded with personal medical info and carried in a purse or on a keychain. Check out MedicTag (medictag.com) and MedIDCard (877-916-3343). Each costs less than $50.
• Bring a friend or relative. They can provide comfort and distraction, advocate for you with medical staff, and take notes on all procedures, medications and tests — helpful if you have questions later or want to challenge your bill.
• Prepare for a long wait. A book or personal music player can make the time pass faster. Parents, remember to bring your child’s favorite lovey or blankie; it can significantly reduce their stress. Bring a little cash, so parents or buddies can have a cup of coffee or sandwich. (But don’t give any food or liquids to the patient without permission from the ER doctor.) And don’t forget a cell phone and charger!
• Speak up. Whether you’re in the waiting room or inside an ER examining room, tell the ER staff about ANY change in your condition. They aren’t mind readers and might not realize your status has changed if no one tells them.