No one likes to go the Emergency Room (ER), but Habersham County residents are very fortunate to have an ER close by if needed. The Habersham Medical Center ER treats more than 30,000 patients annually and stays very busy. But, many of the patients who present to the ER are considered non-emergent or have a nonlife-threatening illness or injury.
Misuse of the ER can make wait times much longer than they should be and can delay treatment to those who are there for a true emergency. So, what is a true emergency and when should you go to the ER? True emergencies include chest pain, stroke symptoms, trauma, severe bleeding, respiratory distress or other conditions that clearly require medical treatment. According to Chris Ratchford, a Habersham Medical Center ER physician, “An urgent medical condition is when symptoms exist (including severe pain) that without immediate medical attention could result in placing the individual’s life in serious jeopardy.”
But, all too often, patients come to the ER, sometimes repeatedly, for minor complaints like toothaches, sore throats, minor cuts and scrapes, prescription refills and colds. For minor illnesses and injuries, you should visit a primary care or urgent care clinic or make an appointment to see your doctor. Of course, there are always exceptions, especially when it comes to children and the elderly. And, sometimes your doctor’s office or area walk-in clinics are not open. And, when in doubt, it is always better to go the ER.
However, keep in mind that an ER visit is a lot more expensive than a doctor or clinic visit. It costs patients more and the hospital loses millions of dollars annually due to uncompensated ER care. That’s a huge financial blow to all our wallets.
For a list of area resources or for a physician referral, you can email [email protected].
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A graduate of Brenau University with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and Piedmont College with a master’s degree in public administration, April James has served as the director of business development and volunteer services at Habersham Medical Center since 2001. She also has more than 15 years of experience in broadcasting and is an adjunct professor at Emmanuel College. She and her husband, Brian, have three children and reside in Franklin Springs, Georgia.
