How to Make an Emergency Department Visit a Safe One
By Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D.
September 1, 2009
You hope an accident or illness won't send you to an emergency department (ED). But being prepared
for such an event can help you get good, timely, and safe care when the need arises.
Unfortunately, U.S. hospital EDs are severely overcrowded. In 2006, America's emergency rooms
cared for 120 million patients, according to data from my agency, the Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality (AHRQ). And—because the Nation's health care system still relies on largely paper-based
medical records—chances are, if you land in the ED, the doctors won't have information about your
medical history.
ED staff won't know what medicines you take or what medical problems you have unless you are able
to tell them. Even if you are alert, you're likely to forget important information about your health, such
as medicine allergies or your blood type.
Being prepared for a trip to the ED—whether because of an accident or illness—increases your chances
of getting safe, high quality health care. It might even save you money, depending on your health plan's
policy for ED visits. Know what your health plan policy is. Some health plans require that you get
authorization for emergency care other than for life-threatening emergencies.
That's why it's important to have handy, updated, and thorough information at hand. Keeping your
information either on paper or in an electronic form, like on your cell phone, may help you receive
better, safer care in a medical emergency.
Here is a basic list of information that you should have available in case you ever need to go to the ED:
• Medical conditions or illnesses you have, such as heart disease or diabetes, and any surgeries
or treatments you've recently received.
• Medicines you take, including prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications, along
with dosage information. Some drug interactions can be deadly, so it is essential for ED staff to
know which medicines you take an