Emergency rooms are an essential part of any community’s hospital system. They provide important treatment for severe, though not always life-threatening, health problems. Unfortunately, it may not always be clear when to go to the emergency room or the difference between it and a trauma center.
You should go to the emergency room when you experience symptoms such as severe allergic reactions, upper chest or abdominal pain, and lower abdominal pain. These require immediate treatment and may even indicate a heart attack or appendicitis. Emergency rooms specialize in less complex health issues that need fast treatment.
Emergency Room Treatment in Evansville, Indiana
Surgical emergencies make up a large portion of our practice at Evansville Surgical Associates. This includes issues such as:
- Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Perforated bowels
- Appendicitis
To help best serve our community, we always have four surgeons on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our surgeons are board-certified and fellowship-trained, meaning that they are able to provide timely, critical care when you or your loved ones need it most.
When to Go to the Emergency Room
The emergency room is the last place anyone wants to find themselves. Unfortunately, there are times when it’s the only place to receive the immediate care that you need. Sometimes it can be hard to tell if your symptoms are worth a trip.
Common signs to go to the emergency room include:
- Severe allergic reactions
- Upper chest or abdominal pain
- Lower abdominal pain
Knowing when a trip to the emergency room is in order can protect your health or the health of someone that you love.
Severe Allergic Reactions
An allergic reaction to something such as a bee sting or food requires immediate medical attention. While you may be able to treat it at home, you should never take that risk. It’s also important to go to the emergency room if you’re experiencing new symptoms that you’ve never had before. Keep a lookout for symptoms such as trouble breathing, hives, and asthma attacks.
Upper Chest or Abdominal Pain
Severe pain in the upper chest could be a sign of a heart attack, which is caused by the heart not getting enough blood. This pain is one of the most common signs of a heart attack and is usually felt in the center or left side of your chest. Usually described as a squeezing, uncomfortable pressure, you may also experience trouble breathing before the pain sets in.
Lower Abdominal Pain
Like upper chest or abdominal pain, lower abdominal pain can point to a serious problem with an internal organ. In this case, you may be experiencing symptoms of appendicitis — a condition that occurs when the inside of the appendix is blocked. A ruptured appendix can also release stool and mucus into the abdominal cavity leading to further complications.
Click here to learn more about the signs that you need to go to the emergency room!
Why You May Go to an Emergency Room Instead of Trauma Center
You may have never thought about it, but there are some important differences between emergency rooms and trauma centers. They’re synonymous for good reason since they treat severe medical emergencies. However, they serve different purposes which can make all the difference when you need immediate medical attention.
Emergency Rooms
The main difference between emergency rooms and trauma centers is their scope. Emergency rooms cover a wide variety of issues. This can range from non-life-threatening emergencies such as broken bones to more serious ones such as stroke and heart attack symptoms. Alternatively, trauma centers only treat life or death situations that require immediate attention.
A patient’s journey will start in the emergency room. Here, they will be evaluated to decide where they should go. Less complex issues will remain in the emergency room where they can receive proper treatment. More complex and life-threatening cases will be sent to the trauma center, which is actually located inside the emergency room.
Trauma Centers
Trauma centers are designed to treat patients who have experienced major accidents. These patients often need comprehensive treatment that addresses a number of different issues. The trauma surgeons at Evansville Surgical Associates have advanced training to care for patients in these dire situations, providing treatment to the most extreme cases in Evansville, Indiana.
To learn more about trauma centers in Evansville, IN, click here!
Our board-certified surgeons are able to treat the most severe cases, including:
- Blunt trauma
- Stab wounds
- Gunshot wounds
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Major automobile injuries
Our team operates two 24-hour trauma centers in Evansville. Deaconess and St. Mary’s are both level two trauma centers, caring for 3,000+ patients every year.
Our board-certified surgeons are trained in emergency surgery and much more. Call us at (812) 424-8231 or (800) 264-8231 to schedule your appointment!
Emergency rooms are essential when you’re experiencing symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, heart attack, or appendicitis. These problems require immediate care and could lead to worse complications that could be life-threatening. Unlike trauma centers that treat the most severe cases, emergency rooms are designed to treat less complex issues more quickly.
Evansville Surgical Associates has been providing comprehensive and compassionate surgical care for over 50 years. Call us at (812) 424-8231 or (800) 264-8231. We are available from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm if you would like to schedule an appointment.
