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About Emergency Medical Treatment Information
by Leigh Kelley
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Overview
About Emergency Medical Treatment Information
Emergency medical care facilities collect various types of information to provide the best care for the patient. As such, patients who provide accurate information regarding their medical history, symptoms and contact information will get better care that patients who are untruthful. When you seek emergency medical care, you should always answer questions truthfully, even if the truth is embarrassing.
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Considerations
In the United States, it is illegal for emergency medical treatment facilities to turn away a patient who is in labor or who needs immediate medical attention. This includes patients that don't have insurance. Many hospitals have charity care and financial assistance programs in place that allow uninsured patients to get the care they need.
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Significance
When you are faced with a life-threatening medical situation, such as a heart attack or appendicitis, care provided by emergency medical professionals is vital to your survival. As such, it is important to share your medical information, including drug, alcohol and tobacco use, with every member of your medical care team, including EMTs, nurses, doctors, lab technicians and anyone else involved in your care. You may find that you have to repeat the same information numerous times but, remember that this is done to ensure that you get the proper care.
Image courtesy of Acadian Ambulance
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Function
Emergency medical treatment information, including X-ray interpretations, a brief medical history and blood work results, are used to make a temporary diagnosis at the emergency care facility. Because the emergency care personnel care for so many patients, it is possible for them to overlook something or make an incorrect diagnosis. All of the test results are reviewed shortly after your visit to ensure that the diagnosis was correct. Because of this, you should make sure that you give the facility accurate contact information, including your doctor's name. You should also follow up with your regular doctor, even if it is only to let him know that you were seen at the hospital so he can get the records and test results to review.
Knee X-ray, courtesy of Dr. Fisher
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Warning
Many people believe that emergency medical treatment is a good substitute for regular medical care. In truth, the diagnosis and treatment that you receive in the emergency room or at an acute care facility is based on the limited information you provide during your visit. Most hospitals won't have access to detailed medical records for you. As such, it is extremely important to follow up with your physician as directed by the emergency medical professionals.
Stethoscope photo, courtesy of Dr. Fisher
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Misconceptions
It is believed by some people that illegal immigrants are a burden on the emergency medical care facilities in the United States. Based on emergency medical care information from the Census Bureau, most of the illegal immigrants in this country seek medical care at free clinics and local heath departments. Many illegal immigrants rely on home treatment to deal with medical situations until they can be seen in a clinic.
