Emergency Services
We’re Here for You
Our team of medical professionals provides you with quality care delivered in a friendly and compassionate manner. Take comfort in knowing that the ER staff at Scenic Mountain Medical Center is trained in emergency medicine, critical care and advanced life support, and are supported by skilled surgical and specialty services.
You’re in Good Hands
Scenic Mountain Medical Center (SMMC) is accredited by The Joint Commission, the nation’s most recognized healthcare accrediting body. SMMC’s Emergency Department is designated as a Level IV Trauma Center by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
We appreciate the confidence you have placed in us to provide emergency medical care to you and your loved ones. This brochure covers some issues that can help you understand our process for delivering emergency medical care.
What to Expect
Triage – Upon arrival, a registered nurse will assess your condition. Based on your chief complaint and symptoms, an appropriate priority level will be assigned.
Registration – Vital information must be gathered and treatment consent forms must be signed. Registration can be done at bedside, if necessary.
Medical Screening Exam – An ER medical professional performs a medical screening exam to determine whether your condition is urgent or non-urgent. If urgent, the appropriate tests, procedures and treatment will be initiated. If non-urgent, a registration counselor will discuss alternative care and payment options. Case managers are also available to assist with healthcare planning needs. Non-urgent patients may choose to proceed with treatment or to seek alternative care.
Disposition – During treatment, a physician will discuss test results with you. If hospital care is recommended, you will be admitted and your medical care will be turned over to your primary care physician or to SMMC’s hospitalist group. If appropriate treatment services are not available at our hospital, arrangements for transfer will be made with a suitable facility. If you are well enough to return home, after-care instructions will be given. Please review your instructions carefully and feel free to ask questions.
Waiting Time
SMMC’s goal is for you to receive the appropriate care in the shortest time possible. The ER process, detailed under What to Expect, helps staff prioritize care for all patients. Critically ill and injured patients come to SMMC by ambulance and these high-priority level patients may take precedence over patients assigned lower priority levels. All things being equal, however, patients are usually seen in order of arrival.
We understand it is difficult to wait when you are not feeling well. If at any time your condition changes or your wait time seems excessive, please speak with a registration counselor.
Be assured that every effort is made to expedite care and to minimize wait times. SMMC also uses a computerized system to track and optimize emergency medical care.
We Continue to Care After You Leave
If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call us at 432-263-1211. It is important to understand how to care for your injury or illness after leaving the Emergency Department.
You may be contacted after your visit to participate in a satisfaction survey. Your input is welcomed. Satisfaction surveys help us to meet patient needs, correct problems that might arise and recognize exceptional care provided by our staff.
The Scenic Mountain Medical Center (SMMC) emergency department (ED) has launched the Discharge Call-Back Program to follow-up with you once you’re released from the ED and settled back home.
Experienced nurses will call you between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. to ask you how you’re feeling, if you’re pleased with the care you received during your visit and if you have any questions about your condition. “We want to make sure you completely understand your discharge instructions and are on your way to feeling better,” says Judy Roever, SMMC chief nursing officer. The calling nurses can also access your electronic ED record to answer questions.
During this call, patients are encouraged to share their experiences. “We want to be able to recognize staff members that provide you with outstanding service,” says Roever. “And, if your experience wasn’t as positive as it could be, we want to correct it and make it better.
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive. You can tell from their voices that our patients appreciate the call,” she adds.
Learn More: Life After the ER (Winter 2010)
For more information about our Emergency Department, please call 432-268-4924, or Contact Us through our website.