• Lasting two minutes or more
• Pressure
• Squeezing pain the the chest
• Tightness
• Burning or aching under the breast bone
• Light headedness

• Weakness of the face, arm, or leg on one side of the body
• Loss of vision
• Loss of speech or trouble talking
• Severe headaches with no known cause
• Dizziness
• Unsteadiness or sudden falls especially when accompanied by other stroke symptoms

• Abdominal pain
• Allergic reactions
• Serious burns or cuts
• Traumatic injuries
• Fainting or loss of consciousness
• Coughing or vomiting blood
• Continuous vomiting or diarrhea
• Thoughts of suicide or homicide
• Loss of muscle or bowel control
• Blood in urine or stool
• Infected wounds
• Bleeding that doesn't stop after 10 minutes of direct pressure
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Do not waste any time getting to the hospital when you have a true medical emergency, but if there is time to prepare before your arrival, bringing the following items can be helpful:

• A photo ID
• Health insurance card
• List of prescription medications and dosages the patient currently takes
• List of medication allergies
• Any relevant medical records you have on hand
• Contact information for your regular care providers

Our emergency room entrance is directly located off Medical Center Boulevard.

• From the Westbank Expressway, the emergency entrance will be on your left. Look for the red ‘EMERGENCY’ arrow sign.
• From Wichers Drive, the emergency entrance will be on your right. Look for the red “EMERGENCY” arrow sign.

As you approach West Jefferson Medical Center, you will see signs that say emergency in red and white directing you to the Emergency Room.

Please note: The entrance to the Emergency Room is located to the left of the main entrance of the hospital. You may leave your car for a limited time in the emergency drop off parking location.

FREE parking is available 24 hours a day/ seven days a week in the hospital’s main parking lot across from the main entrance of West Jefferson.

Patients who visit the emergency department undergo a process of initial evaluation known as "triage." This means that each patient is evaluated by a nurse and/or doctor to determine the level of medical emergency they are experiencing. This is necessary to rapidly identify the sickest patients and provide them with prompt care. It also helps us keep every patient's wait time as short as possible, while providing the appropriate level of care to all patients.

A nurse will be involved in all aspects of your care. Other team members may include lab technicians, phlebotomist, respiratory therapists, social workers and other hospital staff. Each team member will introduce themselves and explain their role in your care.

Your doctor(s) will meet with you to conduct an exam and discuss your symptoms, including your level of pain. Any treatments or required tests will be discussed with you. If necessary, your nurse(s) will:

• Administer medications
• Draw blood for lab tests
• Collect urine
• Insert an intravenous (IV) catheter

Please tell your care provider if you are in pain so that we may assist you. We encourage you to ask questions about your care.

If tests are required, we have the resources to conduct almost all of these within our medical center. Please plan on waiting for your results. The following time frames are provided as estimates only:

Testing can be done within our facility and result times vary depending on the type of test needed. The simplest way to access results is to sign up for ERAdvisor. ERAdvisor is a free mobile platform that provides real-time updates about your emergency room experience directly to your phone. For example, you can view estimated wait times, get lab updates and results, schedule follow-up visits, get answers to common questions, and even share your visit timeline with family and friends!

Getting started with ERAdvisor is easy. Simply provide your cell phone number to an ER registration team member to get the updates and information you need to know what to expect throughout your time in the ER.

When your doctor determines that you are ready to be discharged from the Emergency Department, you will meet with your nurse to review your diagnosis, discuss any prescribed medications and follow-up care instructions. You will be given paperwork about your follow-up care that should be kept for reference.

Prescriptions can be faxed or electronically provided to your pharmacy so that medications are ready for pick-up when you arrive at the pharmacy. Some medications require a special prescription form, which will be handed to you by the nurse. Your case manager can assist you with other needs you may have in preparing to return home after your Emergency Department visit.

Proper follow-up care is very important. We will send information to your primary care doctor about your visit. If a physician referral is needed, we will provide you with a list of physicians to choose from.

If your symptoms worsen or do not improve, return to West Jefferson’s Emergency Room or contact your primary care doctor. Remember to take all medications as prescribed.