Your ER Visit

Your ED Experience: What you can expect

Scottsdale Emergency Associates understands that fears of the unknown can contribute to a patient's anxiety in a moment of crisis. Knowing what you can expect from us and your visit before you arrive can offer confidence that you are right where you need to be.

The Emergency Department Team

Your physician relies on a team of individuals to make your visit thorough, efficient and comfortable. During your visit you may encounter some or all of the following team members: SEA Physicians: Our residency-trained, Board-certified emergency physicians. Resident Physicians:  Physicians obtaining specialized training and education through practice in the emergency department. Residents working in the Scottsdale Healthcare Emergency Department work under the supervision of SEA's board-certified emergency physicians. Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner: Highly trained, licensed medical provider working under the supervision of the emergency physician. Nursing Staff: Nurses that specialize in the care for acute health issues and trauma. Emergency Technician: staff member specially trained in emergency care, often certified as EMTs. Other Technicians: technicians trained for specific tasks; phlebotomist (specializes in drawing blood), imaging technician (trained to administer x-rays and other radiological tests), respiratory therapists (administer respiratory treatments). Scribe: staff that documents the chart for your visit, detailing the treatment performed by the physician or physician assistant/nurse practitioner. Registration clerk: staff member that gathers patient demographic information. Social Worker: clinical consultant on cases requiring crisis intervention. Volunteer: a friendly face that can grab you a warm blanket and answer any non-medical questions you might have. Translator: assists in communication for non-English speaking patients.

Visit overview

The majority of emergency department visits follow the following course (critically ill patients may initially bypass steps to receive expedited care):

• Triage
• Bed Placement
• Registration
• Nursing Evaluation
• Physician Evaluation
• Testing
• Diagnosis and Treatment
• Discharge Home (if stable) or Admission to Hospital (for further care)