Emergency Care Closer to Home 

When you have a medical crisis, getting care fast can save your life. In a successful emergency department, a team of technicians, nurses, doctors, and hospital staff will work together to treat you quickly and safely.

At AHN Westfield Memorial Hospital, teamwork is key to caring for the community. Whether you have an injury or a serious health emergency, the emergency department is ready to help.

When to go to the emergency room (ER)

It can be hard to tell what situations call for a trip to the ER, and what concerns can be treated at home or by urgent care providers. Sometimes, going to the ER is the only option.

Go to the ER right away if you have:

• Severe chest or abdominal pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of consciousness
• Uncontrollable bleeding
• Head injuries or trauma

What happens in the ER

When you arrive at the ER, you will check in at the triage desk as soon as you arrive. Triage is the process of deciding how serious your condition is and how fast you need care.

For example, if someone is struggling to breathe and in clear respiratory distress, they will likely be seen before another patient who has a rash on their arm. Life-threatening medical emergencies will always be treated first.

This doesn’t mean that you won’t still be seen or treated with the highest level of care if you’re not in critical condition. Every patient is a priority at Westfield Memorial, and the emergency team works hard to help everyone.

The amount of time you spend in the hospital will depend on your condition. You may require a transfer to a larger hospital for ongoing care after receiving stabilizing care at AHN Westfield Memorial or need to spend the night as an observation patient to monitor how your condition improves.

Coordinated care

AHN Westfield Memorial takes its responsibility to community health care very seriously. Good communication helps doctors, nurses, and paramedics work together to treat patients quickly.

The hospital uses radio and phone technology to remain in contact with ambulance crews as well as the 911 center to both receive and communicate information.

As a smaller hospital, Westfield Memorial is often a triage facility for larger health centers. If you need more advanced care from a larger team, AHN Westfield Memorial will get you stabilized before transporting you to a bigger AHN hospital, even by LifeFlight (an aircraft ambulance) if needed. LifeFlight is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Rural health care

AHN Westfield Memorial is a vital health care resource for rural communities. The hospital is working to become a rural emergency hospital (REH) to better serve patients in remote areas.

AHN Westfield Memorial’s emergency team is committed to responding to its communities’ greatest health needs, including, but not limited to:

• Treatment for conditions like heart attacks and cardiac disease
• Airway management for patients in respiratory distress
• Screening and treatment for colon cancer

AHN Westfield Memorial also offers telehealth services for outpatient cardiology visits and uses telehealth for the management of stroke patients in the Emergency Room.

Quality care, better outcomes

Medical emergencies can be unexpected and stressful. AHN Westfield Memorial’s technicians, nurses, doctors, EMS and hospital staff work together as a team, and with other hospitals in the region, to help patients feel safe and cared for and make visits go as smoothly as possible. The hospital’s board-certified emergency physicians are ready to provide 24/7 fast, safe care to help you and your loved ones feel better.

To learn more about all that AHN Westfield Memorial Hospital provides to the community, visit ahn.org/westfield.