IMPORTANT: If you feel you are in an emergency situation, call 911 for assistance immediately.
At Maimonides, we understand that a visit to the emergency center can be a stressful experience, so we strive to provide high-quality medical care while making you as comfortable as possible.
We handle more than 86,000 patient visits a year treating a wide range of patient illnesses and injuries, across age groups, gender and ethnicity. We also treat children in our pediatric emergency center. Our staff are specially trained in pediatric emergency medicine. The center is equipped with its own entrance and waiting room.
Our emergency center is equipped with multi-lingual staff to help ease the stress experienced by patients and their families. Visitors are allowed in the emergency center, but we ask that you acquaint yourself with our visiting policy.
You’re in good hands at Maimonides because we have specialists with extensive training in emergency medicine. Our specialists know every organ, muscle and bone in the body and how it works. They are trained to make fast and accurate decisions and know all the procedures necessary to keep patients stable until treatment is completed or a specialist is called. A majority of our physicians are board certified in emergency medicine, and all of our registered nurses are trained in emergency medicine and many are certified in emergency nursing as well.
Our emergency center also offers a high physician-to-patient ratio, patient representatives to handle non-medical concerns, modern CAT scan, X-ray and ultrasound equipment, and high-speed computerized communications with physicians in and out of the hospital. These features, combined with our “fast track” care for less urgent conditions, reduces waiting
time for our patients and improves care.
What to Expect at the Maimonides Emergency Center
When you enter the emergency center, you should check in at the triage desk. A doctor or nurse will check you as soon as possible to determine the severity of the problem. Should you have to wait for a few moments we ask that you prepare for the following questions:
What is your problem today? While the illness that brought you to the emergency center might be related to an ongoing condition, it is important for the doctor to know why you need help right now.
- Are you in pain? If so where?
- Are you taking any medication?
- Are there any allergies that the doctor should know about?
- Is there a private physician we can contact?
- Is there someone to contact on your behalf?
As you might expect, the sickest patients in the emergency center are treated first. Those with problems less serious are treated according to need; this process is called triage. After the triage interview is complete, the interviewer will send you to the appropriate treatment area.
Patient Representatives and Other Sources of Help
Our emergency center is proud of the care it provides and the respect with which patients are treated. Patient representatives are present around the clock to assist patients, families and friends. They are multi-lingual and help to facilitate communication. Interpreters are provided for non-English speaking patients and those who are hearing impaired.
Our Fast Track program is available from 11am to 11pm for patients whose problems need treatment but are not critical. Fast Track patients—those with sore throats or a twisted ankle for example—are treated by physician assistants or nurse practitioners under the supervision of our emergency center physicians. They are usually seen and discharged more quickly than patients with more serious illnesses or injuries.
Patients with more serious needs are assigned to a team, consisting of a physician, nurse and a patient care technician, who will be with you throughout your stay in the emergency center.
This same team will evaluate your condition thoroughly; perform all necessary X-rays, lab work or other tests; and determine whether the problem can be handled in the emergency center or if a hospital admission is necessary.