Emergency Care At Piedmont
In a medical emergency, every minute can seem like an eternity. That's why each of our 20 24-hour Emergency Departments is designed to deliver the right treatment in a caring - and timely - manner.
At Piedmont, we ensure our Emergency Departments are staffed right - with plenty of emergency medicine physicians, nurses, technologists and technicians at the ready to address any medical emergency. In fact, we even equip many of the examination rooms specifically for high-frequency treatments.
See our current ER Wait Times
Common Emergency Treatments Include:
- Cardiac Care
- Orthopedic Care
- EENT (Eye, Ear, Nose, Throat)
- Stroke Care
All Piedmont Emergency Services teams are dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate care using the most advanced technology possible. They are trained and ready to tackle major illnesses and injuries like minor traumas and life-threatening injuries, as well as minor emergencies, like broken bones, cuts and concussions. And even though time is of the essence, our emergency teams take care to make sure each patient gets the complete attention and care they deserve.
When every second counts, you can count on Piedmont.
View Average Emergency Room Wait Times
Emergency Department FAQs
At Piedmont, we take every emergency visit seriously, but we realize that some situations are more urgent than others. Because the Emergency Department always sees patients in order of severity, you will receive medical attention according to the seriousness of your symptoms, illness or injury. Although certain patients may not appear critically ill, their history, assessment and vital signs alert us to their need for immediate attention.
When you are ill or injured and need care quickly, Piedmont's Emergency Department team works hard to get you examined quickly. Below are frequently asked questions.
Can you bill me for my co-payment?
Yes, but we prefer you pay at the time of service.
If I don't have the co-payment, will my treatment be delayed?
No.
How long is the wait?
We are committed to providing the most efficient, highest-quality care for our patients. However, we occasionally experience high volumes and extended wait times. Most emergency visits take two to four hours; if special testing is needed, the visit may take up to six hours. Please feel free to ask the triage nurse for an explanation of wait times.
View Average Emergency Room Wait Times
What do I need to bring to the Emergency Department?
Your driver's license, insurance card, list of your medications, your physician's name and a list of any allergies to medications.
Do you accept all types of insurance?
We treat all patients, regardless of their ability to pay or their insurance plan.
What is the first step when I arrive at the Emergency Department?
When you enter the ED, you will be greeted by a triage nurse with special training to assess how quickly you need treatment. In order to assess your condition, the triage nurse will take several vital signs such as blood pressure and temperature; will ask questions about the reason for your visit, and assess your pain level. In order to provide the best care, it is important that you answer all questions accurately and completely. Based on your symptoms, you will be categorized from 1-5: categories 1-2 are emergent, 3 is urgent and 4-5 are non-emergent.
- Emergent – patient needs emergency intervention and requires immediate attention from the ED team, including the physician.
- Urgent – patient is usually sick or has significantly abnormal vital signs but has no immediate life-threatening condition.
- Non-emergent – patient does not have a life-threatening condition and has stable or moderately abnormal vital signs.
Depending on your triage level, you will be sent to the appropriate area of the ED. Our goal is to see each patient as quickly as possible; however, patients requiring the most urgent care must be treated first, regardless of arrival time. Your driver's license, insurance card, list of your medications, your physician's name and a list of any allergies to medications.
Who will take care of me in the Emergency Room?
Our Emergency Departments are staffed by a team of healthcare professionals trained in emergency medicine, including emergency physicians, pediatricians, emergency nurses, physician assistants (PA), nurse practitioners (NP) and emergency medical technicians. Our goal is to treat every patient as we would our own family members.
Can my family be with me during my emergency visit?
We allow two visitors per patient, out of respect for other patients' privacy and to provide a safe environment for our patients.