Sometimes it’s hard to know whether an injury or illness requires a trip to the Emergency Room. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), individuals with the following conditions should seek emergency care:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
• Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness
• Changes in vision
• Confusion or changes in mental status
• Any sudden or severe pain
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
• Coughing or vomiting blood
• Suicidal feelings
• Difficulty speaking
• Unusual abdominal pain

If you’re a parent, always get immediate medical attention if you think your child is having a medical emergency. To get the best care possible as quickly as possible, ACEP also recommends that patients:

• Bring a list of medications and/or allergies; know how often and how long medications have been taken
• Know your and/or your child’s immunization history
• Remain calm to make it easier to communicate with the emergency team

Some insurance plans require pre-authorization for emergency room visits. It’s best to become familiar with your plan before an emergency arises.

Contact Us
For more information, please contact any of our Emergency Departments listed below:

If you do not have an emergency, but need attention when your physician’s office is unavailable you may want to go to one of our Conemaugh MedWELL Urgent Care Centers.