Health Signs - Spring 2011 - (Page 4)

Meeting the Challenges of a Busy ER Washington Hospital provides top-notch emergency care today while preparing for future growth Carmen Agcaoili, M.D., medical director of Washington Hospital’s Intensivist program. W Washington Hospital’s Emergency Department is staffed by a group of highly trained physicians that includes Neal S. Dickler, M.D., (left), emergency physician, and Timothy G. Tsoi, M.D., cardiologist. Washington Hospital’s emergency room is the second busiest ER in Alameda County, with as many as 50,000 patients entering its doors each year. The hospital is one of the county’s designated cardiac receiving centers for people experiencing a heart attack or other serious heart problem. It is also a Primary Stroke Center, prepared to provide fast, leading-edge care for stroke patients. These are just two reasons Washington Hospital’s emergency room receives some of the sickest people from throughout our area. The Emergency Department is staffed by a highly trained group of 16 physicians, about 100 nurses, and other emergency room personnel who work together to provide the highest quality, most efficient care possible in an environment that is often stressful. “When I am in the emergency room, I see that it is very busy but not chaotic,” says Carmencita Agcaoili, M.D., a critical care specialist and medical director of Washington Hospital’s Intensivist program. “They receive all types of patients, from people with minor ailments and injuries to those who are in critical, life-threatening situations. The nurses, physicians and emergency room staff must be prepared to deliver the best, most appropriate care in each situation.” Whenever possible, Washington Hospital recommends that patients with minor illnesses and injuries call their physician or visit Washington Urgent Care across the street from the hospital or go to one of four community clinics in the area. There is also a separate Fast Track program within the emergency room that provides rapid treatment for patients who are not experiencing a critical illness or injury. An Efficient System Some patients enter the emergency room with serious or life-threatening conditions that require fast, decisive action by expert care providers. The personnel in the emergency room have worked hard to establish excellent processes and systems designed to respond to time-sensitive needs. In addition, they work well and communicate effectively as a team, not only in the ER but also with other physicians and care providers throughout the hospital, including the critical care and intensive care units (ICU). This means the flow of patients between the emergency room and other hospital units is faster and smoother. The emergency room uses an efficient system of triaging so critical and noncritical patients can be quickly identified, assessed and treated appropriately. For example, the nurses have received additional training in identifying signs of potentially deadly sepsis, a widespread, uncontrollable infection in the body, at the earliest possible stage. When sepsis is identified quickly, critical care specialists like Agcaoili are called in sooner. The goal at Washington Hospital is to screen every patient who comes in with signs and symptoms of sepsis. This contributes to higher quality care and better outcomes for these patients. of today’s patient population, as well as the increased numbers anticipated over the next 20 years. In addition, the hospital will build a larger, more modern critical care unit and an advanced ICU with all-private rooms. These units will be housed in the Morris Hyman Critical Care Pavilion scheduled to begin construction in 2013 and be completed by 2016. In the meantime, the hospital is improving patient flow within the emergency room by extending and enhancing the areas for registration, triage and waiting. Three modern, spacious, modular units are being added just steps from the current emergency room. “The new area will enable us to register and triage numerous patients at the same time,” says Michael Platzbecker, R.N., emergency room nurse manager. “This will shorten wait times, add to patient comfort and increase the satisfaction of patients and families.” • WATCH OUR PROGRESS Visit whhs.com/construction to view construction project video updates and time-lapse construction footage. To learn more about upcoming construction projects and upgrades at your community hospital, tune in to Washington Township Health Care District board meetings on InHealth, a Washington Hospital Channel, on Comcast Channel 78. Building for the Future To accommodate the growing number of patients coming to its emergency room, Washington Hospital plans to build a greatly expanded, state-of-the-art ER. The new facility will be large enough to meet the needs 4 SPRING 2011 http://www.whhs.com/construction

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Health Signs - Spring 2011

Health Signs - Spring 2011
Community Classes, Free Screenings and Health Fairs in Fremont
Good Health is in Your Hands: Watch the Inhealth Channel and Other Videos on Your iPad
Count on Washington Hospital’s ER for Efficient Care When it Matters Most
What You Need to Know if You’re Considering Knee Replacement Surgery
Avoid a Repeat Cardiac Event by Embracing a Healthier Lifestyle

Health Signs - Spring 2011