Emergency Services >>

In an emergency or urgent situation, CALL 911. Your first priority is getting the best possible care, delivered quickly and compassionately.

Welcome to the Emergency Department (ED) at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.  We want to make your visit comfortable with minimal delay. Designed by those who work there every day, our recently expanded Emergency Department provides services to more than 45,000 patients each year. It is now one of the busiest in New Hampshire.

With specially equipped cardiac and trauma treatment rooms, a dedicated X-ray room, and wireless capability in every room, this is a patient-friendly ER equipped with all the tools and technology our staff needs to care for you when you need it most.

What should I expect when I first arrive?

• A greeter meets you and asks the reason for your visit.
• Next, a triage nurse will check you. Triage is a process that makes sure that the most critically ill or injured patients are seen first. The triage nurse:

•  asks you more about the reason for your visit
• checks your vital signs, including heart rate and blood pressure
• asks about your medical history, allergies, and medicines you are taking
• orders lab or x-ray studies to speed up your care.

A registrar completes your registration in a private area.  We ask you to sign a consent form for your care, and we collect insurance and billing information.

What should I expect while in the Emergency Waiting Room?

Patients with life-threatening conditions are given top priority.  For this reason, you may have to wait while we take care of someone who arrived after you did. Your waiting time is also determined by the treatment area you are assigned to during triage—ED1 for acute care or ED 2 for less urgent care. The order in which patients will be seen is constantly changing as new patients arrive.  If you have been waiting for more than 30 minutes or develop worse symptoms, please let us know right away.

What should I expect in the Exam Room?

Several members of the Emergency Department may treat you, including Providers (Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants), Nurses, Paramedics, and Radiology, Laboratory, and EKG Technicians.

• You may be asked many of the questions you already answered. This is a safety measure to make sure that all the information in your record is correct.

• We will focus on your most serious and immediate health care problems during your visit.  Since this is an Emergency Department, you may be directed to seek medical care as an outpatient for non-urgent or long-term problems.

Why am I waiting in the Exam Room?

You may be waiting for the results of diagnostic tests, for a procedure, or for a medical consultant to see you. In some cases, you might need a specific room with equipment that is already in use. If you are not sure why you are waiting, please ask your nurse.

What happens if I am admitted to the hospital?

If your ED provider decides to admit you, we will arrange to get a bed for you on one of our nursing units.  It may take a while to complete the process. The ED staff cares for you until your bed is ready.

What happens if I am discharged?

Your ED provider or nurse gives you written discharge instructions and reviews them with you. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to discuss them with your health care provider. You will also be asked to stop at our financial office to make a co-payment or talk about financial assistance.