Emergency Services

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ER Check-In

Lutheran Hospital offers convenient, online check-in service for our emergency departments. This free, easy-to-use service allows you to choose your designated treatment time online and then wait in the comfort of your own home. Once you arrive at your designated time, you will be promptly seen by a healthcare professional.

So, instead of sitting in the waiting room, enjoy the convenience of waiting at home. This service does not allow patients to skip in front of other visitors; all patients are seen based on the hospital's standard triage and queuing process.

Emergency room care is for life-threatening conditions:

You should call 911 or get to the nearest emergency room if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Seizure
• Trouble breathing
• Bad stomach pain
• Blurred vision
• Bad headache
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Stiffness in your neck
• Numbness
• A bite/sting
• If you are pregnant

If you are helping a child
Please call 911 or go straight to the emergency room if a child has any of the symptoms listed above or any of the following symptoms:

• High or ongoing fever
• Child is very drowsy; you cannot wake the child
• Child is not acting like himself/herself
• Child is under the care of a doctor for a serious condition
• If you believe the child needs to be seen by a doctor right away

You should call 911 or go straight to the emergency room if you feel that you might hurt yourself or someone else.

All patients will receive a medical screening exam at the emergency room regardless of ability to pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you expect when you come to the ER?
When you arrive at the ER, you'll be greeted and your information will be entered into the hospital computer system. Next, you'll be evaluated by a nurse who will ask for more detail about your medical problem, including background information. Then, you'll be taken to an exam room for appropriate tests and treatments.

How long does an emergency department visit take?
Time spent in the emergency department varies widely, due mainly to the seriousness of the illness and the number of tests needed. Patients leave the emergency department with exam and test results.

When should I visit my primary care provider instead of the ER?
In general, minor illnesses or conditions - common colds, minor skin rashes or other minor problems - should be treated by a primary care provider or through an urgent care clinic.

What tests can be performed in the emergency department?
Most basic and advanced diagnostic tests can be performed in the emergency department. Tests that aren't immediately necessary can be scheduled after you've been discharged from the ER.

What happens if the emergency physician recommends hospital admission?
If your condition requires you to stay in the hospital, the emergency physician will contact your primary care physician or the appropriate specialist and arrange for them to admit you to the hospital. That physician assumes responsibility and directs your care while you're in the hospital.

What does "board-certified emergency medicine physician" mean?
A physician who is board certified in emergency medicine has completed four years of medical school, followed by three to four years of specialized training in emergency medicine. The training focuses on recognizing and managing any and all medical conditions that present to the emergency department and includes learning about life-saving interventional procedures.