Emergency Care
Voted Best Emergency Room in Gladstone Dispatch and Courier-Tribune's 2023 Best of the Northland
As a Level II Trauma Center, our Emergency Room has the resources and expertise needed to care for the most critically ill or injured patients. So, whether you need to be seen for a concussion, broken bone, stroke or another medical emergency, we can provide the care that’s needed when it’s needed most. Located just north of downtown, Northland and Kansas City residents have trusted us with their emergency medicine needs for over 60 years.
Our ER Process
We know waiting in the Emergency Room can be difficult when you’re not feeling well or your loved one is injured. That’s why it’s important to understand how our ER works before you arrive. We follow a three-step process (Triage, Exam, Admit or Discharge) that ensures the most immediate medical needs are addressed first. This means patients aren’t always seen in the order they arrive.
Prioritized Care
When you check in, the triage nurse assesses your condition and places you into one of the following care categories:
- Emergent: Severe, possibly life-threatening injury or illness
- Urgent: Injury or illness that requires care within hours
- Non-urgent*: Minor injury or illness that is not time-sensitive
*If you do not require immediate medical care, consider visiting Meritas Health Gashland's Urgent Care Clinic or a Meritas Health Express location.
ER Wait Time
You may experience a long wait time when:
- We have a high number of patients
- We have several seriously ill or injured patients
- We have patients arriving by ambulance (which arrive unseen at our back entrance)
- Your condition requires a special room or equipment already in use
Leaving Before Treatment
Leaving the ED without receiving care is a serious decision that could be life-threatening. That’s why it’s important to talk with a healthcare professional about the risks of leaving before being treated.
While you wait, the triage nurse may order X-rays, collect blood or urine samples, provide ice packs, or dress a wound, as needed.
Please note: Pain medication cannot be administered without a doctor’s orders.
Estimated Time for Tests and Results
- Blood test: 2 hours
- CT scan: 4 hours
- Ultrasound: 2 hours
- Urine test: 2 hours
- X-ray: 2 hours
Because we provide personalized care to every patient, tests and lab work may take longer than expected.
Based on your exam and test results, we will either admit or discharge you.
Admit
If you require additional on-site treatment, we'll admit you to the hospital. How soon you receive a room depends on bed availability and the number of patients already in the hospital.
Discharge
If you do not require further treatment, you will be discharged. During this process, we’ll answer all your questions, review follow-up care instructions, and provide any required prescriptions.
Please note: Keep your discharge paperwork, as it includes important information about your follow-up care.
An important part of your recovery is following up with your primary care doctor a few days after returning home. Because some test results may not be available during your ER visit, these results should be reviewed with your primary care provider. If you do not have a primary care doctor, we can help with a referral.