The Triage Process

When patients arrive at the Emergency Department, they are met by a triage nurse who determines the nature and extent of the injury or illness. Each patient is then assigned a primary nurse and emergency doctor.

Although all patients are seen and evaluated by the triage nurse upon arrival, medical treatment is given to those patients most in need of immediate care. This means that patients are not always seen in the order they arrive.

The Registration Process

The registration process allows us to obtain current and accurate information that is required by insurance providers. Required signatures for consent and billing purposes are obtained at this time.

Patient Privacy

Springfield Hospital is committed to ensuring the privacy of its patients' health information by following the guidelines outlined in the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). As part of this commitment, at registration each patient will be provided with a copy of the "Notice of Privacy Practices," which outlines each patient's privacy rights as well as how the hospital may use and share the patient's health information.

Advance Directives

Federal law requires hospitals to ask patients if they have an "Advance Directive." An Advance Directive is a written statement describing the treatments that a patient does or does not wish to receive in the event that he or she is unable to communicate. Patients or families should inform the triage nurse if the patient has an advance directive.

Going Home

Before leaving the Emergency Department, the patient is given discharge instructions that will be reviewed with the patient by a nurse or doctor.

Admission to the Hospital

If admission to the hospital is necessary, the patient's family doctor is called. The patient continues to receive care in the emergency department while the inpatient room is prepared.