Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 15 www.FredericksburgParent.NET 3 Understanding When to Go to the ER One ques on many families face is whether to choose the ER or an urgent care center. Dr. Adam shared that urgent care is most appro- priate for minor illnesses or injuries, such as a basic cough, runny nose, minor cut or ankle injury. In addi on to the main campus ER, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center also operates the freestanding Fredericksburg ER, located on Route 3. For families seeking care closer to home, Dr. Adam empha- sized that the level of care remains consistent across facili es. "We don't differen ate between our freestanding ER and our main hospital ER because they have the same capability and capacity," said Dr. Adam. "They're staffed with board-cer fied emergency physicians, so if you're closer to our freestanding facility, you will get the same level of care there as you would at our main hospital." The sole difference is that if you need to be admi ed to the hospital, you would need to be transferred from the freestanding ER to the main campus a er your ini al assessment and treatment. Expanding Access for the Community Recognizing the region's growth and evolving needs, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center recently announced a $37 million investment in emergency services to renovate and expand the main campus ER and open an addi onal freestanding ER in Stafford County. "We found that there was a need for another facility that people in the area could go to and receive good quality care in an efficient manner," Dr. Adam said. As part of HCA Virginia, the main campus and freestanding ERs also benefit from a broader network of resources and exper se. "I have so many resources, not just locally, but also in Richmond, that specialize in very specific complaints," Dr. Adam explained. "It's phenomenal the amount of resources that comes with an organiza on that's so large." At the end of the day, the team at the Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center ER has one goal: to provide mely and compassionate care. "If you come to one of our facili es, you will be treated professionally and efficiently, with a team of providers who have your best interest at heart," Dr. Adam said. "From the clerk who sees you at the front to the nurse to your provider, you will have an advocate on whom to rely." Frequent communica on and collabora on help everyone to work efficiently as a team. Dr. Adam explained that every four hours, all department stakeholders, including physicians, nursing staff and ra- diology, pharmacy and laboratory teams, come together to assess how the department is flowing and whether there are any delays. Care That Starts Before Pa ents Reach the Hospital Beyond the hospital doors, Dr. Adam understands the key role that EMS responders play in pre-hospital transi on, which is why he also serves as the opera onal medical director of Stafford County Fire and Rescue, shaping pre-hospital care, training EMS providers and devel- oping protocols that begin long before the pa ent arrives at the ER. "EMS responders get to see the pa ent before we do," Dr. Adam said. "The pa ent really starts the emergency care before they get to you, which is so vitally important." The coordina on between first responders and the hospital can be life-saving. For example, EMS teams can perform an EKG for a suspected heart a ack, allowing hospital staff to prepare the cardiac catheteriza on lab before the pa ent even arrives. "Survivability in acute myocardial infarc on is me," Dr. Adam said. "The quicker we can make that decision cuts back on the amount of damage and injury to heart muscle." A similar process is in place for stroke pa ents, where well-trained EMS providers can use a system of diagnos cs to determine stroke concerns and call the ER while en route. Dr. Adam explained, "The whole team gets ready. When that pa ent comes in, we see them right away at our launch pad area, with nurses, a physician and the neurologist, to quickly assess them. Time is impera ve to the care of these pa ents." More Than a Number: Team-Based, Personal Care While speed is essen al in emergency medicine, the Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center ER also priori zes compassion and connec- on, ensuring that pa ents are fully supported throughout their visit. "One of the things we've worked really hard at is ensuring a positive patient experience and keeping patients informed." – Dr. Nazir Adam He added that providers regularly check in with pa ents, upda ng them on test results, next steps, and any delays so that no one ever has to sit in a room wondering what's happening. Staff also rou nely stop by to answer ques ons and make sure pa ents are as comfort- able as possible. Ask the Expert You should go to the ER if you are experiencing any of these symptoms: • Abdominal pain • Chest pain • Shortness of breath • Weakness or numbness in an extremity Sponsored Material Ask the Expert a sk t h e e x p e rt www.FredericksburgParent.NET 3 Understanding When to Go to the ER One ques on many families face is whether to choose the ER or an urgent care center. Dr. Adam shared that urgent care is most appro- priate for minor illnesses or injuries, such as a basic cough, runny nose, minor cut or ankle injury. In addi on to the main campus ER, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center also operates the freestanding Fredericksburg ER, located on Route 3. For families seeking care closer to home, Dr. Adam empha- sized that the level of care remains consistent across facili es. "We don't differen ate between our freestanding ER and our main hospital ER because they have the same capability and capacity," said Dr. Adam. "They're staffed with board-cer fied emergency physicians, so if you're closer to our freestanding facility, you will get the same level of care there as you would at our main hospital." The sole difference is that if you need to be admi ed to the hospital, you would need to be transferred from the freestanding ER to the main campus a er your ini al assessment and treatment. Expanding Access for the Community Recognizing the region's growth and evolving needs, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center recently announced a $37 million investment in emergency services to renovate and expand the main campus ER and open an addi onal freestanding ER in Stafford County. "We found that there was a need for another facility that people in the area could go to and receive good quality care in an efficient manner," Dr. Adam said. As part of HCA Virginia, the main campus and freestanding ERs also benefit from a broader network of resources and exper se. "I have so many resources, not just locally, but also in Richmond, that specialize in very specific complaints," Dr. Adam explained. "It's phenomenal the amount of resources that comes with an organiza on that's so large." At the end of the day, the team at the Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center ER has one goal: to provide mely and compassionate care. "If you come to one of our facili es, you will be treated professionally and efficiently, with a team of providers who have your best interest at heart," Dr. Adam said. "From the clerk who sees you at the front to the nurse to your provider, you will have an advocate on whom to rely." Frequent communica on and collabora on help everyone to work efficiently as a team. Dr. Adam explained that every four hours, all department stakeholders, including physicians, nursing staff and ra- diology, pharmacy and laboratory teams, come together to assess how the department is flowing and whether there are any delays. Care That Starts Before Pa ents Reach the Hospital Beyond the hospital doors, Dr. Adam understands the key role that EMS responders play in pre-hospital transi on, which is why he also serves as the opera onal medical director of Stafford County Fire and Rescue, shaping pre-hospital care, training EMS providers and devel- oping protocols that begin long before the pa ent arrives at the ER. "EMS responders get to see the pa ent before we do," Dr. Adam said. "The pa ent really starts the emergency care before they get to you, which is so vitally important." The coordina on between first responders and the hospital can be life-saving. For example, EMS teams can perform an EKG for a suspected heart a ack, allowing hospital staff to prepare the cardiac catheteriza on lab before the pa ent even arrives. "Survivability in acute myocardial infarc on is me," Dr. Adam said. "The quicker we can make that decision cuts back on the amount of damage and injury to heart muscle." A similar process is in place for stroke pa ents, where well-trained EMS providers can use a system of diagnos cs to determine stroke concerns and call the ER while en route. Dr. Adam explained, "The whole team gets ready. When that pa ent comes in, we see them right away at our launch pad area, with nurses, a physician and the neurologist, to quickly assess them. Time is impera ve to the care of these pa ents." More Than a Number: Team-Based, Personal Care While speed is essen al in emergency medicine, the Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center ER also priori zes compassion and connec- on, ensuring that pa ents are fully supported throughout their visit. "One of the things we've worked really hard at is ensuring a positive patient experience and keeping patients informed." – Dr. Nazir Adam He added that providers regularly check in with pa ents, upda ng them on test results, next steps, and any delays so that no one ever has to sit in a room wondering what's happening. Staff also rou nely stop by to answer ques ons and make sure pa ents are as comfort- able as possible. Ask the Expert You should go to the ER if you are experiencing any of these symptoms: • Abdominal pain • Chest pain • Shortness of breath • Weakness or numbness in an extremity

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