A trip to the ER is almost always unexpected. To make this scary time easier on you and to make sure that you or your loved one gets the best care possible, take some steps to prepare for the trip ahead of time.

How to Be Prepared
Learn the locations of your local emergency rooms in the event that you need to drive to the ER on a moment’s notice. Multicare.org suggests keeping an organized list of all of your family’s medications, illnesses, allergies, operations, physicians and pharmacies. Be sure to share this data with your family and associates so that they can communicate to emergency medical technicians more effectively on your behalf. You should also educate your children about their medications in the event they need to tell ER personnel. KidsHealth.org suggests leaving relevant medical information for babysitters as well.

What You Should Carry on Your Person
Once you have organized and created a list of all your family’s medical conditions and needs, be sure to bring it with you to the ER. Don’t forget that HCA hospitals offer the ICE card (In Case of Emergency). This will help inform ER staff about your medical needs and conditions, ensuring the best medical care possible.

What Determines Emergency Room Wait Times?
The number one reason for your ER wait to be longer is that the medical staff may be treating patients with severe or life threatening conditions. The ER staff has the difficult job of determining who gets treatment first. Being patient is key, since those seen before you may have a more serious (even life-threatening) health condition. Other factors that may effect ER wait times are;

• Community size
• Holidays
• Nearby colleges

How Does a Hospital ER Prioritize Patient Needs?
Different emergencies require different response times and the hospital emergency staff must respond appropriately. Individuals requiring resuscitation receive care first, followed by emergent conditions such as heart attack, overdose, hypothermia and other life-threatening conditions. Next, ER personnel will treat visitors by determining if their care is urgent, semi-urgent or non-urgent. If your condition is semi-urgent or non-urgent, you may need to wait until the medical staff has seen to patients with greater health risks.

University Hospital works hard to keep ER wait times down. Visit our website to find out our current wait time. To find out more about our ICE card please call 1-866-4HCA-DOCS (442-2362.) To learn the location of University Hospital, to find a physician or to schedule an appointment, please call our free Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-888-256-7728

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Senior Concierge Program: Do You Have Your Card
What is H2U?
The Importance of Knowing Your Family History

Have you heard about our new Senior Concierge Program? If you are an active senior but don’t know how this new program can benefit you, well, read on. We are going to give you five reasons why you might want to join now.

1. Shorter Wait Times

Seniors who participate in this program will not have to wait long, thanks to their Senior Concierge Program cards. Since your card gives triage staff immediate access to your records, they can address your medical needs quickly and efficiently.

2. Convenient Medical Attention

Unlike most physicians’ offices, our E.R. can accommodate the medical needs of those with a senior concierge program card during the designated hours of 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This way, cardholders will be able to undergo testing and treatments at a time that is most convenient for them.

3. Expert Medical Care

Our experienced emergency physicians and highly trained triage nurses are ready to attend to all of your medical needs in a professional and timely manner.

4. Valet Service

We will make your time at our E.R. that much more convenient with free valet service for every cardholder. Simply drive up to the entrance and present your Senior Concierge Program card—and we’ll take of your car from there.

5. It’s Free!

This new program is free for seniors. Simply fill out the card and keep it with you to access these services at any time.

If you would like to learn more about this program, or for a physician referral, please visit our website or call 1-866-442-2362.

Source:

Senior ER Fast Track Program (UHMC)

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Senior Concierge Program: Do You Have Your Card?

When your family member requires a trip to the emergency room, your instincts tell you to go someplace dependable where you don’t need to wait long to be seen. University Hospital and Medical Center should be programmed into your GPS exactly for times like these. What makes our emergency care stand out from the rest? Here are some reasons that matter.

Minimal ER Wait Times

Our ER wait times consistently beat the national average, and we constantly work to keep them short. Our fast turn-around time is just another reason why our patients rank us so highly in their evaluations. Please note that your wait time will depend on the severity of your condition and those waiting with you. If you would like to know the current wait time at UHMC, visit our website and check out the current time noted on the top right corner of the page.

A Top-Notch Emergency Department

Our triage nurses and board-certified physicians are ready to evaluate your family members’ needs at any time of the day. Using state-of-the-art technology, fast testing and screening, and an efficient triage procedure, patients get the attention, direction, and answers they need without unnecessary wait times.

ICE Card

To save valuable time during an emergency, UHMC has created an In Case of Emergency (ICE) Card. Simply fill out the card and keep it with you and, in an emergency, EMS and emergency room personnel will have immediate access to your medical needs.

Senior ConciERge Program Card

UHMC has recently introduced a new program for active seniors in search of convenient emergency care. The Senior ConciERge Program Card has been developed to save patients valuable time between 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. This card provides valet car service and timely medical attention before regular doctor’s offices open.

Would you like to learn more about emergency care at UHMC or get your own ICE or Senior ConciERge Program Cards? Please visit our website or call 1-866-442-2326.

Source:

Emergency Care (UHMC)

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Treating the Most Difficult Wounds with State-of-the-Art Therapies

The month of June officially marks the beginning of summer, meaning days at the beach, hot summer nights, and grilling with friends. However, June also marks the official beginning of hurricane season. Avoid being among the many who rush out for supplies as a storm approaches. Instead, gather supplies now and make preparations with your family ahead of time so that you can focus on safety in the event of a hurricane.

Hurricane Kit

Start by making the trip to the store to gather all the supplies you will need during a storm. You will need enough supplies to last you and your loved ones for at least three days. Your kit should include:

• Water—one gallon per individual per day
• Nonperishable food and a can opener
• Radio and plenty of extra batteries
• First aid kit—available at any local pharmacy
• A tool kit with basic tools that will enable you to turn off utilities if necessary
• Flashlights with extra batteries
• Food and other supplies for any pets that you have
• Infant formula and diapers if you have babies or toddlers
• Important documents—including copies of insurance policies, bank records, and identification, all placed in waterproof containers
• Money—cash or travelers checks
• Blankets
• Medication
• Feminine hygiene products
• Trash bags
• Bleach
• Fire extinguisher
• Games and puzzles to entertain children during the time they are shut inside, potentially without electricity

Family Plan

Long before a hurricane is in the forecast, have a plan. Discuss your level of risk based upon your relation to the coast, the possibility of flooding, and the safest rooms in the house. Have a route established in the event that you must evacuate. Also have an out-of-state contact whom everyone knows to contact in case you are not all together. Remember that many shelters and hotels do not take pets, so have a plan in place for your furry companions, too.

Medical Needs

Be sure to plan ahead for any medical needs that you may have also. Consider prescription quantities, medical devices, and all necessary power supplies. Family members with special needs should be registered ahead of time at local shelters.

If you have any questions about emergency services at University Hospital & Medical Center, please visit our website or contact our free Consult-A-Nurse® service any time of day at 1-888-256-7728.

Sources:

Get a Kit (Ready America)

Family Disaster Plan (NOAA.gov)

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The Importance of Knowing Your Family History

Wounds are breaks in the skin, tissue and (on a smaller level) the cells that make up the body. In most cases the natural processes of the body re-grow cells that reconnect tissue and skin. In most instances this is a relatively simple process:

• Inflammatory Phase- This is the initial phase of a wound that begins when the injury occurs–be it accidental or intentional due to a surgical procedure. During this phase the blood vessels close up and the body injects natural chemicals that clear foreign debris and dead tissue from the affected area.
• Proliferative Phase- During this phase the body begins to rebuild. New cells build into new tissue and blood vessels. The newly expanded blood vessels deliver oxygen and other elements that help additional cells build into replacement tissue.
• Remodeling Phase- During this stage the body continues building stronger cells with the use of collagen. Collagen is one of the important elements that the body creates using the oxygen and nutrients delivered in the proliferative stage. This stage happens underneath newly formed skin and is not directly visible if the wound heals properly.

In some cases wounds do not heal on their own. If a wound lasts more than three months, it is considered to be a chronic wound. Chronic wounds require medical attention and should be taken seriously. They can fester as a result of several factors that you should be aware of.

• Infection- Bacteria can enter the wound and cause the inflammatory phase to be held in limbo. The body will not rejuvenate the blood vessels and tissue that it needs to in order to produce collagen, which serves as a building block for additional tissue.
• Poor oxygenation- A wound needs oxygen to be delivered to it in order to heal. Oxygen is key to rejuvenation, and without it a wound will simply stay around. Certain conditions that affect circulation–such as diabetes–can cause a wound to be depleted of necessary oxygen.
• Excessive drainage- Generally drainage is a sign of bacteria leaving the body. When it comes to wounds, however, excessive drainage can deliver bacteria to the wound, causing infection. It can also inhibit the re-growth of cells by physically moving new tissue around.
• Nutrition- Once again a proper diet is key to health. Your body will need ample protein, Vitamin C, zinc and iron in order to have the “fuel” it needs to properly heal.

Various medical and environmental conditions may cause ordinary wounds to become problematic chronic wounds. If you have a long lasting wound you are encouraged to seek medical attention. For more information on wound healing, visit University Hospital and Medical Center online. If you are in Tamarac, Atlantis or the Greater Fort Lauderdale area feel free to call 1-866-442-2362 for a free referral to a wound care center.

Sources:

eMedicine

Nursing World

BNET

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It is not at all uncommon for someone to break a bone unexpectedly. Not unexpectedly in the sense that they are in a serious accident, but unexpectedly in the sense that they fell from a basic standing position. How is it possible for bones to break so easily? Most of the time the answer is a medical condition known as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by a lack of bone density. Basically a person’s bones become less solid and far more brittle, making it easier for them to break. Osteoporosis is generally considered to be a “silent” disease because the symptoms can be very subtle. Many people do not realize that they are affected by it until they experience an unexpected bone fracture.

What Can We Do About Osteoporosis?

The best way to stay out in front of any medical disorder is to increase your knowledge base. Osteoporosis has some warning signs and precursors that you should be aware of. Some are uncontrollable, but as you will see many are lifestyle factors that you have complete ability to amend. You are at increased risk to develop osteoporosis if:

• You have a family history of the disorder or a personal history of multiple bone fractures.
• You smoke cigarettes.
• You use alcohol excessively.
• Your diet lacks calcium.
• You are of Caucasian or Asian descent.
• You are a senior citizen.

Aside from being aware of the common factors associated with osteoporosis, you can increase your chances of overcoming the disorder by having it diagnosed and treated early. The best way to have the disorder diagnosed is through a bone mineral density screening.

Bone Mineral Density Screening

This simple medical exam uses X-Ray technology and is called a DEXA Test. The test involves significantly less radiation than a traditional X-Ray and is pain free. You lay on a padded surface while the machinery passes over your entire body. It takes X-Rays of your body and assesses bone mass. The measurements of bone mass are then interpreted to come up with a bone density measurement. The measurement for each individual is evaluated against the bone density of an average healthy 30-year-old person. It is a numeric value called a T-Score which is interpreted as follows:

• A T-Score that falls between 0 and -1 is normal
• A T-Score that falls between -1 and -2.5 means that bone density is low and signals a condition that is called osteopenia
• A T-Score that is less than -2.5 signals osteoporosis

Bone mineral density screenings are simple tests that can help you begin treatment for osteoporosis before it even develops. They can be a cue that you need to make some lifestyle changes or begin another doctor recommended treatment plan. If you would like to schedule a bone mineral density test in or around Tamarac Florida feel free to visit University Hospital and Medical Center online or call 1-866-442-2362 for a free physician referral.

Sources:

MedicineNet.com

MedicineNet.com

National Institute of Health

NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Disease Resource Center

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