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Week of November 1, 1999 Page 1
Renovations to ER Mean Better Service to Patients

Margaret Ailey, a registration associate at Fort Sanders Regional's ER, completes the bedside registration process with a patient in the treatment room.

Margaret Ailey, a registration associate at Fort Sanders Regional's ER, completes the bedside registration process with a patient in the treatment room.

Also See:

  • Preparing for the Unexpected (11/01)

  • Certified Nurse-Midwives Granted Hospital Privileges (11/01)

  • November School of Good Health (11/01)

  • Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center - Emergency Department

  • Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center Home


    • ort Sanders Regional Medical Center has just completed a multi-million dollar renovation project in its Emergency Room.

    "We've not only renovated our facility from top to bottom, we've made changes in how we do things, all with the goal of serving the patient better and faster," explains Brenda Scott Manzur, RN, manager of the emergency department.

    One of the key changes patients will notice immediately is the new policy of bedside registration. Patients will be quickly assessed and moved to a treatment room where all registration requirements will be completed.

    "Having bedside registration means patients will be moved to a bed faster and not have long waits in the lobby or registration areas," says Manzur. "We also have a new computerized tracking system that helps our staff monitor a patient's treatment and progress more efficiently."

    Changes to the facility involved a complete redesign and expansion of the existing ER space. "It's really four ERs in one," Manzur says.

    The priority care center aims for fast assessment and treatment of patients with non-life-threatening emergencies. An example of an injury treated in the priority care center would be a minor cut or scrape.

    In the cardiovascular observation center, patients who may be experiencing symptoms of a potential heart attack, stroke, or other serious condition are continually reassessed.

    "The observation area allows us to keep watch over a patient for a time to determine if he or she is in fact suffering from a serious illness and needs to be admitted to the hospital," explains Manzur.

    The trauma/critical care area has rooms specially equipped to handle life-threatening emergencies. According to Manzur, serious injuries, confirmed heart attacks or strokes, and other critical illnesses are treated in these rooms.

    Rooms in the emergency treatment unit are designed and ready for OB/GYN, orthopedic, psychiatric, and other medical emergencies.

    "A good example of how we have improved this area is our orthopedic room," says Manzur. "If a patient comes in with a broken bone, the doctor has everything he or she needs to properly treat the patient in the same room. Plus, our ER has its own X-ray equipment located adjacent to the orthopedic treatment room.

    "Coming to the emergency room is sometimes scary for people because they don't know what to expect," states Manzur. "It's our goal to ease those fears as much as possible, and provide them with fast, compassionate care."

    For a free brochure about what to expect in the ER and about Fort Sanders Regional's renovated facilities, call 673-FORT.

    Preparing for the Unexpected

    Knowing what to do in an emergency is key. The simple advice below may help you to handle an emergency situation calmly and quickly.

    • Know how and when to call 911. Teach everyone in the family, including young children, to dial 911 in an emergency. When you reach the emergency operator, be calm, speak clearly, and explain the nature of the emergency and your location. Stay on the line.

    • Keep emergency numbers on hand, or program your phone to speed dial numbers such as 911, the nearest hospital, your doctor, the fire department, poison control, the veterinarian, close neighbors or friends. If you leave your children alone or with a babysitter, always post a number where you can be reached.

    • Learn first aid and CPR. The local Red Cross and other community organizations offer classes in basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). If you're already certified, be sure to keep your skills updated with refresher courses.

    • Keep basic first aid and medical supplies on hand, including: bandages, gauze, adhesive tape, disinfectant (peroxide and rubbing alcohol), cotton balls, pain reliever (aspirin or ibuprofen), antibacterial and antifungal ointments, scissors, tweezers, antacids, antihistamines, aloe vera gel, thermometer, icepacks, and elastic bandages.

    Ambulance - Fire - Police: 9 1 1
    Poison Control 1-800-288-9999

    Certified Nurse-Midwives Granted Hospital Privileges

    Certified nurse-midwives at the Maternity Center of East Tennessee now have hospital privileges at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. Though the Maternity Center has been affiliated with Covenent Health since 1993, the midwives have previously only been providing care for women at the birth center on Ailor Avenue in Knoxville,

    Now, they are able to serve women in the hospital in-patient setting, as well as the freestanding birth center. This will allow any client who must be transferred from the low-risk birth center to be followed by her midwife whom she knows and trusts. Physicians from OB/GYN Consultants are working closely with the nurse-midwives in those cases where hospital delivery is needed. Dr. Kenneth O'Kelley serves as the medical director for the Maternity Center.

    Clients have a choice of delivery site with the nurse-midwives. They receive their prenatal care, benefit from the constant attendance during labor, and the minimal intervention style the midwives practice, even in the hospital setting.

    For more information about the Maternity Center of East Tennessee call 524-4422.


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