Emergency Care Services at Parkwest Medical Center
Easily access the top-quality emergency care services you need.
In the Event of an Emergency, Trust Your Care to Parkwest Medical Center
When you or someone you love needs emergency medical attention and care, you can turn to the caring professionals at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville to deliver the top-quality emergency care services you need. If you are experiencing a medical emergency please call 911!
When Should I Call 911?
The American College of Emergency Physicians guidelines state that you should call 911 if you answer “yes” to at least one of the following questions:
- Is the situation life-threatening?
- Could the situation worsen and become life-threatening during a drive to the ED?
- Do you need special equipment or skills to move the patient?
- Could traffic or distance cause a delay in getting to the ED, creating a life-threatening situation?
If a medical condition arises suddenly and you believe that immediate medical care is needed, you should go to the ED. Examples include:
- Signs of heart attack (including but not limited to):
- chest pain
- pain traveling into the neck, into the jaw, through the back or down one or both arms
- sweating or
- difficulty breathing
- Signs of stroke: BE FAST!
We know a visit to the Emergency Department can be an upsetting and possibly scary experience for you and your loved ones. The Emergency Care Center at Parkwest Medical Center has 39 rooms, equipped with the latest technology and monitoring to provide the very best care for you.
We want you to know that we’ve taken the following steps to help decrease your waiting time:
- We’ve dedicated a separate area to treating and discharging patients with less severe injuries and illnesses so you can get home sooner.
- We have increased our efficiency to reduce the time you spend waiting for diagnostic results.
- We have scheduled an emergency provider designated to be in the triage area so you can start receiving treatment more quickly.
Thank you for trusting us to help you when you need emergency care. We are ready to help and get you back home sooner without compromising excellent care.
In addition, we have highly-skilled staff, all of whom are committed to providing you with the highest quality of care possible.
What Determines Who Goes Back First?
Upon entering our Emergency Care Center, you go through a process called “triage.” A Registered Nurse RN will assess your symptoms and check your vital signs to determine the severity of your condition.
The ED does not function on a “first-come, first-served” basis. Those patients who are classified as critically ill will be taken back and seen by a physician faster than patients with less acute conditions.
Patients experiencing less acute illness and/or minor injuries may be treated by an APC, and not require physician intervention. This ensures better outcomes and less wait time for all patients.
Emergency Services Offerings and Protocols
Arrival at Parkwest Emergency Department
Upon arrival at the Parkwest Emergency Department, you will sign in at the front desk to let us know why you are here.
We ask that you please refrain from eating or drinking anything until we tell you it is OK to do so. This is important in case a surgical intervention is necessary.
Triage Services at Parkwest Emergency Care
During the triage process, we will check your blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature, and ask questions about the reason for your visit.
Please know while we always seek to provide you care without an extensive wait, we see patients according to how urgently they need care.
Keep in mind that patients who arrive after you may be seen before you, and we ask for your patience
Parkwest Emergency Department Registration Procedures
When you arrive at Parkwest Medical Center’s Emergency Department, our registration team will visit you once you’re placed in a room, and will ask you to provide insurance information and sign treatment consent forms.
We provide emergency care to all patients regardless of their ability to pay. Please provide accurate information, including your phone number, in case we need to reach you with results or to follow up with you after your discharge.
Medical Screening at Parkwest Emergency Care
All Parkwest emergency patients will have a medical screening exam, which is an assessment to determine your individualized treatment plan.
Testing Services at Parkwest Medical Center
During your time at Parkwest Emergency Department, your medical provider could order labs or other tests to guide the decisions needed to treat you.
Our goal is for you to understand what labs or tests are being ordered and how long you can expect to wait to get the results of these tests/labs. You can always feel free to ask any member of our team about your results and timeframe.
Continuing Care Services
As you wait for your test results, please alert our team if you need anything. There could be other care our team will deliver during this time, such as medication administration, or other orders your provider has entered.
Admission and Discharge Procedures at Parkwest Emergency Department
At the end of your visit to Parkwest Emergency Department, you will either be admitted to the hospital, discharged, or transferred. Our staff will talk to you about what to expect in all of these scenarios.
If you are discharged, you will receive instructions so you can take care of yourself at home. Many times at this stage in the emergency visit, patients and loved ones feel ready to get home, but please make sure you understand your discharge instructions and ask questions if you need to do so.
We strive for excellence and you can expect a follow-up call so we can get feedback on your experience.
Virtual Urgent Care Services Offered through Parkwest Medical Center
As part of our mission to provide easy-to-access emergency care services to the people of Eastern Tennessee, Parkwest Medical Center is pleased to offer you virtual urgent care services.
Our virtual urgent care services are available 24/7, and are ideal for those in need of convenient, quality care for non-emergency ailments.
Our virtual care services are ideally suited for individuals experienced non-emergent medical issues such as:
- Cough and congestion
- Allergies and sinus infections
- Eye and ear problems
- Minor injuries and pain
- Additional non-emergency conditions
