The emergency room, also known as ER, treats the patients that require immediate care to prevent cardiac arrest. However, not all severe cases are treated here. In some hospitals, a trauma center is present within the emergency department. It deals with extreme issues that require extensive care and treatment.
Cases treated
ER treats sprained ankles, fractured bones, injured ligaments, heart attack, unconsciousness, stroke, stomach issues (stomachaches, diarrhea), stitches, pain in the chest, bronchitis, sore throat, back pain, dressing of wounds, removing stitches, etc.
Trauma center treats acute car accident injuries, severe burns, gunshot wounds, stab wounds, head, and brain injuries, etc.
Staffing
Staffing of both areas differs in few aspects. ER is staffed with medical experts, doctors, and nurses who handle a variety of conditions. The trauma center has well-trained. They are well-trained professionals dealing with traumatic injuries. It includes trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, radiologists, registered nurses, orthopedic and cardiac surgeons, etc. Since they handle more severe patients, they have 24/7 access to laboratories, operation theatres, resuscitation areas, and testing equipment. Moreover, they are always on standby and ready for all types of circumstances.
Cost
Trauma centers cost quite a penny. Most of the hospitals charge enormous fees from patients. For a decade, the number of trauma centers has primarily increased. A boost can be seen in healthcare costs due to these high fees.
Urgent care clinics cost less as compared to ER. The cost of ER varies. For a person with no health insurance, the price is high. Moreover, it also depends on the severity of the patient, supplies used, tests performed, professional medical fees, treatment, medication, etc. It can reach up to $20,000 or above if surgery is performed. The average ER cost ranges between $500-$2000 some hospitals up to $3000+) for treating chest pain, sore throat, stitches, back pain, dressing, x-rays, etc. The cost may reach up to $10,000 for broken bones treated with surgery.
The overall cost of ERs and trauma centers is high due to he expenses. No sole factor is responsible. These factors include electricity bills, water, food, supplies, skilled staff, and many more. The factors altogether contribute to high prices, which are in turn charged from patients.
Severity scale 1 to 5 or ESI:
The severity or acuity of patients scales from 1 to 5. Following levels from 1 to 5, also called emergency severity index, explains the condition of patients at ER.
ESI 1: Patient with injuries posing a severe threat to life and needs definitive care. Costly as compared to the treatments of other ER patients.
ESI 2: A problem that requires immediate treatment but does not pose a threat to life. It can cause impairment if not treated.
ESI 3: It is most common. The problem is not severe, and the recovery rate is high. However, if treatment is not given in time, small risks of issues may develop.
ESI 4: A minor problem with no risk of death. It does not have an impact on a patient’s health condition permanently.
ESI 5: A minor problem that usually runs its course on its own.
Levels of Trauma Center
In total, there are five levels of a trauma center. It may vary. Different states recognize different trauma center levels. The five levels are discussed below:
Level I and II: They are almost alike. They can treat patients with severe injuries. Staff is available 24/7 in both areas and responds swiftly to patients. The director of ICU in Level I trauma center is a surgeon with certification from the current board in critical surgical care. It is not mandatory for level II. It’s the main difference between them.
Level III: Staff is not available 24/7. However, they must be at the hospital within 30 minutes of an emergency. They treat the patients within available resources and then transfer them to level I or II when stable. Usually present in areas that are far away from high facility trauma centers.
Level IV: Mostly located in rural areas. They provide ATLS (Advance Trauma Life Support). The deal with treating acute patients. They diagnose the patients, provide medical care, and stabilize their condition before sending them to a high-level trauma center.
Level V: It is the most basic type of trauma center providing necessary health care services to injured people. Diagnosing, treating, stabilizing, and finally sending them to level I, II, or III for intensive care. 24/7 service may not be available.
When to visit
Not all conditions require a visit to ER or trauma centers. A person should have a general knowledge of different situations. It will help in deciding when to visit and when to avoid a visit. Contrary to treatment in ER, some treatments are available at urgent care clinics near your home, which is cheaper. Some injuries are too severe to be treated in ER; therefore, they are referred to a trauma center.
Some issues like vomiting, diarrhea, back pain, minor fractures, x-rays, headaches, fever, minor cuts and bruises, wounds that require stitches, and blood work can easily be treated in urgent care clinics. There is no need to visit ERs for these. But if you cannot find any urgent care clinic, visit ER of the nearest hospital in your area.
However, actual medical emergencies that are not treated in urgent care clinics must be treated in ER. Patients of a car accident or gunshot wound should immediately be transferred to a trauma center.
How to visit
In case of emergencies, call 911 (emergency number) so that the team can reach out to you as soon as possible. Apart from that, you can visit the emergency department of a hospital. If the injury doesn’t look too bad, call your health care provider or directly visit the nearest urgent care clinic. You can contact your health insurance company. They can provide you with the contact numbers of respective nurses or hospitals where you can be treated.