Every year the number of Americans who visit the Emergency Room increases. Concurrently, the number of hospitals that are closing their E.R.s is rising as well. This paradoxical shift has resulted in hundreds of thousands of Americans experiencing longer wait times at the Emergency Room, causing increased anxiety in an already stressful situation. Luckily, this article in The New York Times details some good tips and tricks for navigating the oftentimes overwhelming world that is the Emergency Room. For example, the author explains that if a treating provider has recommended a trip to the E.R., the patient should request for their doctor’s office to call ahead and provide some context for their arrival as well as some important background into their medical history. This will help streamline the process and hopefully cut down on unnecessary paperwork or lengthy expositions.

The writer also posits that another useful strategy in cutting down time spent in the E.R. is to always carry a list of current medications, allergies, and recent medical history in your wallet or purse. Keeping this list on hand and up-to-date will be useful if you’re is forgetful or otherwise unable to convey the necessary details of the medical situation. These are just some of the tips that the article provides for those who may have to find their way to an Emergency Room in the near future. If you have any others, please share your thoughts with us in the comments.