Gwinnett Hospital System Emergency Departments
Gwinnett Medical Center Gwinnett Medical Center- Duluth
1000 Medical Center Boulevard 3620 Howell Ferry Road
Lawrenceville, GA 30045 Duluth, GA 30096
678-312-4357 678-312-6757
Patients are not always seen in the order they arrive.
Patients with the most serious or rapidly-changing conditions are treated first. Depending on your problem, you may need to wait for a special room to be available. The arrival of ambulances bringing patients to the trauma unit also impacts the wait time. Some very sick people will need lots of time and people to take care of them, and we cannot always know how many critical people will come in while you are waiting.
Patients will initially be screened by a triage nurse.
Unless you come by ambulance, you will first be seen by a registered nurse (RN) in triage. Triage is a process used in the ED to check everyone and decide who needs to see the doctor first. In triage, the RN will take your blood pressure, pulse, respiration rate and temperature. The RN will ask you about your medical problem. You will see a different nurse in the exam room who will talk to you again about your medical problem. The staff asks many questions because the more we know about you, your general health and the reason you have come to the ED, the easier it will be for us to treat you quickly and safely.
Hospital
All of the nurses and doctors who work in the ED have been specially trained in emergency care. If you need to stay in the hospital, the ED doctor will call another doctor who will take care of you while you are in the hospital.
Evenings, weekends and holidays are our busiest times.
Gwinnett Hospital System's Emergency Departments serve an average of 300 people every day. If you arrive during an especially busy time, you can expect a longer wait.
What should I bring to the ED?
- A list of your allergies (medicine, food, latex)
- A list of any medicines that you take every day. This includes the dose and how often you take it
- A list of any over the counter medicines, herbs, and vitamins that you take every day
- A list of any medical problems that you have
- A list of surgeries that you have had
- The name and telephone number of your primary care doctor
Insurance verification and authorization for coverage is the responsibility of the patient.
If you have questions about your coverage, contact your insurer. Phone numbers are generally listed on the back of your insurance card.
Before you leave the hospital:
Be sure you know...
- What is wrong, including signs and symptoms that would require returning to the Emergency Department and when to go in for a follow-up exam.
- What you need to do to care for yourself at home, including what medications you should take. Whom to call if you have any problems.
- If follow-up care is recommended, be aware that additional charges, including insurance co-pays, may be required.
- Be sure to see the Discharge Counselor before you leave.
ENCARE
Emergency Nurses Cancel Alcohol Related Emergencies
The goal of the ENCARE program is to educate teens about the potentially deadly effects of drinking and driving. The program exposes them to the results of such behavior via stories and real-life images from videos, slides, and pictures of accident victims and mock crash scenes. Teens hear about the consequences-- injuries, jail time, even death-- of drinking and driving. The program, presented by RNs from Gwinnett Hospital System Emergency Services, visits schools and churches in the community.
Dates to Remember
March is...
National Nutrition Month
Brain Injury Awareness Month
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
March 20-26 is National Poison Prevention Week
March 23- American Diabetes Alert Day
April is...
Child Abuse Prevention Month
National Organ Donation Month
Alcoholism Awareness Month
April 6 is National Alcohol Screening Day
April 30 is National Walk America Day