Emergency Medicine

CHI Health Emergency Medicine physicians are experts in diagnosing and managing unforeseen illnesses and injuries. They provide evaluation, care and stabilization; taking actions necessary to prevent death or any further disability.

For serious injuries and illnesses, Emergency Medicine physicians quickly evaluate, resuscitate and stabilize patients, then refer them to the appropriate level of follow-up care, whether it is admission to the hospital or releasing them after treatment. Emergency Medicine physicians also treat less serious acute conditions such as broken bones, emergent toxicological conditions and lacerations when other clinics or priority care centers are closed.

Because they must treat and manage a wide range of conditions, Emergency Medicine physicians require the knowledge and skills of many medical specialties, including surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, infectious diseases, orthopedics, gastroenterology, ENT, pediatrics, psychiatry, and ob/gyn. Emergency Medicine physicians also receive training in a wide variety of clinical procedures.

Prescribing Pain Medicine in the Emergency Department

We understand that pain relief is important when a person is hurt or needs emergency care. However, pain relief is often a complex issue, especially when pain is chronic or happens often. Mistakes or misuses of pain medicine can cause serious health problems and even death. The main role of the Emergency Department provider is to look for and treat medical emergencies. Our Emergency Department will only give pain relief options that are safe and the right choice for you.

For your safety we will:

• Medically examine you before discussing pain relief options.
• Use our best medical judgment when treating pain, following all legal and ethical guidelines.
• Ask you about your history of pain medicine use including any misuse or substance abuse before prescribing any new pain medicine.

For your safety we may:

• Look at past medical records regarding your pain medicine use.
• Ask you to show a photo ID, such as a driver’s license, when you check into the Emergency Department or get a prescription for pain medicines. If you do not provide such an ID other ID might be requested and a digital photograph may be taken.
• Provide only enough pain medicine to last until you can contact your provider. We will prescribe pain medicines with a lower risk of addiction and/or overdose when possible.
• Call law enforcement if we think you are trying to get pain medicine by giving false information or other illegal means.

For your safety we will not:

• Give pain medicine shots for a sudden rise in chronic pain or when your chronic pain gets worse.
• Refill lost or stolen prescriptions for medicines. You must get any replacement chronic pain prescriptions from your provider.
• Prescribe missed Methadone doses, or give prescription refills to handle your chronic pain.
• Prescribe long-acting pain medicines, such as OxyContin, MSContin, Fentanyl patches, or Methadone for chronic, non-cancer pain.
• Prescribe pain medicines if you already get pain medicine from another provider or emergency department.