Where the doctor is always in

The J. C. Blair Emergency Services Department is a 24 hour a day, 365 days a year service providing for your emergency medical needs when you need us most. Our department is staffed at all times with a highly qualified emergency physician.

The department is also staffed at all times with a professional registered nurse, trained in emergency medical and trauma care above and beyond the training received in nursing school. One hundred percent (100%) are certified in advanced cardiac life support and many are certified emergency nurses by the Emergency Nurses Association.

Always available to the emergency department physician and staff is a list of on-call physicians from all specialties, such as OB/GYN, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Surgery, Family Practice, and Internal Medicine, allowing the appropriate care, whatever your emergency may be.

Triage Services
Our emergency department is staffed by a triage nurse 24 hours a day. This specially trained nurse will obtain a history of your medical problem by asking pertinent medical questions. The triage nurse will immediately take any critical patients directly to the emergency treatment area. (For example, patients suspected to be suffering from a heart attack, stroke, or respiratory difficulties, uncontrolled bleeding, or severe fractures.) Patients with non-life threatening problems will be directed to register for care with the emergency department registration clerk. After registration, the non-emergency patients will be treated on a priority basis, based on the severity of their illness or injury. As should be expected, the patients with the most severe or life threatening illnesses or injuries will be given priority.

Ancillary Services
In addition to the medical and nursing staff, our emergency department is supported by 24-hour Radiology and Laboratory Services, allowing for the most rapid and accurate diagnosis of your medical condition. Radiology services include the newest technology in Computerize Axial Tomography (CAT SCAN). Our in-house Pharmacy allows for you medical treatment to begin immediately with starter doses of medication until your pharmacy is open, should your emergency occur in the middle of the night.

Working With Your
Primary Care Physician
After the emergency department physician has evaluated your condition and provided any necessary emergency treatment, he / she may contact your primary care physician to arrange for admission to the hospital or to arrange for follow up care. The emergency department physician and your primary care physician work hand-in-hand to assure that all your emergency and follow up needs are met.

Non-Emergency Visits
Non Emergency visits to the emergency department are frequently not covered by a majority of health insurances, including Medical Assistance and Medicare. Many insurance carriers require authorization of your primary care physician prior to non-emergency care being rendered. The Emergency Department will never delay the administration of emergency care to determine insurance coverage or ability to pay. However, if your insurance carrier or primary care physician refuses authorization for treatment of a non-emergency illness or injury, you may be billed for charges incurred as a result of that treatment.

If the problem you are experiencing is not an emergency and you have a primary care physician, you may find it beneficial to contact that physician or your insurance carrier to determine if the visit will be covered. If there is any doubt as to whether your condition is an emergency, seek emergency department treatment immediately.

What to do in an Emergency:

• CALL EMS IMMEDIATELY.
  • Give your name and the phone number from which you are calling.
  • Give the location of the victim and the nature of the emergency.
  • Listen For Instructions
• Control bleeding by applying pressure directly over the wound.
• If the victim is unconscious, keep the airway open by lifting the chin up, being careful not to move the neck.
• Keep the victim still.
• Give nothing to eat or drink unless directed otherwise by EMS.
• If possible, bring the patient's medications to the hospital.

Call (814) 643-2290, and ask for the Emergency Department.