If you are experiencing chest pain, suspect that you may be having a stroke, or feel that you need immediate medical assistance, dial 911.
Quincy Medical Center is here to provide you, your family and this community with the highest quality of emergency medical care, 24-hours per day, 365-days per year. At Quincy Medical Center, we strive to assess each patient’s injury or illness as quickly and thoroughly as possible and to ensure the best follow up care. In addition, our clinical affiliation with Boston Medical Center gives us seamless access to the most sophisticated and talented team of specialists devoted to injuries of all kinds.
Quincy Medical Center’s Emergency Department abides by a triage process where the most urgent patients are treated first – regardless of whether they arrive by ambulance or walk in. As new patients arrive or a patient’s condition worsens, our triage process continually readjusts the order in which patients are seen.
Patients are asked to sign in at the front desk and fill out a short form that includes your name and the nature of your illness/injury (e.g. nausea, broken bone, migraine). Leave the form in the box at the front desk and have a seat. The triage nurse will call your name.
Based on the triage nurse’s assessment, patients are assigned to one of two tracks or areas in the Emergency Room – the Main Emergency Department or Fast Track.
“Fast Track” is where we treat patients with non-urgent medical issues such as broken bones, cuts, coughs and sore throats. Due to the less medically complex nature of the medical issues seen by Fast Track clinicians, the wait time is often shorter than that for the Main ED.
If the triage nurse determines that you would be best cared for in the Main Emergency Department, you will be brought to an examination room where you will be asked to change into a hospital gown, if you are able, and you will be evaluated by an ED nurse, who is assigned to you.
Serious conditions may be difficult to diagnose, therefore, your ED physician may find it necessary to order certain tests such as blood work and X-rays. Even if your illness is
thought to be relatively minor, you may need to have certain tests performed before you can be discharged.
Depending on your specific condition, your physician may request that additional specialists, such as those from orthopedics and neurology examine you. Once your physicians have consulted with appropriate medical team members and reviewed your test results, your physician will discuss the medical findings with you. At this time, the physician will decide whether you should be admitted to the hospital or what the next steps should be.
If you require hospitalization, you will be admitted to a specific hospital department depending on the nature and severity of your illness. Very ill patients may be transferred directly to surgery or to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
If your condition does not necessitate admission to the hospital, you will be discharged home with instructions to follow up with your primary care doctor. You will receive a copy of your discharge instructions, along with any prescriptions that may be indicated. It is very important that you carefully read and follow your discharge instructions.