Frequently Asked Questions
What is an advanced practice provider (APP) & why am I not being seen by a Doctor?
Advanced Practice Providers (APP) are Nurse Practitioners (NPs) or Physician Assistants (PAs) who are skilled health care providers that work along with our physicians to take exceptional care of you. Physicians are available for consultation at all times. Sometimes, our experienced APPs will primarily manage the care of our patients with less severe illnesses. When the patient presentation is more complex, they will hand over care or consult with their supervising physicians.
What is "triage"?
During triage, a nurse will conduct a brief medical history and exam to determine the severity of your condition. Additionally a Physician, Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant will complete an initial assessment to get your treatment plan started.
How long do I have to wait to be seen?
Emergency Department wait times depend on a variety of factors, including severity of medical condition and number of patients currently in the ED. In order to provide appropriate prompt care, patients are seen by order of severity of their condition.
Why are some patients getting pulled out of the waiting room before me, even though I arrived first?
Upon arrival patients will be screened by Emergency Department staff and identified into those requiring emergent care, intermediate care or minor care. This allows us to provide the most appropriate level of care for your immediate needs with minimal waiting time.
How long do I wait for my test results?
Please remember that completing the level of lab work, advanced imaging and medical assessment that is provided to you in our department could take weeks via outpatient services. While we can complete a large amount of testing in one visit, it may take several hours for the results to return and be appropriately clinically interpreted and applied to your medical presentation.
Can I make an appointment to see the same doctor who treated me in the ED?
The emergency department does not accept appointments.
What is the best time to come to the ED?
The emergency department is available 24 hours a day for patients who require immediate care. It is not always predictable when it will be busy. Patients are seen in order of arrival and by severity of illness.
How long can I expect to wait?
Our goal is to minimize wait times, but by necessity, we must prioritize critically ill patients. As a result, wait times can be longer than we hoped. Extended wait times may also occur when we have unexpected events.
Can I get an appointment with a specialist from the ED?
The emergency department will refer you to your primary care physician or to a specialist based on an assessment of your problem.
Can I see a specialist if I come to the ED?
Emergency department patients are seen by physicians with specialized training in the field of emergency medicine. We obtain consultations as needed, based on our assessment of your problems. Consultations are reserved for life-threatening conditions requiring immediate attention. We cannot offer specialist consultations for chronic conditions.
Can I get medication samples from the ED?
State regulations have limited the availability of medication samples. We generally do not have a supply of samples for patients.
Can I eat or drink while in the ED?
We ask you do not eat or drink before discussing with emergency department staff.
Can I smoke or vape while in the ED?
Olympia Fields Hospital is a smoke-free and vape-free facility. To better care for your healthcare needs, we do not allow patients to leave the emergency department to smoke/vape.
Are phone and camera usage allowed?
Olympia Fields Hospital is a cell phone friendly environment, but please be considerate of others when using your phone. Please refrain from using the cell phone while in the ED so that we can promptly offer the care you or others may require. In order to protect patient privacy, photography, and video/audio recording is strictly prohibited within the hospital.
Workplace Violence
This is a place of healing. There is Zero Tolerance for verbal or physical violence in our facility. Please be respectful or patients, visitors, and staff, or you may be removed from our facility and the police may be contacted.