75 North Country Road, Port Jefferson, NY 11777 • 631.473.1320

What to expect during a visit to our Emergency Pavilion

The Emergency department (ED) at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to care for your medical problems. The staff who will assist in your care includes doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, nursing assistants, social workers, unit secretaries and registration/admitting clerks, laboratory technicians, x-ray technicians and respiratory therapists.

Your visit to our ED, from start to finish.

You arrive at our ED.
You have experienced a medical problem and have been brought to the ED at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital, one of the finest and the busiest in Suffolk County.

You are triaged.
When you arrive by private vehicle, you will be checked by a highly skilled nurse in our triage area. "Triage" means "to sort" or place in order of the most serious to the less serious. Patients with more serious problems are seen first. Unlike a doctor's office, the Emergency Department does not accept appointments. When ill or injured patients arrive at the same time, those with less serious problems will be seen last.

Your vital signs are taken in the triage area.
The triage nurse will take your vital signs - temperature, pulse, blood pressure - and a brief medical history. For small children and infants, a rectal temperature is taken for most accurate information (after placement in an exam room).

After being triaged by the nurse, you or your family will check in at the registration desk. If a bed is not immediately available, you will be asked to sit in the waiting room until one becomes available for you. Please do not eat or drink anything.

You are placed in an ED bed.
To be examined by our healthcare professionals, you must undress and put on a hospital gown. The gown ties in the back. You may be attached to a monitoring device so that we may monitor your vital signs. These devices are very sensitive and may sound an alarm when you move.

You are examined.
After you are placed in a bed, our staff will examine you as soon as possible. However, they may be delayed if more critical patients arrive unexpectedly.

Tests are done.
The healthcare professional may order X-rays or other tests he/she feels are necessary. Some tests require blood to be drawn, while others may require you to go to another area. If you must leave the ED for tests, a technician will take you. Obtaining results of tests takes time, usually 1 to 2 hours. If at any time you do not understand a specific procedure, please ask you doctor or nurse.

Doctor/Physician Assistant/Nurse Practitioner (PA/NP) explains test results and treatment.
When your lab work and/or x-ray results are available, the doctor, PS or NP will explain the findings. Occasionally, additional tests may be necessary.

You are treated.
Depending on your particular problem, your treatment may be simple or complex. The treatment, which may be carried out by the doctor, PA, NP or nurse, may consist of splints, bandages, IVs or medications. It may take a few minutes or several hours, depending on your illness or injury and the presence of other critical patients. The number of visitors in the Emergency treatment area must be kept to a minimum. This gives members of the emergency team sufficient space to perform their duties. In this way, the needs of the patient can be properly met and privacy maintained.

You are admitted to the hospital or discharged to home.
The doctor will determine if you are to be discharged from the ED or admitted to the hospital. The ED doctor may speak with your family doctor or other specialists about your treatment. Sometimes calls to other doctors cause delays, especially if they are unable to answer our calls immediately. If you are discharged home, the doctor, PA, NP or nurse will provide you with a copy of your discharge instructions and any prescriptions they have written. They will explain your instructions and prescriptions and answer any questions about your care or treatment. You are responsible for your own care after you leave the ED. If there is additional information we need to tell you, we will call or write you.

If you are admitted to the hospital and all beds are being used, you may have to wait in the ED for another patient to be discharged. As soon as a room is prepared we will take you to your room.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does a patient wait during the steps outlined above?

A: Your triage nurse will assign your priority level. The levels range from critically ill to minor injuries. Your total stay may be as short as 90 minutes, or up to four hours or more if you need IVs, blood or special tests. Your doctor and nurse will be better able to tell you what to expect after you have been examined.

Q: How long does it take to get results back?

A: About 1 to 2 hours.

Q: Do people wait in the hall?

A: Occasionally we use beds in our halls to help us see everyone needing care. As soon as we are able, we move each patient into a more private setting. If no hospital beds are available you will stay in the ED until one becomes available.

For more information, please call: 631-476-2808.

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Thank you for choosing John T. Mather Memorial Hospital's Emergency Department for your care.