Elliot Hospital
One Elliot Way
Manchester, NH 03103
After stabilization of the trauma patient the patient is either admitted on an emergency basis to the operating room or stabilized and transferred to the appropriate floor within the Elliot for treatment. If necessary, transfer to a tertiary care facility — such as a burn center — is arranged. What follows is a general view of Trauma Center care for an incoming patient.
Within the Elliot Trauma Center a wide array of services include:
When a patient arrives at the Emergency Department within the Trauma Center, either staff members will meet the ambulance service or greet the patient and ask the reason for the visit. Walk-in and emergency patients status is determined by a nurse specially trained for making such evaluations. This process is called triage.
If the triage nurse determines it is necessary for a patient to be treated immediately, he or she will be brought directly into an examination room. Otherwise, the nurse will complete the assessment and direct the patient to a registration clerk, who will begin a computerized record. Patients previously registered for treatment at The Elliot will already be in the system. Questions for first-time registrants will include information about their primary care physician, employer, and health insurance.
Please note: Professionals in the Emergency Department provide care for patients experiencing all kinds of illness and injury – some of which are truly life threatening. Thankfully, many are not. It is important that the most sick and severely injured patients be cared for first. Patients, their friends and family should always bear this in mind.
Under most conditions other than a life-threatening emergency, Trauma Center and Emergency Department personnel are unable to treat a patient without documented consent. The consent of a parent or legal guardian is required for children under 18 years of age, except under certain limited conditions, as defined by law.
After registration, the patient will be brought to an appropriate treatment area as soon as one is available. The average waiting time is approximately two hours. Patients arriving by ambulance or who have otherwise been determined to require care on an emergency basis, will be treated first.
We understand that patients may sometimes feel their wait seems long, but be assured that they have not been forgotten and will receive care as soon as possible. Patients, or friends and family accompanying them, should ask for an update, as needed, from the staff at the triage desk.
When a patient enters the treatment room, the nurse will continue evaluating the illness or injury by asking further questions, checking physical condition and beginning the test process, such as x-rays and blood tests. As soon as they are available, one of our emergency physicians or nurse practitioners will examine the patient. Although some of their questions may seem similar to the nursing evaluation, it is important for the physician to develop his/her own impression of an illness or injury. Following the exam, additional tests or treatments may be ordered.
Although we do not like to keep patients waiting, sometimes it is unavoidable. Tests may need to be conducted, processed and evaluated. Often the physician may need to speak with the patient's primary care doctor or a specialist, before deciding on an appropriate course of treatment.
To ensure all patients' privacy and anonymity, we ask that patients and their visitors remain in their treatment rooms. patient care is most important to us and we appreciate the patience and understanding of everyone waiting for direct attention.