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Going to the Emergency Center can be a time of anxiousness and worry.  Illness and injury can happen any time, which is why Hudson Hospital Emergency Center is available 24 hours a day providing high quality medical care at a convenient location just off I-94.  Hudson is the only emergency center along Wisconsin’s St. Croix River Valley that is staffed by 20 full-time, board-certified emergency medicine physicians and 35 nursing staff.

A recent volunteer and patient, Pat Niccum, discovered just how effective and crucial her care was at Hudson. She writes in a thank you letter to staff, “I didn’t truly comprehend what a wonderful gift the Emergency Center was to me personally as well as our community until I needed emergency care.” Her story begins with a visit to the emergency room as she was experiencing jaw pain. The emergency physician immediately determined that she needed more acute care and she was airlifted to Regions Hospital for open-heart surgery.  Following a successful surgery, she thanked the Regions medical team who reaffirmed that the quick response of the Hudson emergency medical team was the key to saving her life. 
 
“Our expertise is in evaluating and treating critically ill patients of all ages,” says Martin E. Richards, M.D. “But beyond excellent technical care, we are really focused on getting face-to-face with patients and their families right away, without a long stop in the waiting room. We are aggressive that way because it lets patients know we care about them – and that’s good medicine.”

When you arrive at the Emergency Center, a registration staff member will welcome you at the main desk. Then a registered nurse will meet with you briefly to assess the nature of your illness, based on your symptoms and history. If your condition is life threatening or critical, you will receive immediate attention. While one emergency physician will lead your care, your medical team may include: physician’s assistants, registered nurses, and nursing assistants.

Last year the Emergency Center saw nearly 10,000 patients and that number is expected to grow this year.  As a Level IV Trauma Center, the Emergency Center is equipped to handle a wide range of emergency medical needs with your trust and comfort in mind.  If your treatment requires additional tests, surgery or a stay in the hospital, rest assured Hudson Hospital & Clinic offers a full range of services including an Imaging Center, Medical Laboratory, Surgery & Procedure Center and Inpatient Services. Their electronic medical record system connects all of these areas so your care is streamlined and efficient.

As part of the HealthPartners family of organizations, Hudson is linked to Regions Emergency Care for critical care needs.  They have quick and coordinated air and ground transport to Regions Hospital Level I Trauma Center, Heart Center and Burn Center, or the hospital of your choice.  For heart patients transferring to Regions, it takes only 88 minutes from the time of your call to cath lab treatment at Regions which is better than the national average of 130 minutes.

Where do I go – the Emergency Center or an Urgent Care Center?

When you have a life- or limb-threatening situation, such as chest pain, or a sudden and severe pain, emergency care of the nearest hospital is the only option.  If you went to an urgent care clinic, they would send you to the nearest Emergency Center in an ambulance, which may delay necessary treatment.  If your condition is less serious, but still requires immediate attention, choosing an urgent care facility can save you time and money, as well as keeping the emergency room free to handle more serious situations. 

If you have a sprained ankle, or an ear infection, you may end up waiting for in the emergency room and paying more than Urgent Care.  Most urgent care centers are open for extended hours, and will be able to accommodate you more quickly. And when in doubt, call ahead.  If the urgent care clinic in question can't accommodate your condition, they will advise you to go the nearest emergency facility.

For serious medical needs, remember Hudson Hospital Emergency Center provides a compassionate team of highly trained, board-certified emergency medical physicians and staff always ready to help you, should you experience a sudden illness or injury any time, day or night.

A New Service at Hudson Hospital Emergency Center: Comfort Rounds Volunteers

To help ease anxiety for Emergency Center patients and their families, Hudson has introduced a new service called Emergency Center Comfort Rounds Volunteers.  They take care of all kinds of these things, like waiting with the patient, listening to their concerns, making sure the patient receives care as needed, in between the doctors and nurses checking in on them.  Whether it’s to get a cup of water or coffee, a blanket for a patient, or visiting with them during their wait time, the Emergency Center Comfort Rounds volunteers are available to help.  Hudson expects to grow the Comfort Rounds Volunteers program which is offering added assistance and comfort to patients seeking emergency care.