A stretcher put into an ambulance

Emergency Services

1900 Main Street
Franklinton, LA 70438
Phone: (985) 795-4333

Whether you are experiencing a minor emergency or a life threatening situation, Riverside Medical Center can provide the emergency care you need that is prompt, efficient, and effective. The emergency department is prepared to manage any emergency 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and patients can expect to receive a high quality level of care by physicians and nurses that are specially trained in emergency medicine, who combine expertise and compassion to help you through your emergency using advanced equipment and treatment protocols.

What to Expect

Our Emergency Department practices direct bedding until all ED beds are full. When you arrive at the Emergency Department, you will go through a brief registration process. Then you will be placed in a room and immediately seen and assessed by an ED nurse trained to determine the severity of your condition. The Emergency Department physician will then perform a medical screening examination to determine if an emergency medical condition exists. If all Emergency Department beds are full, you will see a nurse that will assess and determine the severity of your condition. After this assessment, you may be asked to wait in the lobby until a bed is available. If you are asked to wait in the lobby and your condition changes or you have a question, please return to the Triage area and speak with the nurse. Depending on the nature of your condition, the nurse may begin to order some tests according to established protocols to expedite your treatment. Lab tests, radiology studies, procedures, medications, etc. may be necessary to determine and treat your condition. Based on your treatment plan and your response to it, you may be discharged home, admitted to the hospital, or transferred to another hospital if necessary.

Waiting Times

Our goal is to provide care to our patients as quickly as possible. Many factors influence the wait time such as the number of other patients waiting and the seriousness of their condition, or the number of exam rooms and staff available. Please remember, we provide care to the most critical cases first. If an ambulance arrives with a critical patient or there is an emergency situation, the wait time for other patients may be affected. Wait times are always subject to change.

Admission

Depending on your condition, the physician may recommend an inpatient admission. This entails obtaining an accepting physician to attend to your hospitalization needs. Once this is accomplished, the collaborating physicians will agree on a plan of care and admission orders will be written. The nurses in the Emergency Department will then transfer you to the caring hands of the inpatient nursing staff.

Discharge

Before you leave the Emergency Department you will receive information regarding your diagnosis and instructions on self-care for your illness or injury, the medications you have been prescribed if any, the name of the emergency physician who treated you, and the name of the physician or clinic you will be referred to for any follow up care that is required. Please note that any examination and treatment you receive in the Emergency Department is rendered on an emergency basis only. They are not intended to be a substitute for or an effort to provide complete medical care. It is important that you report to the follow-up physician indicated for any new or remaining problems since it is impossible to recognize and treat all elements of injury or illness in a single emergency department visit. Be sure to understand your discharge instructions and feel free to ask the nurse or physician any questions you may have. You may also receive a follow up phone call from the emergency room nurse a day or two following your visit to check on you and to get some input on how we can improve our services. Thank you for choosing Riverside Medical Center for your care!