The Emergency Care Center at Woodwinds is open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, to care for you and your family any time there's an emergency. Our doctors and nurses are experienced in treating seriously ill and injured patients and they will provide the best care for your needs.

Pediatric emergency doctors from Children’s Hospitals and Clinics are available:

• Monday through Friday from 6 to 10 pm
• Weekends and holidays from 3 to 11 pm

When you arrive
A specially-trained nurse will check your vital signs, evaluate your condition and ask about your health history. This process is called “triage,” a French word meaning “to sort by priority.” It ensures that the most seriously ill and injured patients are seen first.

Visitors
Family members or friends are welcome to stay in the treatment area or in the lobby. For the privacy and safety of all patients, the number of visitors must be kept to two per room. This allows staff to perform their duties quickly and helps ensure that we meet the needs of other patients. Depending on your condition, it may be necessary for a nurse or doctor to ask friends and family to return to the waiting room.

It’s important for visitors to respect the privacy of all patients and be as quiet as possible.

Food and refreshments
Patients are asked not to eat or drink anything without first consulting with a nurse. Visitors must consume all food and beverages in the lobby area. Visitors may use the hospital cafeteria located on the lower level. Vending machines are located at various locations throughout the hospital.

Interpreters
Foreign language and sign language interpreters are available upon request. While an interpreter is being arranged, family members may be asked to assist.

Patient advocate - 651/232-0002
Questions, comments or concerns about patient care issues should be directed to patient representatives. All information shared with a patient representative is confidential. .

Pharmacy
You can choose to have your prescriptions filled at your own pharmacy or through the hospital’s outpatient pharmacy. The Woodwinds pharmacy is located near the hospitals’ main entrance in the Lodge gift shop.

Telephones
Courtesy telephones are located in the emergency department lobby. Dial “9” first to be connected to an outside line. There is no charge for local calls. Cell phones cannot be used inside Woodwinds Hospital, including the emergency department because they may interfere with cardiac monitoring systems and other medical equipment.

What if I want to leave?
Your health is important to us, so even if you feel better, we want you to stay and be seen by a doctor so we can make sure your medical needs are met.

If you choose to leave the emergency department against medical advice, be aware that your visit may not be covered by your insurance company.

After your emergency visit
We will review your discharge instructions with you before you leave the emergency department. You will also receive a written copy to take home. Please feel free to ask questions if you do not understand the instructions.

You are responsible for arranging a follow-up appointment with your primary health care provider or the physician recommended by one of our staff members. You are responsible to check with your insurance plan for coverage.

About your bill
You may get more than one bill for services you received in the emergency department. Your bills are not based on how long you were in the emergency department, but rather on the treatments that were performed and the supplies that were used while you received care at Woodwinds Hospital .

Related links

HealthEast After Hours Care

HealthEast Health Alert - personal emergency response system

What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that brings oxygen and nutrients to the brain becomes clogged or bursts, stopping the blood supply to a portion of the brain.

When blood can't reach an area of the brain, abilities and functions controlled by that part of the brain might be impaired or lost. If not treated immediately, a stroke can lead to brain damage and disability.

Unlike a heart attack, symptoms of a stroke may not be painful. And often, the warning signs are easy to explain away. But symptoms of a stroke (or "brain attack") should be taken just as seriously. It's critical to recognize the warning signs.

If you experience any or all of the following symptoms, call 911 immediately!

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Primary Stroke Center Certification
Woodwinds is one of three HealthEast hospitals that hold a Gold Seal of Approval for stroke care by The Joint Commission. HealthEast is proud to be the first multi-site health care system in Minnesota to receive this distinction.

To earn the certification, the hospitals demonstrated how stroke care at HealthEast follows national standards and guidelines that can greatly improve outcomes for stroke patients.

What happens at the emergency room?
At the emergency room you will receive a general physical and neurological examination. Your doctor will order a CT scan of your head soon after you arrive, to find out if you're having a stroke and the type of stroke. This will help determine the treatment that is best for your condition. Stroke treatment is determined by the kind of stroke, the severity of symptoms and your general health.

Related links

National Brain Aneurysm Center

When to go to the Emergency Room

Have you ever wondered what warrants a trip to the emergency room (ER)? It's sometimes difficult to decide if your symptoms require immediate medical attention or if you should wait and make a doctor's appointment.

Here are four key instances when emergency help is critical.

Heart attack
If you experience persistent pain, pressure or squeezing in the center of your chest, call 911 immediately. You may be having a heart attack, and receiving proper care right away could potentially save your life. Calling 911 when you experience signs of a heart attack is better than getting a ride to the hospital, because emergency workers can begin treatment upon arrival, rather than waiting until you get to the hospital.

Stroke
Symptoms of a stroke include, but are not limited to, sudden numbness, weakness or paralysis, usually on one side of the body; difficulty speaking; blurred vision; and dizziness. People often ignore symptoms like these because they don't cause pain. "Any neurological symptoms that are new could be signs of a stroke," says John Kvasnicka, MD, medical director of emergency services for HealthEast. "This is definitely a situation when you should call 911 immediately. Both in a heart attack and in a stroke, time is of the essence. There are some treatments we can start right away, but they're not nearly as effective if time goes by."

Injuries

Head injuries
Because of the risk of damage to the spinal cord, anyone who has experienced significant head or neck trauma should visit the ER right away. Call 911, keep still and prevent head and neck movement until emergency medical help arrives.

Other injuries
Visit the emergency room for any broken bone or for uncontrollable bleeding. Call 911 if necessary.

Children's health

Accidental poisoning
Over half of all cases reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers involve children under 6 years old. Be prepared to treat your child if he or she accidentally ingests a poisonous substance. First, call 1-800-222-1222 to be connected

to your local poison control center. Give your child's age and weight, as well as the substance consumed and when. They may advise a trip to the emergency room.

Baby's health
It's often difficult to know when to seek emergency attention for a baby. According to Dr. Kvasnicka, parents of babies less than 3 months old should be the most cautious. "Children this age are more susceptible to illness, and they also have fewer ways of letting us know that they are sick," says Dr. Kvasnicka. Any fever (a rectal temperature of 100.4 or greater) in a child under 3 months should be evaluated.

Be prepared
No one wants to think about a trip to the ER, but it's a good idea to be prepared just in case. Have a list of emergency phone numbers by the phone and in your wallet or purse. Keep special medical information with you such as allergies, prescription medications and dosages and a list of surgeries you've had, so doctors are aware of them. Having accurate, important information readily available can help you remain calm and think clearly.

Quality emergency care close to home
When you need urgent medical attention, see Woodwinds for quality care. Our emergency services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. "Our staff offers outstanding medical care," says Dr. Kvasnicka. "We take care of patients as quickly as possible, but the bottom line is always clinical quality. Making the correct diagnosis and instituting the most appropriate treatment every single time is our goal."