What Not to Expect
The ED is designed to take care of urgent, short-term problems and to stabilize patients so that they can see their own health care providers in the morning or in a few days. The ED is not able to do these things:
- Diagnose long-term problems and provide a treatment plan;
- Do extensive lab tests or imaging studies;
- Provide a prescription for more than a few days of medication;
These things are important but they need to be done by your longer-term health care team, not the emergency department. That’s why following up is so vital to your well being.