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The Patient Experience

In Case of Emergency Dial: 911 24/7 Saint Clare’s Ambulance Dispatch: 973-537-5636

Whether a patient arrives by ambulance or walks through our doors, they will be treated by the most highly-skilled emergency team in the region right from the start.

Saint Clare’s offers free parking for the patient or their loved ones outside each of our three ED locations.

If a patient requires a wheelchair or other assistance to move from a vehicle to the ED, please ask for assistance at the main desk and we will send out personal to help. Patient safety is our utmost concern.

To ensure smooth and careful processing by our staff, we urge all patients to have their photo ID and insurance cards accessible. It is also helpful for patients to have (or know) a list of their current medications and their primary care physician’s name.

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Our Approach

Home healthcare nurse checking blood pressure of senior Hispanic patient

Walk-In Patients

When you arrive at any of our three ED locations, a greeter and triage nurse are will ask you brief questions upon your arrival, including what prompted your visit and details about your medical history. The nurse will take and record your vital signs and take you to the dedicated fast track area (for urgent/acute patients) or main treatment area (for less urgent cases).

Cropped shot of a female nurse checking on her senior

Emergency Transport

Saint Clare’s is proud to have state-certified paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), as part of our mobile intensive care units (MICUs) who stand ready to assist residents of the region with care. Our paramedics work alongside local first aid squads to provide advanced life support in patient’s homes, in the workplace, or on the streets and highways. Our specialty care transport units (SCTUs) staff a highly-trained RN and an EMT-B who provide critical care transport.

If a patient or a loved one is in need of emergency transport to one of our three ED locations, call our 24/7 ambulance dispatch line at: 973-537-5636.

Testing and Diagnosis

Upon a thorough assessment of a patient’s medical history, our emergency physicians may require tests in order to make an accurate diagnosis.

These tests may include bloodwork or radiology tests such as x-rays, a CT scan or an ultrasound exam. The experts at Saint Clare’s work as hard as we can to provide a timely diagnosis so we can begin treatment as soon as possible. If a patient or loved one has any questions on the status on the timing of a test or test results, please ring the call bell to speak with a nurse.

Doctor and nurse meeting with senior couple at a hospital

Treatment

Once a diagnosis has been determined, a patient will either be discharged (allowed to go home) or admitted (given a room in the hospital).

If a patient is discharged, a physician or nurse will review all necessary health information. This includes instructions for any medications and follow-up with your regular physician.

If a patient is admitted, we will contact your primary care physician or specialist to coordinate your care. If a patient does not have a primary care physician, or a specialist who treats the particular condition for which the patient was admitted, one of our doctors will supervise your care and give you a referral following your discharge.

Happy adult mother and daughter embracing

Going Home

Whether a patient is cleared to go home or released to another facility, our staff will ensure the they have all the information necessary to adjust to life outside of the hospital. This information may include new medication, physician referrals, directions on the use of assistive devices, etc.

If you need access to your medical records from your visit to Saint Clare’s, please call our medical records department at 973-989-3660 or visit our Patient Portal.