ER Wait Time: 15 minutes | If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.

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Emergency Room Department

If you need emergency medical attention, call the Bucks County Emergency Medical Service number “911”.

TO REACH THE LOWER BUCKS HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM, FOLLOW THE BLUE “H” HOSPITAL DIRECTIONAL SIGNS.

Lower Bucks Hospital emergency care services are here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

For further information, contact us at 215-785-9200.

About Our ER Wait Time

ER wait time is the average wait time for a patient to see a registered nurse during the triage (evaluation) process in our ER. After patients are triaged (evaluated), they are seen by qualified medical professionals in priority order, according to their medical condition and reason for visit. Times are approximate and provided for information purposes only.

Take comfort in knowing that the emergency care team at Lower Bucks Hospital is here for you when you need us most to provide compassionate care as quickly as possible. Our team of specially trained physicians, nurses and technicians, using the most advanced protocols and technology, is available around the clock.

GetCareNow – Reserve Your ER Arrival Time

For life-threatening emergencies call 9-1-1

Let us know you’re coming. Select your emergency room arrival time and wait at home until your time to be seen.

At Lower Bucks Hospital, we strive to make it easier for you to handle life’s unexpected events. This service is just one more way that we are transforming the healthcare experience.

Lower Bucks Hospital Emergency Room Department strives to have the shortest wait times of any hospital in the Suburban Philadelphia area. Your time to see our highly qualified medical staff will be measured in minutes not hours.

We also are fully equipped to serve ambulatory elderly patients as well as patients with complex diseases who require emergency care. Our teams are also able to consult with members of other specialized teams in the hospital to better assess, diagnose and care for you or your loved one.

Lower Bucks Hospital Emergency Department is staffed by board-certified physicians and staff with extensive training in emergency medicine. Our nursing staff consists of highly trained and certified emergency nurses and emergency department technicians.

What is a Medical Emergency?

CALL 911 if you or someone with you may be experiencing any of these symptoms that require immediate medical attention:

  • Severe stomach and abdominal pains: with or without blood in vomit or stool, fever, injury or difficulty breathing.
  • Chest pain or difficulty breathing could include: pain, heaviness, or pressure in the chest, pain down the arms, back, jaw, neck, or upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, breaking out in a cold sweat and extreme fatigue.
  • High fever: especially with stiff neck, mental confusion or difficulty breathing.
  • Severe headache.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Any weakness or concern for a stroke: Face drooping, arm and leg weakness or numbness, speech difficulty, confusion, and change in mental status.
  • Injuries and accidents: especially loss of consciousness or fainting, head injury, broken bones, major trauma.
  • Burns.
  • Wound that will not stop bleeding.
  • Inability to urinate.
  • Poisoning.
  • Suicidal or homicidal feelings.

Why Choose Lower Bucks Hospital for Your Emergency Care?

We evaluate and treat life-threatening and less severe emergencies quickly.

Our emergency medical specialists collaborate with every medical and surgical area of expertise. Critically ill or injured patients and patients requiring intensive care are always given priority.

What to expect?

Our main goal at Lower Bucks Emergency Department is to evaluate for emergent medical conditions and help stabilize them. We strive to provide reassurance to help you feel better.

One way we can do that is to let you know what to expect while you are here. We hope that this information helps make your visit easier.

Triage

The emergency department is different from other organizations because we don’t run on a first-come, first-served basis. When you first arrive, you will be assessed and triaged. The word “triage” means “to sort.” Triage is a process in which a nurse will assess and prioritize you according to the urgency of your condition.

Doctors see the sickest patients first – not by order of arrival. There are often many sick people being seen and treated in the emergency department, so we ask you to please remain patient while waiting to see the doctor. If you begin to feel worse or decide to leave, please notify the triage nurse immediately.

Sometimes we experience higher volumes of patients than expected and we are not able to see every patient within our proposed time frame. We understand this can be a frustrating experience, but rest assured that we are working as hard as we can to see you in a timely manner.

What Happens When I Arrive?

There are two ways that you or your loved one may arrive in the emergency department at Lower Bucks Hospital, either by walk-in or by ambulance. Below, we have outlined what you can expect in both situations.

Walk-in Arrivals

  • Present yourself to the triage nurse with your insurance card ready. A quick assessment will take place to decide how quickly you will need to see a doctor.
  • The registration clerk will update any important information in your file, including address, phone number, the name of your family physician and the name of your emergency contact.
  • Depending on your symptoms, the nurse may begin some tests such as bloodwork right away.

Depending on the volume of patients in the Emergency department and the severity of your condition, you will be:

  • Asked to take a seat in the waiting room until you are called into the emergency department, or
  • Brought immediately into the department.

Ambulance Arrivals

  • You will be placed on a stretcher to be assessed by emergency department staff.
  • You will be placed on an ambulance offload stretcher in a hallway, so that your ambulance can leave the hospital to be available again in the community.
  • You may be asked to go to the waiting room to be triaged.

What Happens Next?

Once you are assigned a bed or area in the emergency department, the following will take place:

  1. You will be assessed by a physician assistant and/or doctor
  2. A care plan will be developed
  3. Treatments and/or tests will be ordered

The doctor will then determine (based on the above info)

  • If further testing is required
  • If you can be discharged home

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