DGMC's Emergency Department: Answering the call 24/7

  • Published
  • By James Spellman
  • 60th Medical Group Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The emergency department at David Grant USAF Medical Center provides emergency care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Dedicated to emergency care, the staff has received specialized training to treat any urgent medical problem with compassion and respect.

DGMC's ED staff includes 14 board-certified emergency medicine providers and more than 15 nurses, with more than half board-certified nationally in emergency medicine. Twenty-six medical technicians are trained in advanced cardiac life support. The unit sees approximately 22,000 patients per year.

Its services range from resuscitation and stabilization of the critically ill or injured to common fractures and illnesses. Its services are provided with the full support of advanced technology, such as rapid helical computerized tomography, ultrasound and other diagnostic imaging services. It has a dedicated X-ray room within the department.

DGMC's ED staff utilizes the latest, most advanced resuscitation equipment available. It is supported by an array of on-call specialists, specializing in cardiology, general surgery, pediatrics, OB/GYN, dental and neurosurgery. It also keeps up with advances in medical information technology by utilizing an electronic medical record.

DGMC's emergency department also coordinates patient transfers via an admissions call center. Supported by an administrative staff, this operation is one of a kind in Air Force hospitals. Its goal is to facilitate transfers of patients who would like, or their provider requests, DGMC's care.

The numbers to reach the admissions call center to take advantage of this service are toll free at 1-877-843-2457 or commercially at 707-423-7790. All patients are triaged and seen in order of the severity of their condition as determined by their triage category. All patients are seen, but patients with nonemergentcy/urgent concerns may experience longer wait times.

Dialing "911" at the first sign of an emergency is important because it puts you in contact with the fastest and most beneficial mode of transportation to an emergency facility.

An emergency is the sudden or unexpected onset of a medical condition that threatens life, limb or sight and requires immediate care such as loss of consciousness, chest pain, fractures, shortness of breath, uncontrolled bleeding, sudden or unexpected weakness, poisoning and suicide attempts or thoughts.

The staff's primary goal is to provide intensive care for the critically ill or injured patients. Patients seeking care for sore throats, ear aches, chronic pain, flu symptoms, cold symptoms and minor ailments and injuries should first seek care through their primary care clinic.