Emergency Department

Our professional emergency department is staffed by physicians and registered nurses. The emergency department at Capital Region employees six physicians, 26 Registered Nurses that are Certified in Trauma as well as six Registered Nurses that are Certified Emergency Nurses.

SonoSite

The SonoSite 180 Ultrasound is a hand-held system that enables emergency room physicians to quickly treat and assess for internal injuries and/or cardiac trauma. The unit can also be used in non-trauma cases, such as evaluation of abdominal pain, pelvic pain, and obstetrical cases. The ultrasound can also be used to assess for aortic aneurysms. This emergency department equipment is able to improve patient care because of the rapid patient assessment that it provides.

Emergency Medical Services

Capital Region EMS provides Jefferson City and Cole County with eight fully equipped ambulances. These emergency vehicles are staffed by highly trained paramedics and emergency medical technicians who provide the emergency care needed either at the scene or en route to the Medical Center and remain in constant radio contact with the emergency department physicians regarding the patient’s condition. Capital Region EMS also provides the Belle, Bland, Vichy area with two fully equipped ambulances.

When should I go to the Emergency Room vs. an Urgent Care Facility?
Frequently, patients seek the services of the hospital emergency department for ailments or injuries that could be treated more economically, and just as effectively, at an urgent care facility such as Capital Region's Health Branch West. It is not always easy to determine when you should choose urgent care over the hospital emergency department. The following lists offer some guidance, but are not necessarily all inclusive.

Emergency Department

• Chest pain with shortness of breath and/or sweating.
• Serious or severe injuries.
• Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.
• Altered mental states.
• Seizure.
• Blacking out /unconsciousness.
• Digit or extremity amputation.
• Poison ingestion.

Urgent Care: Health Branch West

• Any illness or injury that would prompt you to see your primary care physician.
• Laceration repair (minor cuts).
• Infected ingrown toenails.
• Removal of foreign bodies from the eye.
• Treatment of minor burns.
• Earaches.
• Persistant coughs or colds.
• Persistant low grade fever.
• Strains or sprains.
• Urinary Tract Infections.
• Skin rashes or irriations.

Want to know more about the process in our Emergency Room?

Emergency Room Brochure  (pdf)