CRMC-West 214 E. 23 St. Cheyenne, WY 82001
CRMC-East 2600 E. 18 St. Cheyenne, WY 82001
Health & Fitness 1620 E. Pershing, Cheyenne, WY 82001

(307) 634-CARE

Emergency Department

Emergency Physicians

Frequently Asked Questions

Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, local residents, visitors and travelers look to CRMC’s Emergency Department (ER) for help and expect a professional staff and well-equipped facility will be ready to treat them in their time of need.

CRMC’s Emergency Room (ER) is a 15-bed facility that treats patients from infancy through adulthood, no matter what the diagnosis, and will not refuse treatment to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay for treatment.

The facility is now designated as a Wyoming Regional Trauma Center.

“We have 15 beds, but we accept everyone who comes in for help, no matter the number of people,” said the clinical nurse manager.

“That’s how ER differs from the nursing floors—We have no limitations on how many patients we treat. Even if we must have patients on stretchers in the hall, we will treat everyone. For example, last week we had five patients come in at one time from two car accidents.”

“We must be ready for anyone’s emergency, whether they walk through the door or are brought in by ambulance—no matter what the diagnosis, no matter how many people,” she added.

“Our staff members train very hard and work very hard. They are fantastic and dedicated, know their jobs, and deal with anything that comes in. In our ER, you see real team work.”

Emergency staff members also work with ambulance workers, police, Highway Patrol and Sheriff’s Department personnel.

ER and ambulance staffs meet monthly to improve continuity of care for patients over the pre-hospital and hospital experiences.

The ER rooms are designed to especially treat certain diagnoses, although any of them may be used for any patient.

Room Nos. 1-2 are designated for female patients;

Room No. 3 is used for eye, ear, nose and throat injury or disease;the “Cast Bay,” stocked with a cast cart and suturing materials, is used for fractures and lacerations.

Resuscitation Room No. 1 treats more serious injuries;

Resuscitation Room No. 2 is stocked with special emergency equipment for infants and children;

Resuscitation Room No. 3 is the largest trauma room, where the most seriously ill patients (whose heart has stopped or have major injuries) are treated;

and the “Fast Track” Rooms—1,2 & 3 are used for exams and treatment for the more rapidly treated (or “in and out”) patients.

However, the emergency equipment can be moved from one room to another if needed.

Oftentimes, patients wonder why a patient who came in after they did is seen first.

To address this concern, she said the ER staff is educating the public at health fairs, Safe Kids Day, etc., by offering a brochure, “Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Emergency Department,” written by ER nurses about why patients are taken on a medical-priority basis, not a first come, first-served basis.

The brochure explains about triage, which means to sort or prioritize.

On admission, a CRMC ER triage nurse performs an assessment of the seriousness of a patient’s injury or illness, takes the patient’s history and vital signs and assigns the patient a triage category: non-emergent, urgent or emergent (life threatening).

Tips when coming to the ER:

• Have a list of, or know about your medical history.
• Bring a list of medications you are taking.
• Know your allergies.
• When was your last tetanus shot?
• Females should know when their last menstrual period occurred.
• Do not eat or drink anything before the doctor examines you.
• Know that the ER staff cannot give out any information over the phone.
• Please make arrangements for childcare before coming to the ER. If that is not possible, please watch the child you brought while the doctors and nurses are taking care of your family member or friend.

Frequently Asked Question:

Q: What is Triage?
A: Triage means to sort or prioritize. When you arrive in the Emergency Department (ER) usually your first stop will be the triage nurse.

The Triage Nurse is an R.N. who has been specially trained to perform a quick assessment of the seriousness of your injury or illness.

He/She will ask you why you came to the ER; What medical problems you have; What medications are you taking; and if you are allergic to anything.

The triage nurse will also take your vital signs (temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, respiration's, pulse oximeter which tells how much oxygen your lungs are getting into your blood stream) and, when indicated, your weight.

After the assessment the triage nurse will assign you to a Triage Category, the triage category is what we use to decide which patient needs to be seen first.

There are three triage categories:

Non-Emergent: Your injury or illness is not life threatening and you could wait to be treated safely without the risk of your condition becoming worse.

Urgent: You can safely wait for 2-4 hours for treatment, but you need to be seen within that time or your injury or illness could worsen.

Emergent: You have a life threatening injury or illness and must be treated immediately or you may be at risk of losing life or limb.

Most times, after the triage nurse sees you, you will be placed directly into a room.

Because we have different types of rooms equipped to handle different types of illnesses and injuries, you may be asked to have a seat in the waiting room until a room opens up that will suit your needs.

If you must wait in the waiting room, please understand that the triage nurse is keeping track of you and will get you into a room as soon as possible.

If you have chest pain, tell the triage nurse immediately.

Q: How long will it take for me to be seen?
A: This is difficult to answer, the sickest patients must be seen first, and sometimes care and evaluation take longer than expected.

The staff can try to five you an estimate, however, please be aware that unforeseen circumstances such as ambulances arriving, and Emergent patients may cause your wait to be longer than we estimated.

Q: Why did someone who came in after me get to see a doctor before me?
A: In the ER, the sickest patients must be seen first. Someone who was assessed to be sicker than you will be seen before you.

Also, each room has specialized equipment and if the room that is needed to care for you still has a patient in it you may have to wait for them to leave before you can be placed in that room, i.e., There is a room for eye injuries, one for applying cast, etc.

Q: Why is it taking so long for my lab and x-ray results?
A: These tests are done on a priority basis, someone whose illness or injury is worse that yours may have their lab tests or x-rays done sooner. Also some tests can take up to an hour or two for the results.

Q: Why do I have to answer all these questions when the hospital has all my records?
A: The ER keeps a copy of your chart from your last ER visit for thirty days.

The rest of your medical records are not kept in the ER and can take a few minutes to get to the ER.

In that time, we could have already started to evaluate and treat you.

Also, there could have been changes in your medication, or medical history since the last time you were here, and it is safer for you if we ask you if there have been any changes.

TIPS when coming to the Emergency Room:

Have a list of your medical history with you, or know what medical problems you or your family member have, such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, etc. These are important for the physician to know when you are being treated.

Bring a list of medications you are taking with you, or bring your medication bottles with you. It is very important for the physician to know what medications you are taking, this can help in knowing how to treat you, or why you are sick today.

Know if you or your family member are allergic to any medications or foods. Allergic reactions to medications/dyes can be fatal, some tests use dyes that people are allergic to certain foods, can react to.

Try to keep track of your last tetanus shot. If you have a cut or open sore we may have to give you a tetanus injection, if you have not had one within 10 years.

Females need to know when their last menstrual period was. This is important especially if you need an x-ray. Please be aware that any female of childbearing age will need to have a pregnancy test done before they have an x-ray. This is to be absolutely sure that there is not possibility that the x-ray may do harm to an unborn child.

Please do not eat or drink anything before you are seen by a physician. This is important because until your laboratory tests and x-rays are completed, the doctor will not know if you need a test or procedure done. Some tests and procedures require that you have nothing by mouth before you take them. If you eat or drink in the ER before the physician says it is okay, you could delay a test or procedure. So please ask the nurse before you have something.

We cannot give out any information over the phone. If you are in the ER and able to talk we will be very happy to transfer a call to your treatment room. However, please be aware that we are not allowed to give out information over the phone about you. We also can not give medical advice to people over the phone. All we can do is tell you to call your physician, or come to the ER if you think it is an emergency. Sorry, for confidentiality and liability reasons we really can not help you over the phone.

If it is possible, please make arrangements for children before you come to the ER. We know there will be times that you must bring your child with you when you are sick or injured. If it is possible please try to make arrangements for them. The ER is a very scary place for most children.

When bringing a child into the Emergency Department for treatment, please read
"Medical treatment of children".

Disclaimer - CRMC's core values are to provide quality patient care and outstanding patient satisfaction to all our patients. Part of providing quality patient care and outstanding patient satisfaction is respecting your privacy rights and maintaining the confidentiality of your medical records. For more information on patient privacy please read our patient privacy policy. CRMC will not use or disclose your health information for any purpose not described in this Notice without your written authorization.

Health information provided on Cheyenne Regional Medical Center's web page is intended as a guideline and not as a specific medical protocol. Every actual medical situation - emergency or non-emergency - is unique to each individual, and requires the clinical judgment of a qualified physician. For more information, or clarification, we recommend that individuals contact their personal physician.

Our Web site may include information and other material prepared by other sources. We also link to other Internet sites and resources. This information and links are provided as a courtesy. We are not responsible for the availability, updating, and accuracy of any information provided on these outside sites or for the privacy or security of these outside sites.

The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with a doctor and a particular treatment plan. The material provided is not intended to create, and the receipt of it does not constitute, a doctor-patient relationship. Should you have any health-care-related question, you should contact a doctor and arrange a consultation. Any e-mail generated from this Web site may not be secure and is not intended to create, and the receipt of it does not constitute, a doctor-patient relationship. E-mail communication is not intended as a substitute for consultation with a doctor.