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LNR club president Dennis Song (second from right) was joined by three guests from SignatureCare ER: (L to R) Fatima Salimi, Director of Marketing; Pradeep Bodige, D.O., attending physician; and Amanda Christon, Registration Team Lead. Click photo above to open full-size image. Three representatives from SignatureCare ER last week visited the Lewisville Noon Rotary club to talk about changes in how healthcare is delivered and what a hospital is in America today. Pradeep Bodige, D.O., attending physician at SignatureCare ER, explained that healthcare facilities are arranged based on level of acuity, from urgent care and ER facilities to general hospitals, long-term medical care facilities, and rehabilitation centers. He walked through an example of a stroke patient, who might begin their journey at an emergency room for an immediate workup and laboratory tests, including a CT scan. (An urgent care facility generally does not have the proper diagnostic equipment for life-threatening medical issues, he noted, and is better suited to common ailments, such as a sore throat, UTI, or rash without fever.) After immediate needs are addressed at an emergency room facility, the patient then may be admitted to a general hospital for additional diagnostic testing and care. Depending on the severity of the stroke, they later may be transferred to a long-term care or rehabilitation facility to regain mobility, speech, and cognitive functions. Freestanding emergency rooms, like SignatureCare ER, are staffed with board certified physicians and have all the same equipment as a general hospital ER, but they are not attached to a hospital, Dr. Bodige explained. He added that they tend to be more easily accessible than traditional emergency rooms and can offer patient care in a more comfortable setting. They also can provide more tailored care and generally have shorter wait times than a hospital ER. Cost-wise, free-standing emergency rooms tend to be comparable to hospital-based ERs, if not less expensive, and usually have policies in place to support uninsured patients. Dr. Bodige encouraged patients to consider their options when considering emergency care to ensure they receive the best possible care for their needs. To learn more, visit the website for SignatureCare ER in Lewisville. |
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