Arriving at the emergency department

Patients in need of urgent care often arrive at the emergency room by ambulance, accompanied by EMS personnel. However, it is not at all uncommon for a patient in need of urgent care to come to the emergency department by themselves or assisted by a friend or confidante.

In life-threatening situations, however, it is always better to dial the emergency number 112 than attempt to reach the emergency room on your own.

A principle of emergency department design is an accessible entrance, along with signage clear enough to give even the first-time attendee a good idea of what to do and where to go.