Emergency Services
The staff at Paradise Valley Hospital cares about each patient and is dedicated
to providing the highest quality of care to all. Our emergency department
is designed to care for patients with acute medical problems who cannot
wait to be seen by a private physician.
Our mission is to provide appropriate quality of care for all of our patients
24 hours a day, seven days a week. To accomplish this, specially trained
doctors and nurses are available at all times. Our highly skilled nurses
and doctors are staffed according to the usual number of patients throughout
the day. However, the patient load may increase unexpectedly. This is
beyond our control and we appreciate your understanding when waiting is
unavoidable.
Certified Primary Stroke Center
The emergency room at Paradise Valley Hospital has been certified by the County of San Diego as a Primary Stroke Center. This means that we maintain the highest levels of prompt, quality care for the treatment of stroke where every second matters. We have been recognized by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association with "Gold Plus" awards for the treatment of stroke and heart failure.
Triage
Patients are seen according to the seriousness of their medical conditions.
- Critically ill patients are always seen before patients with less serious illnesses.
- Ambulances frequently arrive with seriously ill patients whose immediate needs take priority over other waiting patients.
Quality care takes time. While every effort is made to make your stay as brief as possible, there are times when your visit may take several hours.
Other Services
Laboratory and Scans
It may be necessary to order blood tests, x-rays, or other types of tests to assist in diagnosis and treatment. Lab results generally take an hour, although your length of stay may increase when complicated tests or consultations with other specialists are necessary. Severely ill patients receive first priority. Our state of the art PACS system allows us to digitally record radiology scans, and therefore have those scans ready for evaluation almost instantaneously
Visitors
The number of visitors allowed in the emergency treatment area is limited. This helps maintain privacy for all patients. Visiting may also be restricted based on the condition of the patient as well as the numbers of patients in the treatment area.
Restroom
Check with emergency staff before using the restroom to determine the need for a specimen.
Discharge Procedures
You will receive home care instructions from our emergency services staff. If you do not have a primary care physician, these instructions will include the name of a physician referred for follow-up care.
If you have any questions once you are home, please feel free to contact the emergency department at 619-470-4141.
Insurance and Billing
Every patient has a right to be seen by a physician and receive a medical screening exam. Although your insurance may require pre-authorization for an emergency visit, federal law requires that we evaluate every patient for potentially life-threatening conditions regardless of insurance.
You also have the right to refuse treatment. Should you choose to refuse treatment, you will be asked to sign a release form. The hospital will bill you and your insurance.
You will receive separate bills from different departments within the hospital and from the emergency physicians. Because there are many insurance providers, and plans frequently change, we are unable to provide you with any information about your coverage. Please check with your insurance carrier for any questions.
Certain types of health insurance have restrictions and may specify the doctors or clinics available to you. It is your responsibility to call your insurance carrier for any clarification.
