Emergency Services

Our team of highly trained emergency physicians and nurses are on duty 24/7 and include support from qualified staff in respiratory care, social work, laboratory and radiology. The team is supported by a broad base of critical-care knowledge to accurately assess and treat acute medical problems for individuals of all ages.

Upon your arrival at the Emergency Department, you will be seen by a member of our staff who will evaluate your condition. This is called triage and is part of the process to start your plan of care.

In an Emergency Department every effort is made to provide prompt care, however, it is extremely important that the most acutely ill and injured be seen first. You may be asked to wait, if another patient's condition is priority. In addition, if you are waiting for a patient, procedures such as x-rays and blood tests may take time. Your cooperation and patience are greatly appreciated.

Having accurate information about you, your symptoms and medical history are critical to providing excellent care. Our nurses, staff and physicians will ask you many questions to ensure they have as complete a picture as possible. We encourage you to be open in all your communications with the medical staff concerning any health or well being issues. As required by law, all information provided is confidential.

To help the staff to assess and treat you, make sure you provide them with the following:

Any health problems you have had, past or present; onset, duration, what made it worse, and what provided relief.
All complaints of pain. Identify where it hurts, how bad it hurts, how long the pain has been there, what makes it worse and what improves it. Please include medications, prescribed and non-prescribed, that you have taken for pain.
All drugs and treatments used in the last 15 days or on a continuous basis. If you do not know this, especially the drugs by dose and frequency, please bring all your medications in their containers with you when you come to the ED.
Any drug or food allergies.
If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are breast-feeding.
Any other facts pertaining to your health or well being.
Report all cases of abuse.
Current vaccinations.
Recent travels outside of the country.

When you leave, you will receive instructions to continue your care. It is very important that you understand and follow these directions. If you do not understand – ASK! Patients are responsible for their own care after they leave the Emergency Department. Patients should also arrange for follow-up appointments as directed in their discharge instructions.

The Emergency Department is designated as a Level III Trauma Center. Columbus Community Hospital was the first hospital in the region to be verified as a Level III Trauma Center by the Nebraska State Trauma Team. The Medical Staff and personnel in the Trauma Center have received specialty training to resuscitate and stabilize trauma patients. Our most recent review was in 2018.

Columbus Community Hospital also maintains a staff of nurses trained in evidence collection for sexual assaults. They are available 24/7. Please call the department for more information.

In 2012, we expanded our emergency room by 28 percent to include a new streamlined patient triage system; a fast-track urgent care area; 12 beds designated cardiac, obstetric and orthopedic rooms; a state-of-the-art nurses’ station; and an enclosed garage to protect patients during the transfer process from ambulance to hospital.