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 The
Level I Emergency Department (ED), located at Saint Marys Hospital (SMH),
part of Mayo Clinic, is a modern advanced facility. The ED provides
emergency care to more than 80,000 patients each year.
The vast majority of ED patients come from Olmsted County, for
which Rochester is the county seat, and the six adjacent counties.
Of the annual ED visits, on average, 15,000 are pediatric. The level
of activity is high, with approximately 10 percent of patients admitted
to an ICU.
The majority of EM resident time is spent at SMH, a 1,157 bed
facility which is connected to the downtown Mayo Clinic campus by
a convenient shuttle-bus service. A new pediatric hospital is also
located on the Saint Marys campus.
 Most
patients seen in the ED are admitted to SMH where most of the receiving
services are located. There are a few exceptions, including the
obstetrics and gynecology, hematology/oncology, family medicine
and transplantation services, which are located in or adjacent to
Rochester Methodist Hospital, part of the downtown Mayo Clinic campus.
The ED is a 61-bed facility divided into five main patient care
areas: Critical, Acute Care, Pediatrics, Acute Psychiatry and the
Observation Unit. Equipment in the department is state-of-the-art
and includes a slit lamp, nasopharyngoscope, advanced cardiovascular
monitoring capabilities and highly advanced airway equipment.
Two ultrasound machines are located in the ED, with the capability
of digital storage of scanned images. Radiology is adjacent to the
treatment areas and touts complete X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI and
invasive radiological capabilities.
Patient access to the department is via an enclosed heated ambulance/patient
drop-off garage. The helipad is located in a secured area on the
roof of SMH. Respiratory therapists are present in the ED 24 hours
a day. The ED also has a full-time social worker who assists with
the care of patients.
 The
Critical Area is a 12-bed unit where all critically ill and injured
patients are roomed. Each patient stretcher is equipped with cardiovascular
monitoring and a defibrillator. Computers sit at each bedside, allowing
easy access to computerized medical records and online resources.
Surgical lighting makes each patient bay OR-ready. A decontamination
room exists adjacent to the Critical Area and immediately next to
the ambulance bay.
The two Acute Care areas have 20 patient rooms for the evaluation
of non-critical patients. Additionally, a separate ophthalmology
evaluation area is fully stocked with state-of-the-art equipment.
The 10-bed Observation Unit affords residents ample opportunity
to learn observational emergency medicine.
A new pediatric emergency department opened in 2001. Attached to
the adult ED, it is an eight-bed area with the ability to expand
to 16 beds during busy evening hours. Beautifully designed, it helps
children feel welcome, safe and at home.
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