Emergency Services

Emergency Services Overview

San Antonio Regional Hospital’s Randall and Janell Lewis Emergency Department serves the community with 24-hour emergency care, providing basic emergency services with advanced monitoring capabilities. Our staff is certified in advanced adult and pediatric life support.

Medical direction for the emergency department is provided by Mountain View Emergency Physicians Medical Group, Inc. A panel of on-call physician specialists, who are members of the hospital’s medical staff, are available when needed.

Triage

Patients arriving at the emergency department, other than by ambulance, are seen by a triage nurse first. The goal of triage is to determine the severity of the condition. To do this, the triage nurse will ask the reason for the visit, take a brief history, and perform a focused assessment. Patients who may be unstable and whose condition could deteriorate without immediate attention will be treated first. This is why some patients receive priority treatment.

In an attempt to decrease your wait time and increase comfort, the triage nurse may begin diagnostic testing or treatment according to well-tested protocols. For example, medications may be given or an X-ray may be ordered.

Evaluation and Treatment

When you reach our 24-hour emergency department you will have a nurse assigned to you in the treatment area. Your care will be directed by a member of the Mountain View Emergency Physicians Medical Group. After a history and physical exam are performed, you may require some diagnostic studies, such as blood tests or X-rays. The nurse may start intravenous (IV) therapy or place you on special monitors. Based upon your condition and the results of your tests, you will either be discharged or admitted to the hospital. Under certain circumstances, you may need to be transferred to another hospital.

Discharge

If you are discharged from the emergency department, you will be given after-care instructions to follow at home. In order to get well, it is important that you understand and follow these instructions.

Before you leave the hospital, please do not hesitate to ask questions about your diagnosis and treatment. We want you to understand your condition and what it will take for you to recover. It is essential that you follow up with your personal physician or the physician you are referred to by the emergency department.

At Home

If you have any questions after discharge, please call the emergency department at 909.920.4747. You may receive an invoice for the hospital’s charges for your emergency visit, as well as separate statements for all physician services. As a courtesy, the hospital’s Business Services Department will bill your insurance for hospital charges.

Patient Information

EMERGENCY PATIENTS

• Patients with more serious illnesses will be directed to check-in at the reception desk in the emergency department.
• If a bed is available, the patient will be taken directly into the treatment area.
• Patients are reminded to check-in with the triage nurse if there is a change or worsening of their symptoms.
• Patients will be seen in the order of illness severity. Be assured, the emergency department team will do everything possible to place patients into a private room in the treatment area as quickly as possible.
• Patients are allowed , only one (1) visitor over the age of 14 in the emergency department.

We understand the concerns you may have about visiting your loved ones while they are hospitalized, but we believe restricting visitors at this time is necessary. We appreciate your understanding as we take proactive precautions to protect our patients, our healthcare team, and the communities we serve. 

Updated San Antonio Regional Hospital Visitor Policy – Effective April 3, 2023

The California Department of Public Health has dropped the COVID-19 mask and vaccination mandates for health care settings. Beginning April 3, health care workers, patients and visitors will no longer be required to wear a mask or be vaccinated to work in facilities that include hospitals, urgent care centers and dental and doctors’ offices.

Visitors have the following requirements:

Limited Visitors

1. Two (2) visitors are permitted per patient.
2. No minors under age 14 are permitted to visit.

The following precautions are still recommended:

• Wear a mask if you feel the need for your health circumstances.
• Wear a mask if you have been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 5 days.
• Wear a mask around others if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, runny nose, and/or sore throat).