AMC plans well for emergencies

Published 12:00 am Saturday, September 14, 2002

When five Hormel employees needed medical assistance, after the Sept. 5 accident, emergency medical personnel knew how to handle the injuries the men sustained.

The Austin Medical Center has plans for every emergency situation it can think of.

The staff in the emergency room also comes with a great deal of experience, not only in the medical profession but at Austin Medical Center.

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It's good to know that Austin has such trained and experienced staff to help in emergencies such as a tornado or accident.

But it's also important to remember that the staff is also prepared for individual medical problems that need emergency help.

Patients who are being treated at the Mayo Clinic may think to drive there if they have an emergency situation, thinking that they will be transported from Austin to there anyway.

But patients should report to the nearest medical center for every medical condition.

Even if AMC ends up sending the patient to Mayo or another hospital, they can stabilize the patient until he or she is transported.

Medical staff at Austin Medical Center say there's the perception that if they send a patient to another hospital, they did not do anything for the patient. That's not the case.

The patient's condition can be pinpointed, their blood pressure can be checked and other assessments can be made in Austin before going to another hospital.

This very important step just may save someone's life.