Emergency Department
The Emergency Department at Perry County Memorial Hospital (PCMH) is here to serve you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Patients of the Emergency Department are cared for by board-certified physicians, nurses and technicians who specialize in emergency medicine. All Emergency Department physicians are certified in advanced life support for trauma, cardiac and pediatric care. All Emergency Department nurses are certified in advanced life support for cardiac and pediatric care. The nurses also have Trauma Nurse Core Certification. Other providers may be involved in your stay as well, and could include your doctor and specialty physicians.
To expedite your care, the Emergency Department at PCMH works closely with other departments throughout the hospital. We have immediate access to state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging services, along with laboratory services. We also work closely with the Ambulance Department, which has incorporated 12-lead EKG technology. 12-lead EKG provides us with needed information to assist patients with acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) and early detection of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This means the Emergency Department at PCMH can prepare the plan of care for patients before they arrive.
Additionally, we have voluntarily participated in the review process to become certified as a Time Critical Diagnosis and Treatment Center with the state of Missouri in order to best expedite crucial, stroke-specific emergency care.
The state's Time Critical Diagnosis System (TCD) for stroke has implemented four levels of hospital designations across Missouri. These designations reflect a range of hospital-based functions within the emergency medical care system and each plays a vital part in the system. PCMH has been awarded the Level III designation.
Level III centers play an important role in providing access into the system and important patient care in non-metropolitan areas. The closest stroke-designated hospital is where a patient with symptoms needs to be to begin the halting of injury and healing process. The state’s designated centers are integrated into a large, specialized system with providers coordinating care using processes proven to save lives and function. This evidence-based process is proven to increase the positive outcomes for patients suffering from stroke.