Life happens and so do medical emergencies. With its deep ties to the community and a commitment to excellence, Broward Health Coral Springs provides exceptional adult and pediatric emergency care, logging more than 73,000 emergency department visits annually. Here’s what its emergency care team wants you to know about the most common conditions treated in the emergency department (ED) and tips to prepare if you need emergency care.
Adult
In the hospital’s dedicated ED children’s wing, with physicians and nurses who specialize in pediatric care, they see a lot of children with severe cold or flu-like symptoms, including high fever and trouble breathing.
“The most important tip is for parents and guardians to be prepared to provide details about the start and severity of symptoms, changes in the child’s behavior and information about chronic conditions or medicines the child takes,” said Nirit R. Swerdloff, M.D., assistant medical director of pediatric emergency medicine at the hospital. “This background helps us make a diagnosis more quickly and accurately.”
Other common conditions include:
- Stomach concerns such as abdominal pain, excessive vomiting and diarrhea
- Concussions
- Sprains and broken bones
- Lacerations
- Allergic reactions
- Food poisoning
- Foreign bodies lodged in little their ears and noses
Adult Emergencies
The most common reasons adults land in the ED include chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal pain and musculoskeletal injuries.
In addition to details about the symptoms or injury that led to the visit, emergency medicine doctors and caregivers need to know about any medical conditions the patient may have.
“In cases where patients are not conscious or able to focus, having “in case of emergency” (ICE) details stored in their cellphones, wallets and purses is helpful,” said Gary Lai, D.O, medical director of emergency services at Broward Health Coral Springs. “Information should include emergency contacts, medications, allergies and blood type.”
Enhancing Your Experience
To make visitors feel welcome, the hospital recently remodeled its waiting room. It’s also invested in newer technologies to make common procedures more comfortable and with quicker result times. A new glidescope provides video imaging that can help with intubation when a patient needs a tube inserted to help with breathing, and a new portable, point-of-care ultrasound system enables bedside treatment and diagnostics. Nurses can use it for common care elements such as IV placements and bladder scanning, while emergency department physicians use the equipment for bedside diagnostics.
“In addition to modernizing our facility and equipment, building a talented team is key to creating positive patient experiences,” said Dario Sankar, R.N., who serves as the regional emergency department manager at Broward Health Coral Springs. “I’m proud of the multi-disciplinary team we’ve built with members from different backgrounds and experiences who all work together to deliver exceptional care with the compassion our patients deserve.”
For more information on Broward Health Coral Springs, visit www.BrowardHealth.org/CoralSprings
Decades of Dedication
Dario Sankar, R.N., the emergency department manager at Broward Health Coral Springs, has worked for Broward Health his entire 21-year career. After high school, Sankar started working as a graduate practical nurse at Broward Health Medical Center before becoming a registered nurse. After he transitioned into emergency care, he moved up the ranks into leadership.
Sankar joined Broward Health Coral Springs as the regional manager of the hospital’s Emergency Department in 2021, overseeing operations for its adult and pediatric emergency services.
Initiatives he has led to provide advanced staff training include a Hospital Emergency Response Training for Mass Casualty where staff from Broward Health Coral Springs and others in the community received a three-day FEMA training for domestic preparedness.
