Knowing your local hospital is crucial when you need to make emergency decisions. It’s also important to be familiar with your hospital when writing a birth plan and prepping for a new baby. This month, Spotsylvania Regional Medical is going to give us the inside track on their average ER wait times, their labor and delivery rooms, their hospital philosophy and more!

Q What makes Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center stand out?

Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center is a community hospital with the strength of the HCA Healthcare System. We share the expertise of more than 165 hospitals across the United States and England, including HCA Virginia. Patients get high-quality health care and the attention they need from a community-focused hospital. We also offer private, spacious rooms for comfort and compassionate care. Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center is the only hospital in the Fredericksburg region currently graded A for patient safety by the Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety watchdog. In 2016, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center was one of 798 hospitals to receive a grade A ranking (among the safest hospitals in the United States) from Leapfrog Group.

Q What is the normal wait time for the emergency room?

(ER wait times are approximate and provided for informational purposes only. If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1)

Current emergency room wait times for Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center can be found at www.spotsrmc.com. ER wait times are given in a four-hour rolling average, updated every 30 minutes. They’re defined as the time of patient arrival until the time the patient is greeted by a qualified medical professional. Patients are triaged at arrival and are then seen by a qualified medical professional in priority order, based on their presenting complaint and reason for visit.

Q Tell us what ICARE means and how it is implemented at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center?

ICARE is an acronym for integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence. These words incorporate the values of Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center. Each team member works diligently to live these values each day. ICARE is how we demonstrate our mission to our community of patients and co-workers. Our mission is: “Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life.”

Q Can you describe your delivery suite and how it’s different than a traditional hospital room?

Often, traditional hospital rooms are small and compact and may not be private. At Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, our birthing suites are made for comfort and are often compared to a luxury hotel room with all the bells and whistles. They are warm and inviting and all come outfitted with a bassinet, a warmer so your baby doesn’t get chilled, a sofa-bed for dad, and lots of room for family and friends! Babies stay with their mothers in the room. All necessary tests can be done right at mom’s bedside, a comfort to many new moms and dads.

Q What is a digital mammography? Why is it important?

A mammogram is simply a low-dose X-ray of the breast tissue. It can help save lives through early detection of breast cancer. Breast cancer is a disease that affects 1 in 8 women. Unfortunately, many women assume that if they don’t have a family history of breast cancer that they are not at risk. This is not the case! The two most common risk factors for breast cancer are 1) Being a woman 2) Getting older.

Women who are 40 years old or older should be checked annually. Those with a family history of breast cancer should check with their primary care physician for risks and preventive care options. Several times throughout the year, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center offers, “Mammos and Massages” a program to encourage age appropriate women to get screened. At “Mammos and Massages” women get together for a massage and mammogram screening.

Q What are the warning signs of a heart attack and when should someone who’s showing those signs head to the hospital?

There are many signs of a heart attack: chest pain, pressure, squeezing and tightness. These should never be ignored. It just doesn’t pay to take that risk. If your chest pain is being caused by a heart-related problem, calling 9-1-1 gives you the best chance for survival. It’s not just about getting to the emergency room quickly. It’s about getting you emergency treatment as soon as possible. In many cases, that treatment would start at your home or en route to the ER via EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians).

It’s also important that the emergency room receives all the information about you that they need, so that the ER team can be ready to hit the ground running when you arrive at the hospital. If you drive yourself (or someone else drives you)—the ER won’t even know you’re coming, much less have all your information and vitals before you arrive. The best bet is to call 9-1-1 if you feel like you or someone you love is having a heart attack.

Do you have questions for Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center? They’ll be chatting live with us during Ask The Expert, on Facebook on April 13, 2017. Come join the conversation!